growing plants upside down / sideways?

Question

I found these instructions on how to grow tomatoes upside down. http://webpages.charter.net/tomato/
I was wondering if it could work with other viney vegetable plants like peppers, eggplants, beans, melons, squash etc.? Also instead of growing them through a hole in the bottom, what about a hole on the side? Using the same instructions.

Answer 1

Actually, it does work. I live in an apartment complex with balconies and a lot of my neighbors are growing their vegies from hanging baskets. I haven't seen melons or squash, but I would think that the weight of the produce would pull it out by its roots from a hanging basket. If the vine was long enough to rest on a stable flat surface, it could be done.

Answer 2

Tomatoes seem to adapt well to this method. Peppers and eggplants are more woody stemmed than viney. Melons and squash would probably be too heavy. Cucumbers would probably work. Beans could be grown, but you would need many plants for it to be worthwhile. Maybe for beans you could use the grow-bags that you see begonias and impatiens planted in that you can hang up.

We have info about the Topsy-Turvy tomato planter on our Blog at-

http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/gardening-blog.html

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 3

Tomatoes and beans will vine in almost any direction. Peppers and eggplant are not true vines. Melons and squash are too heavy and bulky and would break out. Growing through the side works well. You can do that with hanging pots and it looks really pretty with ivy, nasturtiums or vinca. I personally prefer a strawberry pot.

Answer 4

Plants will grow in the direction they are forced.I will give you a example although i do not mean to offend you.I grew pot and tied it to the ground so it would not be visible.This worked great and progressed well.You are exactly right on your thinking about growing plants.They will grow sideways even up side-down.You can also grow just about anything from a hanging basket.Happy growing.

Answer 5

I've heard it's a topsy turvy world so don't see why not. If you can grow tomatoes, don't know why can't grow peppers. One way to find out, try it. You could be on to something!!!!

Answer 6

My father grows all his vegtable plants upside down..peppers,tomatoes,etc...it really works

Answer 7

I have seen this done. It really works. I have always wanted to try it. I'm talking about upside down. Now I don't think it will work sideways. But try it and prove me wrong.

Answer 8

Why would you want to? What's the purpose of growing them upside down?

Answer 9

Mellon's, I don't think that would work because of the weight of the Mellon might break off lighter fruit may work best.