Here is another method to make your own upside down tomatoes that solves some of the problems with the original method. The original required cutting a hole in the bottom of the bucket. Then you would feed the tomato plant through the bottom hole. The open hole in the bottom of the bucket caused the water to drain very fast resulting in a plant that dried out rapidly.
The new method grows the plants through holes cut in the side of the bucket. The bottom of the bucket is kept intact, except for small drainage holes, thus solving the problem of the plants drying out too fast.
Here's how to do it.
First you will need a plastic bucket with a lid and a handle. A 5 gallon bucket is recommended. One of the best is a 5 gallon plastic, cat litter bucket. They come with a lid and handle and are made of thin plastic that is easy to cut.
Step 1: Cut 4, two inch diameter holes, spaced evenly, in the lid of the bucket.
Step 2: Cut two 4 inch diameter holes on opposite sides of the bucket
about mid-way down from the top rim of the bucket.
Step 2a:Use 4 or 5 thicknesses of paper to pad the bottom rim of the holes so the sharp edges do not cut into the tomato plant stems. Tape in place.
Step 3: Puncture three drainage holes in bottom of bucket with tip of
small knife.
Step 4: Fill bucket to bottom of side holes with planting mix.
Step 5: Lay tomato plants on dirt inside bucket and guide top of plants through the holes on each side of bucket.
Step 6: Fill remainder of bucket with planting mix to within 2 inches of top rim of bucket.
Step 7: Place lid on bucket.
Using bucket handle, hang bucket so bottom of bucket is at least 4 feet above ground surface. Water from top of bucket allowing water to run through holes in lid of bucket.
The plants will grow up toward the sun at first. Then as the limbs grow larger and have the weight of tomatoes on them, the plants will hang down toward the ground.
Check the soil moisture every day for the first week. Do not allow the plants to dry out but, at the same time, do not allow the roots to sit in soggy soil for extended time. After the first week you will be able to judge how often to water by observing how well the bucket drains and how well the soil retains moisture.
Be sure to locate the bucket in your garden where the tomatoes will get full sun, all day if possible.
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