How to Plant Hanging Tomato Plants

Tomato plants don't only have to be planted in the ground. They can thrive hanging upside down as well. In fact, planting your tomato plants wrong-side-up can allow you to move them with the sun, save you time weeding and give you fruit that is within arms reach of your front door. Read on to learn how to plant hanging tomato plants.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 5-Gallon Bucket
• Drill or Utility Knife
• Tomato Seedling
• Newspaper
• Soil

1. Purchase an empty 5-gallon bucket with a snap-on lid. This bucket can be found at hardware stores. Clean the bucket with warm sudsy water to prepare it for planting your tomato plant.

2. Cut a hole in the bucket using a drill or a utility knife. The hole should be right in the middle of the bottom of the bucket and about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Cut several 1/2-inch holes in the snap-on lid of the bucket to allow you to water your plant.

3. Place several layers of newspaper in the bottom of the bucket, covering the hole. This will later be used to anchor the tomato plant.

4. Fill the bucket with a 40-lb. bag of soil and put on the lid. Soils with vitamin additives, like Miracle-Gro, are the best for growing tomatoes.

5. Turn the bucket over, and plant the tomato seedling. Cut two slits in the newspaper at the bottom of the bucket to allow you to plant the tomato plant. Plant the seedling with only about 3 inches of the plant coming out of the hole. Use extra soil to anchor it in the bucket.

6. Hang the bucket in a sunny area and water. Tomatoes require at least 50 percent sunlight. Move the bucket according to where the most direct sun is during the day.

7. Harvest tomatoes as they ripen on the vine. Tomatoes will begin to form not long after the tomato plant flowers. The fruit should be red and firm before cutting from the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Tomato varieties with smaller fruit, such as a cherry or Roma tomatoes, are perfect plants for hanging upside down.
• If you prefer a bucket that isn't white you can purchase spray paint especially for plastics and brighten up your planter.
• There are several companies online that sell hanging tomato planters. These are a little different then the buckets but give you the same result.
• Your hanging tomato planter will weigh between 35 and 50 lbs. when it is finished.

[farrel17]

on 6/29/2009 After a healthy 5-6 weeks upsidedown the plant appears to be wilting. The color is green. Does it need a net or other support. No tomatoes are present yet. The stem exiting the planter seems less rigid and too flexible. Any experience?

[sonron]

on 5/18/2009 Yellow leaves = too much water.

[devans2]

on 5/12/2009 I have done all of the above, Plants started out great, blooming etc. However now the leaves are turning yellow. What causes this?

[devans2]

on 5/12/2009 I have done all of the above.The leaves are now turning yellow.What causes this?

[omghow]

on 4/8/2009 Thanks