Usually, tomato plants are grown directly in pots or in the ground, but there is a way to grow them by hanging the plant upside down. Although this may seem unusual, this method is very useful for those who garden in limited spaces. With this technique, the tomato plant grows not upwards, but hangs downwards.
This approach is called 'UpSide Down Gardening'. The advantage is that it does not require a large container or a special bed; it is enough to use an ordinary barrel that you have at home. Moreover, small greens, such as cilantro, can be grown on the top part of the barrel, allowing you to practice two types of gardening in one container, which enables growing fresh vegetables and herbs even in a small area.
The essence of 'UpSide Down Gardening' is to grow the plant unconventionally, directing it from the container downwards. For the tomato plant, a hole is made in the bottom part of the barrel or sturdy container. The plant's roots are placed in the soil inside the barrel, and the stem is led out through this hole. Then, the barrel is hung in a secure place. Gradually, the plant begins to grow downwards, and drooping tomatoes appear on it.
This technique is especially good for people who do not have a garden or a large terrace. If there is little space on the balcony for pots, the plant can be grown by hanging it downwards. This frees up floor space and allows more plants to be placed on the balcony.
With this method, the tomatoes do not touch the ground. In conventional growing, tomatoes can fall close to the ground, creating a risk of contamination or spoilage due to contact with the soil. When growing in reverse, the tomatoes hang from the plant, so the problem of ground contact is absent.
It also reduces the need for supports. As the tomato plant grows, it often requires wooden stakes or some kind of support for stability. However, when using the 'UpSide Down' method, the plant grows downwards, which reduces the need to install additional supports for vertical positioning.
The most interesting feature of this gardening technique is as follows: after the tomato plant is removed from the bottom of the barrel, cilantro can be grown on the top part, towards the soil. Thus, one container is used for two plants. Nevertheless, before hanging the barrel, you must ensure that it can withstand the weight of the soil and water, and that the hook or mounting point is strong enough. If your balcony is small, but you want to grow tomatoes, 'UpSide Down Gardening' can be an interesting option. Furthermore, it gives the balcony a special look of a garden corner when growing plants in a limited space.
