How to Make Your Own Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree
The Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree is a novelty vegetable planter that allows container-gardening enthusiasts to grow tomatoes on a patio in a grow bag supported by a stand. The tomatoes hang upside down, which is where the name "Topsy Turvy" comes from. Instead of purchasing a commercially made kit, you can grow your own upside-down tomatoes and save money in the process. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Heavy-duty fabric shopping bag or book bag
- Utility knife
- Broom with a long handle
- Tall kitchen stools
- 5 dwarf-sized tomato plants
- 5 coffee filters
- 16 qt. potting mix
- 1 empty 2 liter soda bottle
- Freestanding coat rack or shepherd's hook capable of holding 50 pounds
Instructions
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1
Cut the top off of the empty 2-liter soda bottle. The remaining bottle should be about 8 inches tall. Poke 12 small holes spaced evenly over the sides and bottom of the bottle.
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2
Cut three small "X"s that are 1 inch long spaced equally across the bottom of your bag. Cut one more "X" in each side of the bag that is two thirds of the way up the side of the bag.
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3
Gently pull the five dwarf sized tomato plants out of their potting tray. Cut an "X" into each of the five coffee filters and slip one over the root ball of each plant.
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4
Slip the leaves of three of the plants through the three holes in the bottom of the bag. Make sure that the coffee filters rest just inside of the holes to hold the tomato's root ball in place and keep dirt from slipping through the hole.
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5
Slip the handles of the broom through the handles of the bag. Prop the broom up between two tall kitchen stools.
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6
Fill the bottom of the container with potting soil up to the point that the root balls of the tomatoes are covered.
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7
Place the pop bottle end-down onto the dirt. Fill in dirt around the sides of the bottle until you reach a line just below where the other holes in the bag begin.
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8
Slip the remaining tomatoes and coffee filters into the holes at the sides and ends of the bag. Cover the root balls with dirt up to the top of the soda bottle.
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9
Place the shepherd's crook or coat rack in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Hang the handles of the bag over the hooks of the shepherd's crook or coat rack.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your tomato tree twice daily and water by filling the soda bottle with water.
You can also add a water-soluble fertilizer to the water to feed your tomatoes.
Add a basil or marigold plant to the top of the bag to create a natural companion planting to repel insects.
Create two bags to balance your tomato tree if using a coat tree with two hooks on each side.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tomato plants image by JLycke from Fotolia.com
