How to Make an Upside Down Hanging Tomato Planter

Hanging Pot

Have you grown tomatoes outside only to have them plagued with tomato worms? I won't mention the name of a popular hanging tomato planter which is sold on television, but my best friend, Jeanne Matthews, has been growing tomatoes in hanging planters for years with wonderful results and she gave me some of her tips.

Not only will this be healthier for your tomato, but also for our environment, as you will recycle a plastic container, putting it to good use the second time around!

Things You'll Need

• gallon milk jug or plastic kitty litter container
• sterile soil
• tomato plant
• 4 hooks
• 2 coat hangers or a braided rope plant holder
• box cutter
• tree or shepherd's hook
• two hole punch
• scissors

Instructions

1. Determine whether you would like to start with seeds, seedlings, or plants. If starting with seeds, I have found a wonderful site which offers step by step instructions and illustrations (the other source for the pictures). Renee advises us to start our tomato seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost in our area and even offers a chart to show when your particular state should be planted.

2. 

   Plant indoors in pre moistened sterile seed starting mix in rows about 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart. Cover over barely with soil. The container should be kept in a warm temperature of 75 to 80 F. Fluorescent lighting, plant lights, or direct sun is needed to give these seedlings a good start.

3. Once your state is past danger of frost, you can go ahead and make your planter. Holding your jug firmly take your box cutter and slicing away from yourself careful remove the bottom of the jug. I saved mine to use as a plant saucer.

4. 

   Inserting the shorter side of the jug into the paper punch, punch two holes in both short sides. Be sure to push the plastic into the punch as far as it will go to place your holes safely in the jug. You do not want the holes too close to the edge because you want your hanger to support the weight.

5. 

   Take four hooks and insert into holes.

6. Use the hooks to anchor a rope, chain, or a pre-made rope hanger for a hanging plant. You could also use coat hangers to fashion a wire hanger.

7. Hang the jug upside down. Unscrew the lid and fashion a rolled up news paper into a funnel. Insert through opening, just enough to aid in retaining soil in the planter.

8. 

   Gently remove your tomato plant from the pot.

9. Insert tomato through open bottom of planter so that plant peeks out of newspaper. Tuck newspaper into planter.

10. Fill bottom (now top) of planter with soil. Water and place outside in a tree that gets good sun, or on a shepherds hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Please be careful using your box cutter. They are sharp!