Growing tomatoes upside down is not a new concept but has become increasingly trendy over the past few years. Most people grow tomato plants upside down to save space and reduce soil borne pests. In this article we will look into the pros and cons and whether it this is worth embarking on or if it’s a bit of a passing fad.
When autumn chill sets in and tomato plants are still heavy with green tomatoes, many gardeners face a dilemma – pull the plants or find a way to ripen the remaining fruit. One unique solution is to hang tomato plants upside down. This unconventional technique keeps plants alive so they can continue ripening green tomatoes as the season winds down.
Why Try Upside Down Ripening?
End-of-season weather slows further ripening of green tomatoes still on the vine. Cool nights and shorter days inhibit ripening. You could pick green tomatoes and attempt ripening indoors, but this is hit or miss.
Hanging whole plants upside down has several advantages:
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Keeps plants alive longer so they keep ripening fruit. Hanging positions extend viability 2-3 more weeks.
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Allows airflow around tomatoes needed to prevent mold and rot during ripening
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Leverages the plant’s natural ripening hormones and processes
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Requires little effort compared to checking individual picked fruit daily.
With a surplus of green tomatoes, employ all strategies – windowsills, countertops, and upside down hanging.
How Upside Down Hanging Works
This novel approach uses a still-living plant’s natural ripening abilities. Follow these steps:
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Select only healthy, vigorous plants – no disease or frost damage.
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Hang plants upside down in a sheltered spot outdoors – garage, shed, basement.
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Use rope, twine or hooks to securely suspend plants from rafters, beams or hooks.
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Leave all remaining fruit attached to plants so stem connections continue ripening.
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Check periodically and pick fully ripened red tomatoes over the next few weeks.
The theory is the living plant keeps transporting sugars and hormones like ethylene to fruit, assisting ripening. Removing tomatoes disrupts this.
Tips for Successful Upside Down Ripening
Follow these tips to get the most ripe tomatoes from hanging plants:
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Gently invert plants to avoid dislodging tomatoes.
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Choose a frost-protected area without direct sun on plants.
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Space hanging plants for airflow and keep foliage for extra ripening power.
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Check every 2-3 days for ripe tomatoes to use quickly when at peak flavor.
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Gently rotate plants to prevent flattened spots on tomatoes.
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Try both determinate and indeterminate varieties – both can ripen inverted.
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Time upside down ripening to avoid heavy prolonged rains that rot tomatoes.
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Be patient – full ripening takes 3-4 weeks but results in vine-ripened flavor.
The Advantages of Upside Down Ripening
Growing tomato plants upside down has several advantages:
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Saves space – ideal for small gardens, balconies and patios. Gets plants off the ground.
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Allows moving plants for full sun exposure and protection from weather.
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Reduces pests and soil-borne diseases with improved airflow.
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Eliminates staking and pruning since vines grow naturally.
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Avoids weeds which don’t grow well upside down.
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Prevents top-heavy plants from snapping stems under the weight of fruit.
The Disadvantages of Upside Down Ripening
Along with advantages, there are a few disadvantages to consider:
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Requires more frequent watering as containers dry out faster than in-ground plants.
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Only suits small tomato varieties – beefsteaks too heavy.
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Plants can be very heavy and hard to move when just watered.
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Upside down vines may move in wind and break more easily.
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Shade from containers can inhibit full sun exposure for some tomatoes.
How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down
With the pros and cons in mind, here’s how to grow tomatoes upside down:
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Select small tomato varieties suited to containers like patio, grape, cherry.
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Use commercial upside down planters or create DIY versions from 5 gallon buckets.
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Fill planters with quality potting mix amended with compost or fertilizer.
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Transplant one plant per planter, burying stem upside down so just roots show.
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Hang planters in full sun up against a vertical surface like a wall or fence.
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Water 1-2 times daily to keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.
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Rotate planters occasionally for even sun exposure as plants grow.
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Pick ripe tomatoes frequently, checking undersides consistently.
While unconventional, hanging tomato plants upside down to continue ripening through fall is worth trying when cooler weather halts ripening on upright plants. With a bit of effort, you can harvest vine-ripened tomatoes for an extra 2-4 weeks. Get creative and hang some plants this season!
What are the advantages of growing tomato plants upside down?
Ideal for small space gardening: Growing a tomato plant upside down has many benefits particularly when growing them in a garden with limited space or even on a balcony or patio. Hanging tomato plants upside down not only frees up more ground space but the plants can be moved around so they can benefit from full sunlight and equally be protected from bad weather.
Reduces risk of pests & diseases: Traditional methods of tomato growing involve staking to keep the tomatoes off the ground to prevent pests such as ground worms and diseases such as blight. It also stops stems breaking from the weight of the
tomatoes. Hanging upside down means there’s no need for staking and good air flow means that soil borne diseases are reduced.
No need for staking: For some people staking tomato plants is enjoyable, whilst for others it is tiresome. Hanging tomatoes upside down allows the plant to vine out naturally as it would in the wild. The main reason we stake them is so that we get to eat them before other creatures do. Most gardeners that grow their tomato plants upside down find that they do not need to prune the plants of remove suckers which would usually take up a lot of space when grown the conventional way.
No weeds: Weeds tend not to grow upside down, so you don’t have to worry about those competing with your tomato plant.
What are the disadvantages of growing tomatoes upside down?
More watering is required: Growing tomatoes in containers or hanging baskets requires more watering than conventional planting methods, covering soil with a mulch or straw helps prevent water from evaporating or drying out quickly, but doesn’t resolve the problem entirely. Some growers find that tomato plant leaves are more prone to disease because the excess water drains out the same hole the main stem is in. In effect, every time you water the plant, the main stem, and some leaves get wet leading to disease, apparently additional spraying of organic pesticide can help resolve this.
Only suitable for certain varieties: Upside down tomato planters work well with small varieties like patio and grape tomatoes, but heavier ones like beefsteak tomatoes cause a weight bearing issue and break their stems.
They are heavy: These plants can be super heavy and near impossible to move when just watered. Not only that, but they need to be very well secure to the wall they’re hanging onto, so they don’t fall away.
Problems with the vines: The lack of support by means of staking can mean that the plants can bounce around in strong winds causing vines to snap. Due to phototropism, the vines want to grow naturally upwards and towards the sun resulting in U-shaped bends.
Lack of sunlight: Tomatoes grown upside down can struggle to get enough light. There are nearly always some of the tomatoes shaded by container in which they are grown in.
Here’s How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down
FAQ
Do tomatoes grow better hanging upside down?
Upside down planters are an option if you can’t grow tomatoes right side up for reasons of space or sunlight. Otherwise it is easier to grow them right side up. When you grow tomatoes upside down, you don’t have to worry about cutworms or ground fungus.
Does storing tomatoes upside down make them last longer?
The top of a tomato ripens last and is the firmest part, so it can support the weight of the fruit. Storing tomatoes stem-side down also creates a barrier against oxygen, which can slow down mold growth. The stem area is sensitive and can allow moisture and bacteria to enter the fruit, causing it to rot.