You'll be really amazed if you grow tomatoes topsy turvy. Instead of hanging downward, the fruit will turn upward to gather the sun, creating a very beautiful display.

A great plant to grow upside down is the patio tomato or cherry tomato. Peppers such as jalapeño, cayenne, and Tabasco, or any plant which produces small fruit on strong limbs and branches will work great. Green bell peppers do not work well because the weight of the large peppers tends to break the branches before the pepper is matured. Always select varieties which are suitable for container gardening for your topsy turvy gardening efforts. Leafy herbs such as oregano and basil are also perfect for this type of gardening.

Many gardeners who have used the upside down growing method obtain better production yield than produced by the same varieties when planted in the ground. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that there is less stress on the branches and much better circulation of air.

The concept of topsy turvy gardening is really simple. This growing method works best using seedlings, whether you grew them from seeds or purchased them already growing. Rather than planting seedlings into prepared soil in the ground, the plants are planted in buckets or hanging baskets pointing downward. Common plastic five gallon buckets with plastic handles work really well for this type of gardening. You can also use large plastic pots with suitable sized holes in the bottom. If you elect to use large clay pots, you may find it difficult to prepare the pot bottom and the weight is significantly greater, requiring a much stronger hanger and plant hook to support the planter.

Ideally, you want to use a planter which already had a handle but you can attach plant hangers if necessary to support the planter from your plant hanger. Five gallon plastic buckets can often be obtained at no charge from restaurants because these businesses purchase products such as bulk condiments, prepared coleslaw and potato salad in these containers. Frequently, once they are emptied, the food service business discards the buckets, resulting in more and more plastic filling our landfills. Simply as a restaurant you frequent if you can have some empty buckets and they will likely be happy for you to take them away.

Wash your plastic bucket well to remove any food or debris. If using a large plastic pot, clean it will if it has been used previously. If it is brand-new, you can simply rinse the pot to remove any dust or dirt collected while stored in the garden center or outlet.

Planter Preparation

Before planting, you will need to properly prepare your planter. Because the plant will be hanging down from the bottom, you will need to drill or cut a hole in the bottom of the bucket of enlarge the drainage hole in the plastic pot. In most cases, plastic buckets have a circular indentation in the bottom which is about two to two and one-half inches in diameter. Use this as a guide for creating your hole. You want to create a hole between two and three inches in size. This hole will be the opening from which the plant hangs and grows.

Planting Your Upside Down Planter

Place the bucket or pot right side up with the hole pointing down between two objects such as boards in order to expose the hole but support the planter. If the stem root bundle is smaller than the hole, place a small square of cheese cloth or other porous cloth, sphagnum moss, coffee filters, or newspaper in the bottom and cut an opening through which the plant can extend.

Very gently tread the seedling leaves and stems down through the opening, or if the root bundle is small, pass it up through the hole and wrap the cloth, moss, coffee filter, or newspaper around it for support. Hold the seedling so that two inches of the stem extends from the bottom of the planter.

While continuing to support the seedling in place, pack potting soil around the stem in order to anchor the plant and ensure it will not slide out of the opening. While continuing to hold the seedling in position, continue to add soil to the bucket, packing it firmly. Once you have added enough soil to support the seedling properly, you can release the plant. Continue to add soil until the planter or bucket is about an inch or two above the root bundle. On top of this soil, add a layer of compost, about one inch deep. Then fill the planter the rest of the way with soil, stopping about one inch from the top of the planter.

Hanging the Planter
Install a sturdy hook from which to hang your planter. Because a five gallon bucket of soil can be quite heavy when wet, it is better to use a larger hook than you believe necessary rather than erring on the smaller side and ending up having your plant hook fall out of the support.
Hang the plastic bucket from the attached handle. If using a pot, place a top-edge hanging system on the top so that nothing constricts the pot bottom or interferes with the growing plant. String plant hangers simply will not work since they have knots at the bottom which will damage the plant.
Water the plant well. You will know you have enough water when water begins dripping from the bottom hole shortly after watering. After watering, check the level of the soil to ensure it hasn't settled more than two inches from the top of the planter. Add more soil if necessary.
If you have the lid for the bucket, you can place it loosely on the top of the planter, but do not seal. This can prevent moisture loss and extend periods between watering. If you have no lid or are using a pot, be certain you water frequently enough to keep the soil moist. Frequently check the soil level to ensure that it has not lowered and, if needed, add more soil to the top of the planter.

Tags: Vegetable Garden

What are Heirloom Tomatoes?

The question of an exact definition of heirloom tomatoes is a controversial subject. One train of thought is that the definition should be based on the age of the cultivars. For example, these people define heirloom tomatoes as a line that is over 100 years old, or 50 years old, while others say that any tomato line which began by 1945, the end of World War II qualifies as an heirloom tomato.

Others define heirloom tomatoes as a cultivar that has been nurtured, carefully chosen, and handed down from family member to family member for generations. Still others define these tomatoes as cultivars introduced generations ago which have such great qualities that the line has been saved and maintained over the years.

No matter which definition of heirloom tomatoes you agree with, the common point is that their heirlooms must be open-pollinated and not hybridized in any way. No genetically modified specimens can qualify as heirloom tomatoes.

Pricing of HeirLoom Tomatoes

When you shop for heirloom tomatoes, you will notice that the price of these specimens is greater than for hybrid of non [heirloom tomatoes] . Why is this true? Well, the heirloom tomatoes where selected for handing down from generation to generation for specific qualities.

Tenderness and taste are major reasons for continuing a line of tomatoes. Some of the specimens can grow to huge sizes and others produce unique colors and shapes. The main driver for growing the pure-bred heirloom produce is flavor. Nothing is quite like a perfect, beautiful heirloom tomato served sliced with a tiny bit of salt as an accompaniment to fresh vegetables.

These attributes mean that the prices are higher than for modern tomatoes. After all, these heirloom fruits are “antiques” and, whether you buy furniture, cars, clothing, or anything else that is an antique, you will pay more than you would for a modern version. However, those who grow these tomatoes attest that the additional investment is well worth the price.

Attributes of HeirLoom Tomatoes - Unique, Colorful, and Shapely

We think of tomatoes as green fruits which turn red when ripe. With heirloom tomatoes, this is not always the case. Heirloom specimens of various varieties ripen to purple, green, pink, gold, orange, striped, even white. Huge old-fashioned beefsteaks that are large enough to stuff are an example, and some heirlooms are even shaped like an accordion.

HeirLoom Tomatoes Varieties

Examples of some of the available heir-loom tomatoes include:

Aunt Ruby’s German Green: Ripes to a bright green and is very flavorful and large -- up to one pound..

Brandywine: An Amish heirloom from 1995 which produces large fruit, up to 1.5 pounds, and has a wonderful flavor. It ripens to shades from pink to blackish purple.
Cherokee Purple: This tomato from the 1890s ripens to a flavorful, large fruit which is deep pink-purple.

Galinas: This heirloom hails from Siberia and produces small, golden yellow tomatoes which are sweet yet tangy.

English Rose: Dated from pre-World War II, this tomato has been passed down through a single family. It is noted for a large size and pink fruit and has leaves shaped like potato leaves.

Break-O-Day: This heir-loom dates from 1931 and provides red fruit that is great for canning. The fruit are uniform in shape and have rich red color. The flavor is considered tangy.

Marmande: This ribbed red tomato comes from France and is richly flavored. The tomatoes are medium to large size and the plants produce well even in cooler climates.
Old German: The Mennonites developed this exquisitely flavored tomato with large, yellow-skinned fruits streaked with red. There may be marbling of red both on the skin and inside the tomato.

Orange Banana: This heirloom is great for making paste, drying or canning. It is orange and sweet when ripened properly. They also taste great fresh when included in a meal as a side dish.

Pink Accordion: This tomato is mild in flavor and heavily ribbed, reminding one of an accordion. They are semi-hollow inside, making great choices for stuffing. The ribbed shape also makes an impressive display on a place when simply sliced for serving.

Principe Borghese: This heirloom hails from Italy and has fruits shaped like grapes with few seeds. The flavor is relished but the fruit is small -- only one or two ounces.
Plum Lemon: Hailing from Moscow, these heirlooms are canary yellow when ripe and measure about three inches in length, looking very much like a lemon. They are sweet in taste.

Thai Pink Egg: This heir-loom tomato from Thailand produces crisp, sweet, pink tomatoes which are full of flavor and uniform in color. Each tomato may be only one ounce and is shaped like a grape.

Tigerella Orange: These red-orange tomatoes are small to medium in size and have a tangy flavor. They are prized due to their productive vines and disease resistance. This is a great choice for slicing and eating along with vegetables.

White Currant: This wild-type heirloom produces clusters of cherry tomatoes that ripen to a creamy color with a slight yellow tint to the skin. They are very sweet and much loved by fans of heirloom tomatoes.

Preserving the HeirLoom Tomato Lines

When you grow heirloom tomatoes, it is important to keep the line pure and preserved for future generations. To do this, simply prevent cross-pollination with other tomatoes by growing other tomatoes in another area of the garden or in a different part of the property (i.e. grow one type in the front garden and the other in the back garden). Save some seed from the heirloom specimens to plant again the next year. Do this each year, and your initial investment, even though it is more than buying hybrid tomatoes, will pay off for you in flavor, beauty, and enjoyment of growing something that has been around for generations.

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Tags: Vegetable Garden

If you’ve always wanted to start a garden but were intimidated by the amount of work it would take, let me tell you, vegetable gardening does not have to be difficult. In fact, you don’t even have to break ground if you don’t want to.

If you don’t have a big back yard or simply don’t want to give up space to a garden, there are many vegetables (and herbs!) that can be grown quite successfully in containers, including tomatoes, peppers, staked beans and cucumbers, even lettuce and radishes.

Use a Quality Potting Mix

Use a good potting mix that drains well, add compost and fertilizer if you like, mix well and add to your pots. Plant seedlings as instructed on plant tags, or seeds as the seed packets indicate. Lettuce, radishes, beans and cucumbers can all be grown from seed, while tomatoes and peppers do better in most areas started from seedlings.

Collect your containers together on your back porch or balcony, add a wind chime, a gazing ball or some other garden accessory, and place some plants on shelves or plant stands for a variety of heights. There you have it: a garden in a corner.

If you’d like to have a vegetable garden in the ground, prepare to soil by removing the sod. You’ll want to get rid of as many weeds as possible so you don’t have to pull them up later. Mix in compost and fertilizer, then plant your plants and seeds as in containers.

A little planning is helpful when designing a large vegetable garden. Think about which way the sun will shine into your garden and how the shadows of some plants will fall on the other plants. Planting lettuce in the shade of your tomato plants may give you a longer season because the shade will keep the delicate plants cooler.

Rotate Your Crops

From season to season you’ll want to rotate your crops. Many popular home [garden vegetables] , including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and Irish potatoes, are members of the nightshade family. These plants are susceptible to the same diseases and insects, and also use similar nutrients in the soil. To keep your garden healthy, don’t plant nightshades one after the other in the same spot year after year.

To finish off your garden, add a decorative rain gauge. Many of the problems people have with gardening are associated with water, either too much or too little. Having a rain gauge where your plants are will let you know if they are getting enough water or if you need to intervene.

For a natural bug control method in your garden, try attracting a toad. Toads eat thousands of insects and will eliminate the need for using pesticides, which is better for you and the environment. Purchase a toad house, put it in a shady spot, give the toad a water source such as a shallow dish that is refilled daily. Toads breathe through their skin, so give them a pesticide and pollutant free environment with lots of bugs and they will thrive. So will your plants, which means lots of great homegrown food for you and your family.

Tags: Perennial Flowers, Vegetable Garden