Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / March 2006

I've grown tomatoes three ways (upside down, in the ground and in containers)
for the past three years.  I use 5 gallon buckets (like paint buckets) for
upside down growth, not the store bought devices.  I modified them by placing a
hole in the bottom for the plants, and then inserted a papercup to act as a
mols which I surrounded with spray insulation foam (Great Stuff).  That made a
several inch reservoir for water in the bottom of the bucket.  Last year the
upside down plants did the best. Those in containers or the ground got hit hard
with a powdery mildew like fungus because it was so dry (I know,
counterintuitive but that's what the experts said).  The most amasing yields
were the small types of tomatoes.  I tried some big heirlooms and they split
pretty bad (also split in the other methods).

Advantages of upside down- no staking or cages, easy to pick, less disease as
plants are up in a breeze that keeps foliage dry, easy to water from the deck
(they hang of my deck railing), high yields.  Plants are planted deep (full
depth of 5 gallon bucket)so they get off to a fast start.  Kind of fun, and
people get a kick out of it.

Disadvantages: I have to water frequently, and I've had trouble with splitting
and blossom end rot due to erratic watering.  I noticed the commercial grow
bags have a couple of layers of foam rubber to hold water, and I am going to
try that this year.

As to taste- I did not find any dfference.