Tomatoes in buckets, growing upside down: the pros and cons of planting tomatoes upside down, photos, as well as how to drill the bottom and can you wait for the harvest? Russian farmer

Pros and cons of the upside down planting method

Of course, in order to resort to one or another method of planting and growing plants, you need to weigh all the pros and cons, what is more - minuses or pluses in this difficult experiment.

Pros:

Tomatoes are much less susceptible to attacks by various types of underground pests, in particular such pests as mole crickets.
There is now an opportunity every year to grow plants on the so-called “renewed” soil (as is known, this is an excellent prevention of fungal diseases and late blight).
A noticeable increase in the overall yield of plantings (this is facilitated by the fact that the soil and water in the buckets warm up much faster, therefore, the plant grows and strengthens at a rapid pace).
Reducing the time required for harvesting.
Profitable use of fertilizers (compost and humus) in the preparation of earthen mixtures due to a significant reduction in their required volume.
Tomatoes in containers such as buckets take up much less space, which makes life easier for gardeners and the opportunity to plant more crops, and the buckets can be moved as you please.
Such harmful factors as weeds disappear.
Fertilizers to increase fertility completely reach the roots.
The threat of spreading infections is reduced.
Tomatoes ripen in buckets two to three weeks earlier.
When watering, water goes directly to the root system of plants, rather than spreading over the surface of the soil.
Buckets can be placed under the roof or moved to other insulated rooms during periods of prolonged rainfall.

Reference. Growing tomatoes upside down is an extraordinary way to grow and decorate your own plot, and they do not require constant staking or any other special care.

This planting method also has disadvantages, namely:

Increased labor intensity: you need to spend a lot of effort, patience and painstaking work for this method of growing tomatoes.
Using a large number of buckets (containers) without a bottom.
Not all varieties of tomatoes can be grown in buckets, but only hybrids and varieties with weak foliage and a dense root system (this includes many types of balcony tomatoes).
The watering process must be done much more often than for tomatoes planted in open ground, because the roots in buckets do not have access to open ground.
You need to pay special attention to watering, otherwise the tomatoes can easily die. They should be watered carefully, evenly distributing the amount of moisture supplied throughout the entire depth of the soil and at the same time, without over-flooding, since the tomatoes may perish due to lack of oxygen.
You also need to pay attention to the temperature, but only if the buckets for growing were chosen in black, dark brown or dark green. To prevent the rhizomes from overheating in the heat, the buckets must be wrapped in light material, constantly shaded and sprayed with cold water.

The best varieties of pink tomatoes

There are quite a lot of varieties of pink tomatoes created by both Russian and foreign breeders. The main selection criteria for gardeners are suitability for cultivation in a particular region, bush dimensions, yield, taste and size of the fruit.

Pink stele

It is better known to gardeners as “Pink Stella”; agro even produces it under this name, but this is not quite the correct name. There are no restrictions regarding the region of cultivation in the State Register. Can be planted in open garden beds and under cover. The intended purpose is salad, but the skin cracks during heat treatment. Medium ripening period (100 days from the moment the seeds sprout). Resists diseases well with the exception of late blight.

The Pink Stela tomato “has taken root” among gardeners under a slightly different name from the official one, and initially the creators generally gave it the name “Super Pepper”

The bush is determinate, grows to a maximum of 0.5 m. The tomatoes are pepper-shaped or cylindrical, often with a pointed tip. The flesh is sugary when cut, medium density, but they store well. The weight of the tomato is 127 g, there are 6-7 of them in a brush. The taste is officially recognized as excellent. Productivity - 6.6 kg/m².

Pink stele tomato bushes require preventive treatments against late blight

Figs pink

Mid-season variety (115–120 days). A very large indeterminate bush, quickly growing and intensively branching, rising up to 3 m. The stem and shoots are very powerful. The plant needs strong support, formation and large doses of nutrients, and the brush needs tying. Young leaves have an unusual bluish-green hue. Fruiting is extended. During the season, 6–7 kg of tomatoes are removed from the bush.

Tomato Pink Fig differs in the duration of fruiting

There are 3–5 tomatoes in a bunch, the lower they are located, the larger the fruits. The average weight is 200–450 g, with specimens weighing 700–800 g. The shape of the tomatoes resembles figs—flat-round at the base and tapering toward the stalk. Characterized by strong ribbing. The skin is thin but durable, resistant to cracking and providing good transportability. The flesh is firm but meaty. There are many seeds and seed chambers. The disadvantages are the tendency to form small voids in the pulp and the heat-loving nature.

Pink Fig tomatoes can vary greatly in shape and size.

Video: Pink Fig tomatoes

Pink heart

Officially recognized as suitable for cultivation in any region of the Russian Federation where gardening is possible in principle. Planted in open and closed ground. Mid-season (105–110 days) indeterminate tomato (stretches up to 2 m). The shoots are quite thin and require a garter. Resistant to viral diseases, cladosporiosis, alternaria. The fruit sets well even in cool rainy weather.

The Pink Heart tomato sets fruit well, even if the weather is not favorable for the activity of pollinating insects

Tomatoes, as the name suggests, are heart-shaped, with slightly pronounced ribs closer to the stalk. The pulp is not particularly dense, there are 4 or more seed chambers. Leveled tomatoes (200–230 g), resistant to cracking on the bush. The taste is officially rated “excellent”. Productivity is 6.1 kg/m², which is not much for such a large bush. The main disadvantages are low shelf life and the inability to transport crops over long distances. Thin skin means instability to mechanical damage.

Thin skin and not particularly dense pulp make the Pink Heart tomato unsuitable for long-term storage

Video: description of the Pink Heart tomato

Rosy cheeks

Mid-season (110–112 days) variety. Recommended for planting in greenhouses in the European part of Russia, from the Northern region to the Caucasus. The bush is determinate (height is limited to 0.7–0.8 m), spreading. Fruiting is friendly. Tolerates drought well.

The rose cheeks tomato bushes are determinate, but they cannot be called compact

The tomatoes are slightly flattened and slightly ribbed. There are 3–5 of them in brushes. Weight varies between 180–260 g. The pulp is dense, fleshy, with at least 4 seed chambers. The taste is excellent. Keeping quality and transportability are within normal limits. 5.5 kg of tomatoes are harvested from 1 m² per season. The manufacturer gives a recommendation on how to increase the yield - by turning one of the side shoots into the main stem. But the height of the bush will increase to 1.2–1.5 m.

The Pink Cheeks variety belongs to the category of so-called beef tomatoes, which are characterized by dense, fleshy pulp and many seed chambers

Pink miracle F1

There are no restrictions regarding the region of cultivation. You can plant tomatoes in open and closed ground. Ultra early variety (82–88 days). Determinate bush (1–1.1 m), prone to active formation of lateral shoots. It requires regular pruning.

Tomato Pink Miracle F1 is one of the first to ripen

There are 4–7 tomatoes in bunches. The fruits are of the classic “tomato” shape, medium-sized, one-dimensional (100 g). Each has 4–6 seed chambers. The pulp is not particularly dense. Productivity is low - 2.3 kg/m², fruiting is massive, characterized by a large percentage of marketable tomatoes (95–97%). These tomatoes are grown mainly for their excellent taste, combined with ease of care and high resistance to pathogenic fungi and viruses. They have a short shelf life; tomatoes crack during heat treatment.

Tomatoes Pink Miracle F1 are a hybrid, so the seeds will have to be purchased anew every year; there is no point in collecting them yourself

Pink leader

Suitable for planting in any region of Russia, these tomatoes can be planted both in open beds and under cover. Intended for salad. The variety is ultra-early (85–90 days), highly resistant to pathogenic fungi and bacteria, and resistant to vagaries of weather and temperature changes. The bush is determinate (45–50 cm), compact, standard (with a powerful stem). Does not require tying up or removing stepsons.

The small dimensions of the Pink Leader tomato bushes do not affect the yield in any way

Tomatoes are slightly flattened in shape, with almost imperceptible ribs, leveled (150–170 g). There are 3-5 pieces in a brush. The skin is thin, elastic, tomatoes are resistant to cracking. The pulp is dense, the fruits have at least 4 seed chambers. The average yield is 8 kg/m².

Pink leader tomatoes are characterized by uniform size and correct shape of the fruit

Pink king

Mid-season (108–115 days) variety. There are no special instructions regarding the region of cultivation. Suitable for growing without shelter, in greenhouses, greenhouses. The bush is indeterminate (1.8–2.5 m), but not particularly spreading, with few leaves. Shaping and tying are required. It has a genetically “built-in” immunity to verticillium. Characterized by good shelf life and transportability.

The Pink Tsar tomato is an indeterminate bush, but it won’t take up much space.

The tomatoes are flattened and ribbed. The pulp is medium dense, there are many seed chambers (6 or more). Weight varies between 200–300 g, occasionally tomatoes weighing 400–450 g are found. The yield when planted in a greenhouse is 6.8 kg.

Preparation

Capacities

When preparing materials for planting tomatoes, you should first pay attention to:

Bucket color. It is better if they are light in color, but if they are not, then dark buckets need to be wrapped in light (white) material so that their rhizomes do not overheat.
The material from which the buckets are made is not important at all; they can be made of plastic or metal.
Volume. Buckets must have a volume of at least 10 liters.
Quality. The more worn out and used the bucket looks, the better. Numerous cracks, chips and holes improve the evaporation of excess water and ventilate the root system of tomatoes. When using new buckets, it is necessary to make a large number of breaks and holes in the bottom and along their edges.

Important! For the method of planting tomatoes upside down, you will need buckets with a hole diameter in the bottom of the container of about 5-10 centimeters.

Semyan

Tomato seeds must be thoroughly sorted to select the largest and most undamaged ones before sowing in buckets. It is possible to buy seeds in a special store or prepare them yourself in advance. For this purpose, it is necessary to leave several of the largest and most ripened tomatoes in the fall. Last year's seeds are best suited for growing seedlings.

When using purchased seeds, be sure to monitor the expiration date. Seedlings will sprout much better if the seeds have the shortest expiration date.

Self-prepared seeds must be thoroughly heated with a lamp and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. Purchased seeds are most often already treated with such a special solution.

You can learn more about preparing tomato seeds for sowing here.

The rest of the material

In order to increase the yield of tomatoes, it is best to prepare special soil for tomatoes in advance before planting them.

In the fall, you need to fill the buckets with humus. To create humus we will need:
ash.
Then you need to mix the above components together and place them in buckets. It won’t be superfluous to add special substances so that processes in the soil occur more intensely.
The resulting mixture should be filled with water and left for the whole winter directly in buckets in the greenhouse.
They can be arranged in any convenient way or dug into the ground to a depth of about 20 centimeters.
You constantly need to add snow to the buckets so that the ground is completely saturated. When the snow melts in the spring, the soil will be thoroughly saturated with melt water.
As for the soil, you can also pour expanded clay into buckets or cover it with small pieces of old planks so that there is always air access to the root system of the tomatoes. Next you need to start putting:
the second layer is sand with the addition of two glasses of ash;
the top layer is garden soil.
It is necessary to water the soil with plenty of warm water. You can also use the process of slaking the lime, which will lead to its strong heating and pour boiling water on it. Such warming of the earth will allow seedlings to be planted and the harvest to be harvested much better and earlier in time.
After several days, you need to plant two or three plants in one bucket with a volume of about ten liters.

Reference! You can fertilize with only one fertilizing with mineral fertilizer before the tomatoes begin to bloom. You can also resort to a type of fertilizer such as magnesium sulfate. It should be applied in early spring when the snow begins to melt or directly into the hole when planting, approximately one tablespoon per bucket of soil.

Growing seedlings in buckets: advantages and disadvantages

Owners of summer cottages and country houses, passionate about gardening, try to plant as many different vegetables as possible in their beds. Fitting multiple crops into small plots of land can be difficult, so landowners are looking for ways to balance the lack of bed space with a large harvest. One such method is planting tomato seedlings in buckets, which has several advantages:

Watering and fertilizing. All moisture with micronutrients will go directly to the root system of the bush; water and fertilizers will not be wasted, being absorbed into the soil adjacent to the bush.
Weed removal and loosening. This process is greatly facilitated due to the small area of soil around the seedling.
Mobility. Buckets or pots with tomato bushes are easy to move; they can be moved to a more convenient place in a matter of minutes. Place in the shade from the sun, or place under a roof during heavy rainfall.
Warming the soil. In cool summers, the soil in buckets heats up faster and retains heat for a long time, bushes in warm soil develop better, form more fruit ovaries, and fruiting lasts longer than tomatoes planted in open ground.
Low-growing bushes planted in buckets and pots can be placed in greenhouses at the end of the season to extend fruiting.

There is still one, albeit minor, drawback with such planting - more frequent watering is required, because moisture from a small volume of soil evaporates faster, and water is aspirated by the plant itself.

Attention! It is recommended to move buckets with tomatoes to a more shady place or shade them with auxiliary means so that the buckets do not overheat, giving off excess heat to the root system of the bushes.

Suitable varieties

Not all varieties of tomatoes are suitable for growing in buckets and pots; you must immediately exclude tall varieties, they need garter, which means their mobility is lost. The most suitable bushes will be compact, low or slightly above average height:

for greenhouses - (Alaska, Velvet Season, Magnus F1) bushes up to 60 cm high, the color of the fruit is bright red, the flesh is dense and juicy, the weight of tomatoes is from 150 to 300 g;
for open ground - (Skorospelka, Supermodel, Sibiryak, Altaechka, Riddle) the height of the seedlings is from 60 to 75 cm, the fruits are crimson or red, the average weight reaches 80-300 g.

There are many varieties and hybrids of tomatoes on sale: fruits of different colors from yellow to almost black, fruits of different sizes and shapes. Choosing the most suitable one is the gardener’s task; each of them has their own tastes; we have offered several varieties as an example.

What you need for planting

Tomato seedlings for growing in pots or buckets are prepared in the usual way or purchased ready-made, then containers, substrate and fertilizers are prepared. You can prepare the site in advance, that is, already in the fall. Drainage material up to 5 cm high is poured onto the bottom of the container and covered with prepared substrate with complex fertilizer. To shrink the soil, water it once, leave it in greenhouses or shallow holes (25-30 cm) for the winter, and if this happens in early spring, leave it for 2-3 weeks before planting the seedlings.

Which buckets and pots are suitable

For growing tomatoes, containers with a volume of at least 10 liters are suitable, preferably metal ones, but plastic ones can also be used, although their shelf life is no more than 2-3 years. If the bucket already has holes in the bottom or side, this will make it much easier to aerate the water and air in the container. If there are no holes, you will have to make several of them (4-5) at the bottom and up to 10 around the circumference of the bucket. But gardeners do not always want to spoil a fairly new bucket, so they use a drainage layer (5 cm) of pebbles or expanded clay.

Attention! The color of the bucket or pot is of great importance when growing tomatoes. Black containers heat up faster in the sun, transferring excess heat to the roots of plants, this can harm the root system and the entire bush.

Soil preparation

An important point when growing tomatoes in whole buckets and pots is the preparation of the soil mixture. The technology requires thoroughly mixing the following components:

turf soil - 2 parts;
humus - 2 parts;
sand or peat - 1 part.

To the substrate prepared in this way, you should add ash (300 g per bucket of mixture), superphosphate or nitrophos (read the dosage on the packaging).

Before mixing the components, the soil taken from the garden must be disinfected by calcination or spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The principle of planting tomatoes

A week before planting the seedlings, water the soil in buckets so that the soil settles a little. From 1 to 3 tomato bushes are planted in one container, it depends on the variety; the more compact the plant, the more seedlings can be placed in the bottom of a bucket or pot. If the bush is tall enough (up to 75 cm), a wire frame is built along the edges of the container to facilitate its care.

How to grow upside down: step-by-step instructions

To grow tomatoes in this way, it is best to use plastic buckets with a volume of about 20 liters with a handle.
The bottom of the plastic bucket needs to be drilled to obtain a hole about 8 cm in diameter and placed on two supports to make it easier to reach the bottom.
You need to lay special soil with fertilizers along the walls of the container. The lower part of the plant must be carefully pulled through the hole, and a stem of about 4-5 cm should be left outside. This way, the crop will be fixed.
Then you need to gradually fill the bucket with soil, and the substrate should be thoroughly compacted, covering the root of the plant by about 5-6 cm.
Next you need to add the next layer of compost.
The bucket should be sprinkled with soil again so that the level of the substrate is several centimeters below the edges of the container.
After this, the bucket must be hung in the place where it will be permanently located.
You need to water the substrate so abundantly that water comes out of all the holes in the bottom of the bucket. If after watering the soil settles a little, then this is quite normal.

The bucket can be covered with a lid, but loosely to prevent excessive evaporation. The cover should be removed before watering.

Common varieties for greenhouses

Variety "Persimmon"

This hybrid variety belongs to mid-ripening, medium-yielding and medium-growing plants. In greenhouse conditions, bushes can grow up to one and a half meters. The tomato has a thick skin, which allows the vegetable to be transported over long distances. In addition, the tomato is suitable for long-term storage.

These tomatoes are grown for supply to large grocery store chains because they are stored for a long time and are preserved during transportation.

Characteristic

Maturation period	90-105 days
Tomato weight	Around 300
Form	Round, slightly flattened. The vegetable is externally poured onto the persimmon, which is why it got its name
Productivity per 1 m²	Up to 4 kg.

These tomatoes need staking. The variety is not resistant to diseases, and therefore the bushes must be periodically treated with special means.

Attention! Overripe fruits have a fresh, sour taste.

Variety "Golden Domes"

This variety belongs to the high-yielding, mid-season varieties of nightshade. Bushes in greenhouses can reach up to one and a half meters in height. The tomato is resistant to greenhouse diseases. Disadvantages include a short storage period and poor transportability.

Gardeners very often plant “Golden Domes” on their plots.

Characteristic

Maturation period	112-116 days
Tomato weight	250-400 g.
Configuration	Flat-round, slightly ribbed
Productivity per 1 m²	10-13 kg.

When planting, it should be taken into account that 7 to 9 bushes should be planted per 1 m² of tomatoes. Due to its high growth, the plant struggles with staking.

Attention! Unripe fruits may have dark spots near the stalk. They disappear during the ripening process.

Variety "Malachite Box"

Tomatoes have an original greenish color with a golden tint, and the flesh is emerald-greenish. Thanks to this feature, the variety received the name “Malachite Box”. The variety was bred by breeders from Novosibirsk for the climatic conditions of Siberia. As a result, the variety turned out to be resistant to both cold and hot weather, which is why it is loved by summer residents in all climatic regions.

In Siberia they love the “Malachite Box”

“Malachite Box” refers to mid-season, high-yielding, indeterminate varieties. The height of the bush can reach one and a half meters.

Characteristic

Maturation period	111-115 days
Tomato weight	350-400 g.
Configuration	Round, slightly flattened
Productivity per 1 m²	Up to 15 kg.

For seedlings, seeds should be planted 55-60 days before planting. At the same time, it is recommended to place no more than 3 bushes per 1 m². Bushes are characterized by branching, so they should be pinched into one stem. Also, do not forget about timely garter.

Much! Tomatoes must be regularly fed with complex mineral fertilizers.

Among the shortcomings of the variety can be noted:

poor transportability;
short storage period;
low resistance to pests and diseases.

However, according to reviews from summer residents, the high yield and exotic taste of the vegetable compensate for all the shortcomings.

Variety "Amber Cup"

“Amber Cup” refers to the early greenhouse varieties. The bush can grow up to one meter in height.

In any climatic conditions, the variety will give a larger harvest

Advantages of the variety:

fruits can be stored for up to 2 months;
subject to transportation over long distances;
resistant to cracking;
forms ovaries in any weather;
Resistant to major nightshade diseases.

The variety has no significant disadvantages.

Characteristic

Maturation period	Up to 100 days
Tomato weight	90-120 g.
Configuration	Oval, with an elongated spout
Productivity per 1 m²	Up to 6 kg.

It is recommended to plant seeds for seedlings 65 days before transplanting into the greenhouse. When planting bushes, adhere to the 60x70 pattern. The bushes need tying up.

Attention! During the season, tomatoes need to be fed at least 4 times with mineral fertilizers.

Photo

Here you can see a photo of tomatoes upside down in buckets:

How to care for tomatoes?

It is necessary to feed tomatoes several times throughout the season.
The greenhouse should be well ventilated, but the temperature should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius.
It is necessary to weed and thin out the plants in time to avoid thickening.
It is necessary to carefully water to the very root of the tomatoes, without getting on the plant itself.
Young tomato bushes should be watered into the bucket itself, and for stronger plants, fertilizer and water should be poured both into the bucket and under the bucket (if the buckets are dug in).
Fertilizing should be done three times per season.

The principle of planting tomatoes

It takes less time to warm up the soil in buckets than in larger volumes in greenhouses and beds. You can start planting tomatoes in separate containers in May, when the night temperature does not drop below zero.

There is an opinion that containers with bushes should be buried in the ground, deepening it by twenty-five to thirty centimeters. However, if the root system grows into the ground through the holes, it will no longer be possible to move the bucket.

Seedlings are planted in buckets according to the same principle as in a greenhouse or open ground:

make a depression (about 15 centimeters), add a growth stimulator to it (optional);
the seedlings are lowered into a hole and covered with soil up to the root collar (to the lower leaves);
the soil is compacted and watered with warm water.

Note!

If the weather is hot, water the tomatoes every other week. At the same time, you need to loosen the soil around the seedling so that a crust does not form.

The method of growing in buckets does not involve transplanting and transplanting plants, so it is recommended to plant one tomato seedling in one bucket.

Common mistakes when landing upside down

Care errors. Overheating of the soil in buckets may occur during too hot periods due to excessively rapid evaporation of moisture. And when growing, many gardeners make improper watering, which can lead to the death of tomatoes in buckets. Tomatoes in buckets need more frequent and regular watering than those grown in open ground.
Excessive nitrogen fertilization. It is necessary to ensure that tomatoes receive magnesium on time. During magnesium starvation, feeding is carried out with magnesium sulfate (0.5%).
Insufficient disease prevention. It is necessary, first of all, to prevent the occurrence of diseases in tomatoes, and not to treat plants for diseases. There is no need to wait for symptoms of damage and various injuries.
Planting depth of tomato seeds. If seeds are planted in buckets too deep, they may not sprout at all.

When growing tomatoes in buckets, gardeners get excellent yields. Everyone has the right to decide to use traditional methods or innovative technologies.

If you are interested in other methods of growing tomato seedlings, then we suggest you learn about such methods as in bags, on two roots, without picking, in the Chinese way, in bottles, upside down, in pots, in peat pots and a barrel.

How are buckets used for growing tomatoes?

The above method of planting tomatoes in a bucket, like in a regular container, is the simplest. But gardeners also use more complex techniques. Experienced vegetable growers know that hilling tomatoes helps them develop a strong root system. The result is larger fruits, their earlier ripening and a larger number of tomatoes per bush.

But for compacted plantings in open ground and greenhouses, hilling is almost impossible: neighboring plants can be damaged. Resourceful owners have learned to grow tomatoes in containers or buckets in a greenhouse. Having planted tomatoes in a compacted pattern, you need to wait until they rise to a height of 15-20 cm. Before gartering, you need to place a container without a bottom on each bush.