Grow 10 Tomatoes Upside Down Easily

Saad Iqbal | 🗓️Modified: March 9, 2025 | ⏳Time to read:6 min

Pros and Cons of Growing Tomato Plants Upside Down

Growing tomatoes upside down is not a new concept, but it has become increasingly trendy over the past few years. Most people grow tomato plants upside down to save space and reduce soil-borne pests. In this article, we will look into the pros and cons of growing tomato plants upside down and whether it’s worth embarking on or if it’s just a passing fad.

Advantages of Growing Tomato Plants Upside Down

Growing a tomato plant upside down has many benefits, particularly when growing them in a garden with limited space or even on a balcony or patio. Some of the advantages include:

• Ideal for Small Space Gardening: Hanging tomato plants upside down not only frees up more ground space but the plants can be moved around so they can benefit from full sunlight and equally be protected from bad weather.

• Reduces Risk of Pests & Diseases: Traditional methods of tomato growing involve staking to keep the tomatoes off the ground to prevent pests such as ground worms and diseases such as blight. Hanging upside down means there’s no need for staking and good air flow means that soil-borne diseases are reduced.

• No Need for Staking: For some people, staking tomato plants is enjoyable, whilst for others it is tiresome. Hanging tomatoes upside down allows the plant to vine out naturally as it would in the wild. Most gardeners that grow their tomato plants upside down find that they do not need to prune the plants or remove suckers which would usually take up a lot of space when grown the conventional way.

• No Weeds: Weeds tend not to grow upside down, so you don’t have to worry about those competing with your tomato plant.

Disadvantages of Growing Tomatoes Upside Down

While growing tomatoes upside down has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages include:

• More Watering is Required: Growing tomatoes in containers or hanging baskets requires more watering than conventional planting methods, covering soil with a mulch or straw helps prevent water from evaporating or drying out quickly, but doesn’t resolve the problem entirely.

• Only Suitable for Certain Varieties: Upside down tomato planters work well with small varieties like patio and grape tomatoes, but heavier ones like beefsteak tomatoes cause a weight bearing issue and break their stems.

• They are Heavy: These plants can be super heavy and near impossible to move when just watered. Not only that, but they need to be very well secure to the wall they’re hanging onto, so they don’t fall away.

• Problems with the Vines: The lack of support by means of staking can mean that the plants can bounce around in strong winds causing vines to snap. Due to phototropism, the vines want to grow naturally upwards and towards the sun resulting in U-shaped bends.

• Lack of Sunlight: Tomatoes grown upside down can struggle to get enough light. There are nearly always some of the tomatoes shaded by container in which they are grown in.

Best Varieties for Growing Tomatoes Upside Down

Look for small varieties which are prolific growers that ripen quickly such as:

• Cascade cherry tomatoes
• Sweet Million
• Cherry Falls
• Cupid Hybrid

Is it Better to Grow Tomatoes in the Ground or Upside Down in Hanging Containers?

While there are a few advantages to growing tomatoes upside down, they are better off grown in the ground, or if you’re short on space and only have a patio, try a tomato patio planters instead. Patio Planters can be moved around easier than hanging baskets which means they can be in full sunlight all the time. Using planters can also avoid some pests and diseases.

Conclusion

Growing tomatoes upside down is not for everyone. While it has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. If you’re considering growing tomatoes upside down, make sure you choose the right variety, provide enough water and sunlight, and ensure the plants are secure. If you’re short on space, consider using patio planters instead of hanging baskets.

Share Your Experience

Have you tried growing your tomato plants upside down? If so, share your experience with us in the comments below. What worked for you, and what didn’t? What variety of tomato did you use? We’d love to hear from you.

Comments from Previous Readers

Jennifer Morgan: I have tried this twice. One of them looked like it might break the plateau, then…drought. Absolutely right about needing a lot more water. It was fun to try it out, but unfortunately can’t say I’m a fan of this method.

Haxnicks: Hi Jennifer, you are not the first to try this and realize it is not for them! If you are up for an experiment then growing tomatoes in Vigoroot pots is another thing to try. These also need extra water (but no where near as much as growing upside down) but will reward you with a 30% bigger yield of tomatoes.What are the benefits of growing tomato plants upside down?
Ideal for small space gardening, reduces risk of pests & diseases, no need for staking, and no weeds.

What are the drawbacks of growing tomatoes upside down?
Requires more watering, only suitable for certain varieties, heavy and hard to move, prone to vine damage in strong winds, and may lack sunlight.

Which tomato varieties are best for growing upside down?
Cascade cherry tomatoes, Sweet Million, Cherry Falls, Cupid Hybrid.

Is it better to grow tomatoes in the ground or upside down?
Tomatoes are generally better grown in the ground or in patio planters if space is limited, as they are easier to manage and mover around.

What are the water requirements for upside-down tomato plants?
Requires more watering than conventional methods, even with mulch or straw.

Can heavy varieties like beefsteak tomatoes be grown upside down?
No, because they can cause weight-bearing issues and break their stems.

What about wind and sunlight for upside-down tomatoes?
Strong winds can cause vine breakage due to lack of support, and sunlight can be limited by the container.

What is phototropism and how does it affect upside-down tomatoes?
Phototropism makes the plants bend towards the sun, causing U-shaped bends in upside-down tomato vines.