This DIY Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter is perfect for vertical gardening in small spaces. This tomato planter can be hung from a porch, apartment balcony, or even inside in a window when planting space is at a premium.
What Is A Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter?
When I first graduated from college, Topsy Turvy tomato planters were all the rage. They advertised a vertical solution for planting tomatoes from hanging bags. I moved 1,300 miles from home for my first career and was living in a studio apartment above a downtown business. While I didn’t have a yard or even a balcony for plants, I missed gardening. I had seen the Topsy Turvy tomato planters advertised on TV, but I couldn’t afford to buy one for every window. At that point, I decided to make my own using what I had around the house. Since selling our homestead and moving out of state to the suburbs I’ve had to be smart about where I put my plants due to lack of space. I’ve started making my own upside down tomato planters again to hang on the front porch.
Why Plant Tomatoes Upside Down?
The most obvious reason for planting tomatoes upside down is space. This method of container gardening is perfect for backyard and urban gardeners who don’t have a lot of room for plants outside. This method of vertical gardening allows you to grow edible plants on your front porch, apartment balcony, or even inside hanging in a window.
There are several benefits to growing your tomatoes upside down even if you do have ample gardening space. Upside down planters keep your tomatoes off the ground and reduce the risk of soil-borne pests and diseases. Your tomatoes will also receive better airflow, reducing the risk of fungi and promoting growth. Also, no tomato stakes all over the place? Yes, please.
How To Make A DIY Upside Down Tomato Planter
- Start with a metal coffee can. It was super easy to find coffee in metal cans when I lived in my apartment. Most coffee companies have switched to plastic containers these days, but metal coffee cans can still be found at some grocery stores. This time around I used an Augason Farms can that once held dehydrated apples.
- Use a hole saw drill bit to drill a 1 1/4″ hole in the bottom of your coffee can.
3) Use a drill bit to drill 4 small holes in the top of your coffee can, under the lip. You’ll thread twine through these holes later to hang your upside down tomato planter.
A shout out and thank you to Grandpa for helping with these steps.
4) Clean any metal shavings off your coffee can and spray paint it the color of your choice. I chose a light blue that matches my patio cushions.
5) Once the paint dries, flip your coffee can upside down and carefully feed your tomato plant through the hole in the bottom. I used a cherry tomato plant for this planter.
6) Flip the coffee can over carefully and remove the tomato’s original pot.
7) Fill the coffee can with container gardening soil.
8) For the best use of space for vertical gardening you can plant herb seeds at the top of your coffee can. I planted a couple of Thai basil seeds in the top of my upside down tomato planter.
9) Thread some twine through the holes in the top of the coffee can to hang it.
10) Hang your new upside down tomato planter on your porch, balcony, or in a window and welcome to vertical gardening!
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DIY Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter – A Vertical Gardening Tutorial
This DIY Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter is perfect for vertical gardening in small spaces. This tomato planter can be hung from a porch, apartment balcony, or even inside in a window when planting space is at a premium.
Materials
- Metal coffee can
- Spray paint (optional)
- Tomato plant
- Gardening soil
- Basil seeds
- Twine
Tools
- Drill
- Hole saw drill bit
- Regular drill bit
Instructions
- Use a hole saw drill bit to drill a 1 1/4″ hole in the bottom of a metal coffee can.
- Use a drill bit to drill 4 small holes in the top of your coffee can, under the lip. You’ll thread twine through these holes later to hang your upside down tomato planter.
- Clean any metal shavings off your coffee can and spray paint it the color of your choice. I chose a light blue that matches my patio cushions.
- After the paint has dried, flip your coffee can upside down and carefully feed your tomato plant through the hole in the bottom. I used a cherry tomato plant for this planter.
- Flip the coffee can over carefully and remove the tomato’s original pot.
- Fill the coffee can with container gardening soil.
- For the best use of space for vertical gardening you can plant herb seeds at the top of your coffee can. I planted a couple of Thai basil seeds in the top of my upside down tomato planter.
- Thread some twine through the holes in the top of the coffee can to hang it.
- Hang your new upside down tomato planter on your porch, balcony, or in a window and welcome to vertical gardening!
Notes
Most coffee companies have switched to plastic containers these days, but metal coffee cans can still be found at some grocery stores. This time around I used an Augason Farms can that once held dehydrated apples. These can be bought on Amazon (link in body of post).
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