I had heard an idea last year about growing tomatoes in a container upside down. Supposedly you didn't have to worry about weeds, they were easy to pick, and took up little space. I did some looking and found some commercial products available but I didn't feel like spending $20-30 on something. I ended up drilling a 2" hole in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket with 1/4" holes around it to drain and using that to plant a tomato plant in. I have to say it worked very well. I have picked more tomatoes off of this plant than any of my others. I had to add some reinforcment because the weight of the dirt was getting to be too much for the handle. I was pretty sceptical because the plant looks very spindly and not very leafy, but it is producing tomatoes like crazy. I just tried it with grape tomatoes this year, but this winter or next spring I am going to try beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes. Just thought I would pass this along for people who don't have much room to garden, or just want a couple of plants and don't feel like bending over to take care of them.
__________________ But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
My mom has been growing them that way for years. She has containers that she bought. She has them hanging on her deck. I have a co-worker that uses 5 gal. bucket also. They both work great.
MrsS: Ma'am; I'm not jtuck; but thought maybe your could see the ''so'' called inventors.
The Upside Down Tomato Planter
The Topsy Turvy™ Tomato Planter works in a simple yet ingenious way. As the sun warms the plant like a greenhouse, the root system explodes and thrives inside the planter. Because the Topsy Turvy™ is upside down, water and nutrients pour directly from the root to the fruit, giving you up to 30 pounds of deliciously ripe tomatoes per plant!
I am having geographical difficulties with the camera. (Somebody borrowed the stupid thing and didn't bring it back) Hopefully I can "borrow" my camera back and get some pictures for you. My plant doesn't look like the ones on the website that neophyte posted. As I stated they look pretty spindly, but that might just be the type of tomatoes that I am growing. I planted grape tomatoes and this is the first time I have ever tried to grow that type of tomato. Next year I will try it with three or four different types of tomatoes. I am thinking about trying to grow some in my garage this winter. I have windows all around two sides so they should get plenty of light. If not I can rig up a florescent light.
__________________ But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
I'm doing this right now....I went to Walmart and bought $4 trashcans. They are 3 gallon cans. Cut a hole through the bottom...and I cut a hole in the deck and put the plant through both. I also have a 30 feet deck...not worried about it hitting the ground.
The tomatoes are nice and big. Just be sure to fertilize, and water twice daily.
Hanging Tomatoes 
