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The Unbeatable Benefits Of Growing Tomatoes Upside Down
By SAKSHI KHAITAN
If your homegrown tomatoes take up too much space, consider growing them upside down in hanging containers, so the tomatoes and stems are ground-facing.
Beyond the space it saves, growing tomatoes upside down allows for greater air circulation, mobility, and protection from soil-borne diseases and pests, like cutworms and blight.
The limited soil layers also prevent weeds from rooting. Further, since the tomatoes won't be falling over their own weight, you can do away with staking to maintain a tidy look.
Best of all, you can tend to upside-down tomatoes while standing. You can even move the planters as needed to ensure they get the right amount of sunlight.
To create a DIY hanging planter, drill out a 2-inch long gap at the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Then, add landscape material or window screens to the planter's bottom.
Next, load ¾ of the container with potting soil, followed by vermiculite. Leave 2 to 3 inches of room at the top and don't use ground soil, which drains poorly.
To insert a seedling, cover the planter so nothing falls out and tip it on its side. Make a cross-cut in the soil, insert the seedling, and hang the planter with a strong hook.