by Thriving Mama

Created on: May 25, 2009

Anyone who has ever tried to grow tomatos knows the challenges that come with growing these ruby treats. The first challenge is finding the space to accommodate the lanky vines. Then as the fruit begins to grow, one must figure out how to fight gravity to keep the vines, and more importantly the fruit, off the ground until it's ripe and ready to eat.

There is a solution - one that doesn't cost $29.95 plus shipping and handling! The solution is to work with gravity and allow your plant to hang, growing upside down, out of the bottom of a container. Best of all, it is a fairly inexpensive solution.

First you will need to find a place where you can hang your tomato container. The hanging location must be able to accommodate 25 to 30 pounds of weight and get a lot of sunlight. You will need to be able to reach the top to water your plant, but it needs to be high enough off the ground to accommodate the vines of the type of tomato you've chosen.

Next, find a heavy duty 5 gallon bucket or a large hanging planter. The best 5-gallon buckets are buckets that are re-used from things like laundry detergent or dry-wall spackle where the contents were heavy to begin with. This will ensure that the handle will hold up to the weight of the dirt and the plant. The buckets sold at most major do-it-yourself stores are not sturdy enough. You will also need a newspaper or brown paper bag, shovel, rich planting soil and of course your tomato seedling.

Thoroughly clean your container, drill a 1-1/2 inch hole in the bottom. If you have a larger tomato starter, you may need a larger hole. Next, cut a circle out of three sheets of newspaper or a brown paper bag that is smaller than the bottom of the container. Cut a slit to the center of the circle and place the circle in the bottom of the container, lining the end of the slit up with the hole. With the container lying on its side, take your tomato plant and gently place the root ball through the hole and through the slit in the paper. The paper will keep the dirt from falling out but will allow the stem to grow. It will disintegrate as the plant grows.

Now, being careful not to squish your tomato plant, gently fill the container with rich planting soil. You can use bagged potting soil for vegetables or make your own mix with dirt, peat moss and compost. The richer the soil, the better nutrients your tomato will get.

Once the container is filled, hang your plant in the sun and watch it grow! Add water until the water drips out the bottom once or twice a day depending on the heat. In 8-10 weeks, you will be plucking crimson fruit from vines that are hanging in front of you - not crawling around on the ground!

In the fall, when your plant is in danger of the first frosts, simply place a clear trash bag around your plant and tape the open end to the container. This will protect your vines and fruit from the early, mild frosts. Don't forget to take it off in the morning, once the frost danger has passed or you could end up with cooked tomatoes!

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