The downside of upside down
June 2, 2008
(I could write these titles all freaking day.)
So, following the cool experiment outlined by Cindy Haas of urbangardencasual, I have built my upside down tomato planter. I used a cat litter bucket. And that amuses me. Especially because I left the label on the bucket and I’m expecting conversations like this one:
Person Visiting Me: Are those tomatoes upside down?
Me: Depends upon your perspective.
Person Visiting Me: In a cat litter bucket?
Me: Yes. A cat litter bucket. Would you like some salad?
Can’t wait for that.
In building the thing I did some good stuff and I did some stuff I would do differently. First, I just used 6-foot tomato stakes for the end braces. Two of them angled together and tied up with twine. The cross piece is also a tomato steak, just a little shorter. I got those all tied up together to form the thing that would hold the bucket. Two mistakes here…
1. It’s not high enough. Once hung, the bucket hangs leaving only about 4 feet or so. The tomato is eventually going to reach earth and be very, very confused.
2. I attached the cross bar to the side braces. Before I hung the bucket on it. That’s right. Before. This was fundamentally stupid. I then had to do some clever engineering with the bucket handle to get it on the cross piece. Don’t be dumb like me. Put the bucket on first before securing the cross piece.
I put a Bradley tomato in it. At the same time I planted a Bradley in a container on my deck. The one that is hanging survived the transplanting much better. It’s a bit wilty here from various shocks, but it should perk up. We’ll see how they both do in the long run.
Give it a shot! And make sure you stop by Cindy’s post to tell her what you are up to.
Entry Filed under: tomatoes. Tags: hanging tomatoes, tomatoes, upside down tomatoes.
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1.
Esther Montgomery | June 3, 2008 at 2:42 am
I’m intrigued by this project. I wish I had space to ‘have a bash’ at it myself.
I took a look at Cindy’s site the other day (from your link).
If it works out, I can imagine someone making attractive wooden frames commercially – perhaps with wicker baskets hanging from them, specially made with holes for the plants to poke through.
There could be elegant avenues of upside-down tomato plants between which visitors would walk as they approach front doors.
I can’t remember the name used for tunnels of vines and other luxuriant plants which grand gardens had in ‘the old days’. I love the smell of tomato plants. The idea of walking between them, nose level, even from when they are small – is very enticing.
I hope it works.
I hope it catches on!
Esther
2.
sjones71 | June 3, 2008 at 4:35 am
I love the smell of tomato plants too. imagine treating them like grapes with big hanging trellises. That might actually look nice. I’d still work in a cat litter bucket somewhere.
3.
Dr Craig | June 3, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Liked your idea of using the bucket. Don’t have quite as much space so I used a hanging basket. Will be posting about my attempt soon.
Let’s see how the kitty litter bucket and the hanging basket work and keep both our blogs updated-don’t forget the photos.
All in a gardener’s day,
Dr Craig
4.
sjones71 | June 3, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Good idea Dr. Craig! So far it looks okay, but there is a bit of a sun problem. The bucket blocks the sun a bit and I had to set it up in a spot that doesn’t get morning or late afternoon sun. But we’ll see how it goes.
5.
Kate theManicGardener | June 4, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Tee hee. The cross-bar-before-bucket move is agonizingly familiar. I think I’m going to try hanging tomatoes from the eaves, but I’ll have to find something more attractive than your kitty-litter item or there will be unpleasant spousal comments. The search is on.
–kate
6.
sjones71 | June 4, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I don’t know. I think that the ugly plastic bucket with the cartoon cat really complements the otherwise natural setting. But, if you really must find something more attractive, might I suggest:
1. A hollowed out old basketball.
2. Size 17 men’s tennis shoes.
3. An old v-neck t-shirt with armpit stains.
Just my thoughts and I am an aesthetic genius.
7.
Jen | June 5, 2008 at 6:41 pm
HA! Your last post reminds me of those “E-E-Ecology” movies they showed us in Elementary school in the 70’s: old tires made into flower planters, soda pull tab curtains, and so on….not really my aesthetic, but sure saves on landfill space. Actually, I’ve heard that you can make a raised bed vege garden using truck tires. You can plant them earlier, because the soil stays warmer. Anyone know if that’s true? Or even safe?
8.
sjones71 | June 5, 2008 at 6:47 pm
My favorite… the old Coors Beer Ball, sort of a mini keg in a plastic bubble, actually had instructions for turning it into a planter after you drank the beer. Nice. I wonder if heroin needles come with instructions on how to turn them into darts? Now that’s a party!
Yeah. You can use tires. People grow potatoes a lot in tires. That’s right up my ugly alley!