An upside - down tomato garden is n’t a raw idea , but it ’s become more popular in late years . Most masses develop Lycopersicon esculentum plants upside down to save space and reduce soil borne pests . We ’ll talk about the pro and yard bird and decide if this is something you should do or if it ’s just a passing course .
It ’s a intimate ending - of - season fit for many gardener – love apple plants arduous with still - unripened tomato once autumn ’s chill bent in . Determined not to drop off your severely - bring in harvest you face the dilemma – pull the plants or observe a fashion to coax those remain tomato to full red ripeness . But there ’s a unique solvent that just might do the john – hanging your tomato plant upside down .
This strange proficiency for ripen green tomatoes as the time of year wreathe down go along your plants live and able to continue ripening While it may seem odd , suspend top - down tomato plants in a protected billet allows the green tomatoes to bit by bit blush over weeks .
rum how hang upside down ripen works and whether you should try it ? Here ’s what you call for to eff :
Why Try Upside Down Ripening?
ending - of - time of year weather gravel a threat to ripening Lycopersicon esculentum still clinging to fading vine . Cool dark and brusk days slow up further ripen . While you could blame the green Lycopersicon esculentum and attempt to ripen them indoors , this takes clip and success is mixed .
hang plants upside down ply an unconventional alternative that extend several advantage :
maintain plants alive so they can keep ripening The hanging positions keeps the plants viable for 2 - 3 more week
Allows air flow around tomato needed to prevent mold and decompose as they ripen .
Leverages the plant ’s natural ripen hormones and processes .
expect minimum effort equate to checking item-by-item fruit daily .
If you have a excess of fleeceable tomatoes , it makes sense to apply all possible ripening strategies . Give upside down hang a try along with windowsills and countertop ripen .
How the Upside Down Hanging Method Works
Select only vigorous , sound plants with no disease or frost damage .
advert plants upside down in a service department , shed , cellar or under an overhang – somewhere outdoors with shelter .
Use rope , string or hooks to hang plants firmly from raftman , beams , or hooks .
Leave any remaining yield on the plants . The stem connections keep ripening mechanisms working .
Periodically check plants and pick in full ripened red tomatoes as they wind up over subsequent weeks .
The central theory is that while the flora is alive , it continue transporting sugars and hormone like ethene to the fruit , assisting ripen . remove the tomatoes would disrupt this .
Tips for Success with Upside Down Tomato Ripening
To get the hang this unconventional ripen tactic and get the most Lycopersicon esculentum , play along these tips :
When inverting , be gentle with the industrial plant to avoid dislodging tomatoes .
Choose an area protect from intemperate frost but avoid direct Lord’s Day hitting the industrial plant .
Space hanging plants for good airflow and leave leafage on for extra ripen exponent .
Check flora every 2 - 3 days for red ripe love apple to nibble and practice speedily at peak flavor .
Rotate or lightly shake works sporadically to prevent flatten post on tomatoes .
Try both determinate and indeterminate varieties – both can mature well invert .
meter upside down ripening to avoid profound keep up rains which can quickly molder love apple .
Be patient – the process can take 3 - 4 weeks but results in vine - mature flavor .
Reap the Rewards of Your Upside Down Harvest
While it may look strange at first , suspend your unripened tomato - laden plants upside down is deserving a attempt when cold weather approaches . You ’ll be astounded at the ripened tomatoes you may harvest , weeks after pulling plant .
Do n’t submit yourself to a disappointing other end to refreshful Lycopersicon esculentum enjoyment . Harness the index of your plants ’ natural ripening hormones with this simple upper side down trick . Your hang tomato plant plants will make up you back with vine - ripened flavor straight through spill ’s first frosts .
What are the advantages of growing tomato plants upside down?
Gardening in small outer space is easy when you grow tomato plant plants upside down . This is specially honest if you are garden in a small garden or on a balcony or terrace . hang Lycopersicon esculentum plants upside down not only makes more way on the ground , but the industrial plant can also be act around to get full Sunday and tax shelter from bad weather condition .
Lessens the probability of pests It also stops stems breaking from the weight of the .
tomatoes . If you hang up something upside down , you do n’t have to stake it , and good air stream take down the danger of soil - borne diseases .
No motivation for hazard : For some people staking tomato plants is enjoyable , whilst for others it is dull . Hanging tomatoes upside down allows the plant to vine out of course as it would in the wild . The main reason we bet on them is so that we get to consume them before other creatures do . Most citizenry who farm Lycopersicon esculentum plants upside down do n’t have to snip them or get rid of the gull that would take up a passel of space if they were grown the normal way .
weed often do n’t grow backwards , so you do n’t have to worry about them getting in the way of your tomato plant plant .
What are the disadvantages of growing tomatoes upside down?
More watering is needed : Tomatoes grown in hanging handbasket or container need more lachrymation than tomato planted in the primer coat . Covering the soil with stubble or mulch facilitate keep water from disappear , but it does n’t solve the job completely . For some growers , the leaves of tomato plants are more likely to get pale because the main stem is in the hole where the extra water debilitate out . When you water the flora , the main stem and some parting get wet , which can stimulate disease . Apparently , spraying the plant with more organic pesticide can help cook this trouble .
Only good for certain type : upside - down tomato plant planter operate well with small type like grape vine and patio tomatoes , but they do n’t work well with lumbering types like beefsteak love apple because they break their stems when they seek to hold their weight .
They are backbreaking : These plant can be super heavy and about impossible to move when just watered . They also need to be very securely impound to the wall they ’re hanging on so they do n’t fall off .
Problems with the vines : Since they are n’t venture down , the works can move around in strong winding , which can wear the vines . Due to phototropism , the vine want to spring up naturally upwards and towards the sunshine result in U - shaped decompression sickness .
want of sunlight : Tomatoes grow upside down can struggle to get enough light . There are almost always some of the tomato shaded by container in which they are grow in .
