An upside down garden? This is not some children's fairy tale or science fiction fantasy. Some gardeners are experimenting with an interesting new option.One was fed up with cut worms and disease and decided to give it a try. He made six planters out of five-gallon plastic buckets, and cut a two-inch hole in the bottom of each bucket and threaded a tomato seedling down through the opening, packing strips of newspaper around the root ball to keep it in place and to prevent dirt from falling out. He then filled the buckets with soil mixed with compost and hung them on sturdy steel hooks bolted to the railing of his backyard deck.
A NYT article explains, "The advantages of upside-down gardening are many: it saves space; there is no need for stakes or cages; it foils pests and fungus; there are fewer, if any, weeds; there is efficient delivery of water and nutrients thanks to gravity; and it allows for greater air circulation and sunlight exposure."
In my area of Leamington, Ontario we have several thousand acres of greenhouses which grow hydroponic tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. As they grow they are suspended on twine that extend at least ten feet high. From bags of nutrient rich water, huge yields are obtained. It's interesting to see the diversity of growing options available. Drip irrigation is also used extensively outdoors.
Among the many options, upside down may be an exciting little project to undertake with your child or grandchild or just for your own enrichment. Topsy Turvy offers a number of gardening products.
Do you have an interesting gardening technique or experience? I enjoyed growing million bell tomatoes which provide zillions of delectable fruit (vegetables) when suspended on trellices.
