The "Nice to Grow You" Upside down planter...Tutorial Added Below

[Girlinsoop]

This is my upside down tomato planter. It is constructed with an empty soda bottle, burlap and yarn. Its great when you want fresh tomatoes and have no space!

I heart plants!


8/3/2004....Here is a photo from a week or so ago...The tomatoes have started to ripen!

[Girlinsoop]

Actually, its a small cherry tomato version called "4th of July". They are small, and bear fruit on one stem, it kind of looks like a bunch of grapes when they grow.
This is the first time I am trying this, so it is really a test.

[amelia bedelia]

woah! how did you make that? it looks so awesome!

[Mikania]

That's an interesting idea.  I would have never thought of it.

There are tomato varieties out there (Patio King is one I know off-hand) that grow really well in containers.  I grew a 4th of July in the ground last year and it got quite big, so I'm not sure how yours will do.  If it doesn't work out, look around for tomatoes that grow in containers.  I think I've seen mention of some out there that will grow in a hanging basket.

I also highly recommend checking out the book "The Bountiful Container Garden" to anyone with limited space who wants to grow veggies in containers.  Before I got a P-Patch (a city-owned plot of land one pays a small yearly fee for), I tried growing just about any veggie imaginable on a small porch.  I worshiped this book- and still do.

[Girlinsoop]

We have tomatoes!
There are about 15 on the plant and the first one ripened all the way today. I took a picture, but can't fin the camera cable. I will post photo when I find it.

[geekburger]

hmmm..  i just might have to try that. not much a gardener. i killed a cactus. and it was one of the ones you dont have to water much. haha silly me.

::if you want to criticize someone,first walk a mile in thier shoes. that way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away from them, and you have thier shoes::

[bookooz2002]

OMG  Thank you for this!!!!! im so excited.. a friend paid $20 for her topsy turvey planter now I can make my own.
Do I have to cover the bottle w/ the burlap ?
also how do you get the plant thru the 2 liter bottle neck etc ??
or am I missing something ?
kat

[Girlinsoop]

Thanks for the replies!
I bight a plant that was already sprouted, but if you start early enough, you can sprout one yourself....I think I will post a tute with pictures lateron...Its kinda hard to explain...stay tuned!

[incuash]

I LOVE this, but how do you water it???  and have you had problems with soil spilling out?  I have a little apartment with no patio, and I can't stand living without fresh veggies anymore!  (my mom always has a HUGE garden)  I'm hoping I could work something out or build something so I can grow them by my upstairs window.  any advice?

[Girlinsoop]

Y'all are so nice! So here is my first attempt at a tutorial....Hopeful ly this will help with some of the questions...
Take any plastic bottle, clean it out and cut off the bottom. The hanging part is where you would have to be creative. I made a "sock" type of thing out of burlap, but that was just to make it pretty. Otherwise, just some holes and a sturdy rope would work just fine.
Once you have figured out and made how you are going to hang it, fill the bottle in the following order:
Poke the tomato plant sprout through the opening of the bottle, so that the sprout is sticking out
Throw in a small amount of small pebbles, (this will help to keep the soil in the bottle while you are watering.
Next, fill the bottle the rest of the way with soil
Throw in some water (tomatoes need A LOT of water) and hang in a sunny spt.
Here is a very elaborate and scientifically correct diagram (yea, right)

I had a potted tomato plant that sat on the gound under the hanging one, so when you watered one, it drained onto the other.
Some hints:
*Chooose your plants wisely....There are like a bazillion types of tomatoes, so you need to find one that bears relativly small fruit, like cherry tomatoes.
*I chose burlap becuase it is very sturdy and it hides dirt!

Next year I am going to try small chili peppers!

Happy planting!