DIY Inverted Tomato & Basil

Most gardeners will start with tomatoes soaked in the growing experience of eating their toes. And it is not difficult to see why. They are an important plant in the garden for easy growth and reliability, and their versatility is a staple in the kitchen. As long as you have the basics like irrigation, food, and support, you can grow an abundant tomato harvest every year without any problems. So, what happens when it's so easy? Or, for those who want a little variety in their lives, how about changing the growing experience while maintaining your harvest each year?

How to make a tomato plant upside down

Choose a pot

Choosing a pot for your tomato plants is usually a relatively unimportant part of the process. However, when it comes to this DIY, the pot is the most important part. No drilling or cutting is required due to a lack of necessary tools. Instead, we are going to use a built-in drainage hole to plant our plants upside down. That means the drainage hole should be large enough to accommodate at least one tomato seedling.

The pot should be large enough to handle the roots of your tomato plant, as well as additional plants in the top layer of soil. Even for dwarf tomato plants, a small pot is unlikely to provide high yields. Finally, the pot should be light. Due to its size, it is not suitable for hanging heavy objects such as terra cotta or ceramic. Instead, choose a cloth pot you know or a plastic pot with a design that complements your tomato plant.

Prepare the soil

When planting in any type of container, soil selection is very important. Container soil, and especially hanging basket soil, should be light enough to avoid weighing the pot while keeping enough moisture to prevent it from drying out too quickly. Well-drained soil is very important to prevent water stagnation as tomatoes take up little space in the drainage hole. It should be rich in nutrients to feed the plants during the first period of leaf growth.

Prepare your seedlings

Depending on the size of your pot and drainage hole, you can only plant one tomato seedling upside down. If you plan to plant some more on the top of the pot, measure how much you can fit before preparing. Smaller varieties are preferred for containers - such as cherry tomatoes - as their weight will not sink the hanging pot. Flags also hang better than other types.

Do not choose large varieties with heavy fruits, because if they produce tomatoes, they will produce very little upside down in a small pot. Remove the seedlings from the tray or container and remove as much of the soil around the roots as possible. This will make the planting process much easier. Be gentle with the roots to avoid damage before planting.

Fill the pot and add more herbs

Once the first seedling is planted, you can start filling the pot with the prepared soil mixture. Slightly compact the soil where the stem is. Continue filling the pot until there is about a third of the space in the pot. This will allow you to add extra plants to the top layer.

We chose basil - a great complement to the tomatoes (here are some of the best tomato companions yet) and one that doesn’t take up much space in the pot. You can choose another shallow-rooted herb or plant cherry tomato seedlings over a larger harvest.

Create a hanging basket

To avoid the stem being cut off, grab a small pot from the table and add the hanging basket items. If you have chosen a plastic hanging basket, this step is not required. But, if you are recycling a different pot, you can make a metal ring and some strong rope on your own.