How to Build Your Own Upside Down Planter

Overview

Container gardening has become a popular way for gardeners to grow vegetables and plants that are stronger and healthier with a higher yield. However, in recent years, container gardening has been turned on its head, literally. Gardeners have begun planting tomatoes and cucumbers upside-down in planters. Vegetables planted in these upside-down planters are more disease- and pest-free, receive more air circulation and are an unusual conversation piece.

Step 1

Drill a 2-inch wide hole in the center of your bucket's lid and the center bottom of your bucket using a hole saw bit.

Step 2

Set the bucket upright and cover the hole in the bottom with a coffee filter.

Step 3

Fill the bucket with a lightweight potting soil formulated for hanging baskets, window boxes and other suspended containers.

Step 4

Place the other coffee filter over the soil so that it will block the hole in the lid when the lid is placed on the bucket. Then place the lid on the bucket.

Step 5

Turn the bucket over so that the bottom faces up. Use a utility knife to cut the filter away.

Step 6

Strip off all but the top two leaves from the tomato plant. Plant the vine in the soil so that only the topmost leaves are above the soil line. The plant will establish roots at each leaf node.

Step 7

Water the plant with a garden hose.

Step 8

Wait until the plant is a foot high before inverting the bucket and hanging it.

Step 9

Hang the bucket upright by its handle with the plant sticking out the bottom. Water from the top of the planter.