Just when I think I might have got the hang of growing tomatoes, some sadistic nutter comes along and says we should turn them upside down.
It’s taken me about five years to get the wretched things to produce fruit the right way up.
But the fact is, growing tomatoes upside down is The Next Big Thing, so there must be some advantages.
It’s good for growers who don’t have a lot of room, but then I suppose you could say the same for any tomato grown in a pot. And I’m told it reduces pests, diseases and weeds, but again, that applies to many container-grown plants.
If you have limited space, then this trend may be for you.
The disadvantages are that you need a reasonable sized container, so it needs to be supported, and you might need help to hang it up.
Early on, while the planter is still hanging partway over the plant, it might struggle for sun. And worst of all is that tomatoes like growing upwards, so they’ll struggle to turn themselves around and may take on a contorted shape.
However, if you want to give it a go, here’s how. Not all tomatoes will oblige you by growing upside down, so choose a determinate type tomato plant – bred to grow to a compact height. Plant it in a light-coloured pot that reflects light and heat. Plant the rootball as close to the top of the container as possible.
Make sure the container has adequate drainage and hang it somewhere you’re not going to get a face full of tomatoes whenever you walk past.
