Curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to try growing an upside down tomato plant, and being frugal, I made a planter out of a five gallon bucket It isn't as fancy, but why spend $20 if you have the parts?.

It has been outside for two weeks now, and is getting stronger, but there is one thing that I noticed; The main stem/stalk/trunk of the plant has started growing up, and I am assuming that after it sets fruit and they begin to grow, the stalk will grow downwards.

Which leads me to this thought/questions:
If the stalk is growing up, even though it is facing down, are the roots growing down, even though they are facing up?? Sounds almost like a paradox.

Would this add stress to the plant?

I also decided to put it up on an old pool deck, so if it starts to really grow I'll have enough support to just drape, and tie it around the deck.

As an ongoing project I'll update on an irregular schedule, maybe every two weeks.

Subject is a "Better Boy" started 042809... KUXJ

I've got to say I'm glad someone has finally wondered about this on the forums. I've seen it on TV and I really was wondering. Mind you I've also seen tomato plants advertised on TV that grow to be 7 or 8 feet in height and supposabally (spelling?) yield twice the amount of tomatoes..

Please let me know if they end up growing down like they do on TV

Quote:

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Originally Posted by binx44

mind you i've also seen tomato plants advertised on tv that grow to be 7 or 8 feet in height and supposabally (spelling?) yeild twice the ammount of tomatoes..

---

I have also seen those ads, and the one thing I've noticed was the ground was well prepared for planting.
As with the Upside down Tomato (UDT) ads, I suspect they give the plant the same treatment. The ad men won't show scrawny fruit or plants...That's show bizzzz!

I could have done the same with my UDT, but opted for regular yard dirt, the only other amendment was a watering with miracle grow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by binx44

Please let me know if they end up growing down like they do on tv

---

You betcha!
To be realistic , I really think they will, you get a few of those 8 to 12oz more? fruits on there, and she's got to go down!

Let's see... the 4th of July is on a Saturday this year, so look for a post every Friday, and we'll see if there are ripe Toms by the Fourth.
That's pushin' it with 67 days, but it might happen.
And that's okay, I like green fried too... KUXJ

I spent the 20 bucks 3 years ago.:)
My first year was un-successful, but I think it wasn't in a great area. Since the weight on the whole thing was amazing I didn't know where to put it.

The second year I moved it and only put cherry tomatoes in it, which grew just fine for a while, but then... I believe didn't get enough sun because of a large Pompas (?) grass I had growing.

This year it's 3 strikes your out! I moved it again and made a make shift holder on my fence in a very sunny location with a drip system in it next to the rest of my tomatoes and it seems to be doing very well so far. Growing up. It only has about 3 feet to hit the ground, so I'm not sure what to do after it starts producing.:confused:

I attempted to put a picture, but it was too big,:( I will try again tomorrow and keep updating.:)

Looking forward to other updates.:)

Attachment 19736 Attachment 19736

Attachment 19738
Sorry, too many pics just checking

Hello again Everyone! :)

This weeks edition of UDT includes a pix of subject, some particulars, and a contest See Below .

First the particulars: ;)
Subject is a "Better Boy" started 042809
Plant has grown 2.5" since last post on 051209 for a total of 17.2"
Purchased at a local ACE Hrdw.Store Bonnie Plants Nursery
Container Homemade
Maturity 70-75days... So 4th of July will be a stretch :confused:
Large fruit size Up to 16ozs
Please disregard Date Stamp on Pix, It was only put there to confuse me.:eek:

Now for the contest: :cool:
If you look closely, you may be able to see two sets of flower stems.

I will offer the first ripe tomato to the first poster to successfully pick out any one of the two locations.
Answers have been verified by my neighbor, hermetically sealed in an old Bearnaise jar, and kept in an old milk-box by my trash cans since noon yesterday.

Please PM me with shipping address.

!!Offer void where prohibited!! :(

I SEE them and they look beautiful, I'm going to check mine right now.
I believe that my label has blow away and I can't remember what is in it. :confused:
I do know that I would not have put a beefsteak in there, so I think it is a Better Boy also. My Early Girl is in the ground.:)

I didn't plan on getting so detailed, but by my calculations...
Planted on May 2nd (bought at Lowes)

It may be a San Francisco Fog or a Better Boy. I experiment with different ones every year, but since it's in the upside down thing there was no dirt to bury the tag.
[ATTACH]Attachment 19812[/ATTACH]

Second pic I have flowers! We are going to be in the 101-105' this weekend, so I will have to keep watch.:eek:

The flowers are in the middle (kind of) if you can't see them) they are yellow! Ha ha

WEEEEEEE HAVE A WINNNNNER!!

As Grand Prize winner your Tomato will be flown All Expenses Paid to your location Via Rickenbacker Refrigerated Air Freight ~~~~~"Need Freight by Eight? Fly Rickenbacker!"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

It may be a San Francisco Fog or a Better Boy. I experiment with different ones every year

---

Just to be clear... You have a tomato in your area called the S.F. Fog?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

Second pic I have flowers!! We are going to be in the 101-105' this weekend, so I will have to keep watch.:eek:

---

I had to double check the NWS, couldn't believe your area will be that!! HHHOTTT!! This weekend, that's what we need here for our tomatoes in Cen. Pa. Lat N40' 21''.
So far since Easter there's been 10days in 80's... 2days in 90's, mostly 60-70's Lows 40's

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

The flowers are in the middle (kind of) if you can't see them) they are yellow! ha ha

---

I saw them right away! Very Nice! I'm envious, wish we had your climate.

Your so funny:p
I will take a picture of my S.F. FOG tag when it gets light out again, but I have 16 people coming for dinner tomorrow, so it might be Sunday morning when it's 105!:eek:

Thanks for the pics!:)

I don't think it's the FOG. I have to wait a couple more weeks before I can figure out what it is. They all look the same.

No info on the label, all it says is 'PRIZE WINNER' San Francisco fog. I think it might be smaller toms, not like cherry but also not like Beef Steak. All the leaves look a like, so the second contestant will be the 'Mystery Tomato' I Love Tomatoes! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

No info on the label, all it says is 'PRIZE WINNER' San Francisco fog. I think it might be smaller toms, not like cherry but also not like Beef Steak. All the leaves look a like, so the second contestant will be the 'Mystery Tomato' I Love Tomatoes!!:D

---

From what I've been able to find so far, they are "tennis ball" size. 2 maybe 3ozs.

While you are waiting out your "Mystery Tomato" check these links...

GRIN Accessions for Taxon Images of Solanum lycopersicum L.

How to identify tomatoes - Google Search How to identify tomatoes

File:Tomatotree.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia World's largest tomato plant/tree

Did some planting today, had to cover everything... Calling for 34° tonight :eek:

Good, tennis ball is good!:)
I have 2 Super Steak
2 Early Girl
2 Mama Mia
2 Big Beef
1 San Fransico Fog
1 Mystery
I went on the sites you suggested and then studied the leaves and nothing clicked:(
I did happen to notice that the hanging one is not as large as the others due to lack of fertilizer (I think) the other have tom spikes for them. I have a batch of chicken compost tea that I watered it with, maybe that will help. If not I will go with the Miracle grow. I think once the leaves get a little greener and bigger I might be able to identify it.

Well at 4:50am edt, it hit 36° here. As I write (4:44pm edt), its 74° > 45° tonight.

With just the Dear Wife and me, we don't require many plants, I find it helpful to have toms, peppers, onions, parsley, and zucchini/squash available over winter, I love cooking!

The smaller containers they sell for the UDTs was a concern of mine, as far as water and nutrient demands go. I can see money out the window every time there's a drip from one of the drain holes.
For now, I'm sticking with every two weeks for "tea"

Wait till you see my Friday pix, "better boy" really pushed and its getting a lot darker.

Best shot I have for S.F. Fog

I'm looking forward to them and the others.

It's just me and my husband here also, but I can 'can' tomatoes and or freeze for sauces. I always plant extra, in case some don't produce much.

I'm originally from Chicago area, and all you had to do was put a plant in the ground anywhere. It's different here. Once a few years back I had so many toms I was giving them to all the neighbors, but now with the weather change I only get enough for us to enjoy.

I try something different ever year.:)

I don't have a lot of room, so the only other thing I have planted are some bush beans and pole beans, and of course Basil and Dill. Oregano, Thyme and Marjoram grow all year round here.

News Update from the 'ol Oaken bucket. Or should I say plastic?:

Measured “Better Boy” (BB) Friday 22nd, and came up with 21”, a gain of 4” since Friday last.
Measured again after the storm, Sun. 24th, and had 26”.
The blossoms are an inch long now, and there seems to be a “BB” sized object enveloped in their petals.

My, My, You can almost hear it grow... :cool:

The weather in this neck of the woods has finally, I think started to turn to the better for gardening, instead of a Winter/Spring climate, we are over the hump, and heading towards a Spring/Summer environment.

This weeks day temps staid pretty steady in the mid 80's with night's 'round lower 60's, no rain though till this evening 24th when a small storm went though 'bout 7:30pm edt , sporadic brilliant lighting, with sharp crackly thunder The kind that sends chills down your back, dropped a half inch of rain in 10 minutes, not much wind though.

Memorial Day's calling for upper 70's... Rest of the week to be mid to upper 70's, lows to lower 60's... Chance of rain/scattered showers/T-storms 60%

BB is getting his minimum of 6 hours of sun, and I've been thinking/figuring, a way of making an automatic drip watering system to help with the water requirements.

After reading 'bout blossom end rot on zucchini, being a calcium deficiency, I placed some crushed egg shells from one of my breakfast's on the top of the dirt in the bucket... figured it couldn't hurt, eh?

Did have a slight scare though this evening. When I went to check on BB after the storm... Instead of growing upright near the bottom rim of the bucket, he was hanging down, and at first I thought the stem had broken during the downpour, but after giving him the once-over, the stem and blossoms look okay... Just received a Heavenly nudge is all.;)

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

Mine doesn't seem to be growing as fast as my other plants, so I might start watering daily by hand with some Miracle grow or I might shove a tom spike in the top of it. I think all my nutrients are dripping out the bottom. It is turning greener though and I do have additional flowers. I'll take a picture in about a week, it doesn't look that different right now.:(

Edit. We had great cool weather over the weekend 70-80's, but today back to 100' and mid 90's for the rest of the week. I'll have to keep a close eye on all of them.

News from the Bucket:

I hope this cloudy/rainy weather is almost over, because it sure has slowed Better Boys (BB) growth... Its also exposed a health concern, see pix.

I'm not sure which type of spot it might even be a canker BB has contracted, it's either Bacterial or Septoria Leaf Spot. I used this link Key for Identifying Vegetable Diseases to try and narrow it down.

The link has two areas; one covers pickles to squash, the other tomatoes. Click on which variety your concerned about, then after that its self-explanatory. To view a larger pix, click on the link in the Disease column.

If anyone wants to help ID my problem I'd appreciate it. I'm leaning towards Bacterial Canker. With any of these it means the dirt I used was already infected. The only ways I know of, to control that, would be to either buy sterilized dirt or make your own by cooking it in the oven.

Ahhh... The Sun has finally come out. After last weeks forecast, I thought we'd see the Sun more than what we have. This'll be the first direct Sun BB has seen for the last four days, and it shows in the tape measurement I made today. Only two inches in vertical growth Now 28”, but four in horizontal, It was more vertical after the storm on the 24th, but as you can see it's starting to go sky-ward again. See pix. BTW I corrected the date stamp.

Today marks 31days for this un-scientific experiment, and even with the leaf problem, the flowers look okay, and there are two more fruit stems. Hopefully I'll start seeing actual fruit in 10? More days.

With last night's storm, and this afternoon's we've received 2.8", total for week > 3.7" Officially for week > 0.54"

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

It's really hard to tell! Has it changed much in the last week? Is it wilting more?:(

Hi Just Dahlia! :)

If by change, you mean more diseased leaves, no, and I don't notice any wilt elsewhere on BB. At least not yet!

What I do notice though, is a preponderance of red mites, and very small 2 to 3 mm hard exoskeleton insects a primer gray color with dark spots, kind of remind me of potato weevils, but if I remember correctly they have stripes.
No matter though, they all have sucking mouth parts. :eek:

I still feel it's related to all the rain we've been getting, once it slows down to once or twice a week instead of four or five days of drizzle/rain/downpour/drizzle/downpour/rain/rain... Well you get the idea... The health/growth will improve, and the insects will decrease.

News from the Bucket:

I'll bet you'll never guess what its doing outside... awww... You guessed, yep its raining. :(
I guess I shouldn't complain, you don't have to shovel rain.
Rain for the week; Here 3.17 ~~~ NWS 1.96

Last Saturday to Tuesday night; Partly Sunny to Partly Cloudy.
Wicked Thunderstorms Wednesday morning 01:25am edt, lasted to 02:10am edt
Then Overcast to today. Light rain started this morning 00:20am edt, so far 1.13 ~~~ NWS 0.62.

It did dry up enough that I was able to cut grass on Thursday, knew 'bout the rain coming, and I wanted to get that elephant and his eye out'a the front lawn. The tires were running damp to wet, but the deck didn't clog too bad.
Well, enough of that.

Been a quiet week at the bucket. Haven't seen any more of the leaf spot/canker, and the rest of BB looks healthy, he grew another 1” (29”), and on one set of fruit stalk the flowers are wilting to brown, I'm hoping to see fruit soon.

Oh... I saw one of those UDT TV ads for “Topsy turvy” today, I'm still wondering why the guy has his hand “in” the plant Like he's holding something, when he picks, and hands the girl a tomato. :confused:

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

It's raining/thunderstormy here also. I have 1 baby tomato so far, but the plant doesn't look as good as the rest.

As soon as my guests leave I will pass along a picture of the baby SFF and the one I believe is growing better in a pot.

Attachment 20562

Attachment 20563Attachment 20560

If I did this right, the first 2 pics are of UDT SFF (or mystery Tom)
the second 2 are of the one in the pot (thinking it is the same plant)

The tom in the pot is 3 times the size of the one in UDT, but the plant is also 3X the size.

I'm getting some yellow leaves at the bottom of the SFF and on one of my 'Big Beef' any suggestions? :confused:

EDIT.. so I messed up and this is the second plant (in pot) I'll try again

Attachment 20564

Attachment 20565

Well... there it is! :D

I'm thinking at this point that UDT thingy will be hitting the recycle bin at the end of the season, but I will still continue to nurture, just in case.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

I'm getting some yellow leaves at the bottom of the SFF and on one of my 'Big Beef' any suggestions? :confused:

---

Hi! Just Dahlia,
There are different types of yellowing including old age, but what I see in the one with the support cage looks like a nitrogen deficiency-95% sure... maybe sulfur-5%.
There isn't enough upper leave growth to cause enough shade to the lower ones to be "death by old age".

The UDT might be in the same predicament, and I'm also concerned 'bout the plant to the right that has the leaf curl. That could be a copper deficiency 97%... maybe Boron 3%; although some plants have the characteristic that makes them curl.

When's the last time you used fertilizer? Your weather has been much warmer/hotter lately, and that can add a lot of stress to plants.
I wouldn't go to strong. Depending on how many plants you have make up a gallon or two of miracle grow or something similar, and dole it out to all your plants,
I say miracle grow because I know it has all of those trace elements in it.

Use this link, Plant Physiology Online: Symptoms of Deficiency In Essential Minerals, for identification.
It's a little technical in the beginning, but gets easier 'bout a third of the way down.

And don't forget those breakfast eggshells, just crush 'em up in your hand, and lay 'em on top ;)

I read and I read and I read, I think I understood most.:confused:

I agree with your conclusions and just fertilized with Miracle Grow for Toms (just happened to have some) it is old though, do you think it's still good?

Either way I will watch them more closely. I think I will have to fertilize the UDT every 2 weeks, because everything goes out the bottom.

I did put spikes in all the plants when I planted, but I have them on a drip system, so maybe the spikes aren't getting wet.

Thanks for the advice, well see what happens next.

I'm really surprised others haven't popped in with advice or pictures. I guess we are the only tomato lovers.

Now, Now... Don't be discouraged. There are times when I read an article on one of my other interest's, say... Cosmology, I may go over a sentence, paragraph or chapter several times in order to fully understand it.
Have you ever heard of the “Grandfather Paradox”?

Religion is another interest, I've just started to read “The People of the Creed” by Anthony E. Giles. It is a story behind the early Church from 95 A.D. To 600A.D.

Okay!

According to the Scott's site, MG will last indefinitely, but I suspect that if you found some after 10 years it could go either way. Some elements/compounds get stronger with age, some weaker.
A word of advice. MG is slightly acidic so using it on toms, and other acid loving vegetable plants is okay, but not most houseplants. If you really need acid get Miracid.

What type of bottom does your UDT bag have? Porous fabric? Plastic with holes? Can you save it with a drip pan?

Or maybe your spikes weren't getting wet enough, and the solution was evaporating before it was doing any good. That would lead me to believe that you may still have food for the plant in the container, but it just hasn't propagated to the rest of it.

So am I, there was binx44 in the beginning, but so far its been just you, and me. I do notice the views jump by 5 or 10 almost every day, so the interest is there. I want to be careful on how many attachments (pix) I download, so I don't go over the limit.I'll have to check the rules on that

BTW... Just since last Friday, BB has grown 5" vertical (34"), and 4" horizontal, but still no fruit :( Its amazing what a few days of Sun can do! :)

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

I don't think there is any overall limit to pictures. I've been on other threads with 1000's of pictures. "Pics of our members, pets, artwork, etc.
I believe you can only put 4 per post though.

I think my one plant and another are not getting better, the ones with the leaf curl. I am going to Southern Ill. This weekend for a family reunion, so I can't watch them. Do you think I should move them away from the healthier ones?

All have toms though. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

I don't think there is any overall limit to pictures. I've been on other threads with 1000's of pictures. "Pics of our members, pets, artwork, etc.
I believe you can only put 4 per post though.

---

You might be right, all I saw in FAQ was "It depends"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

I think my one plant and another are not getting better, the ones with the leaf curl. I am going to Southern Ill. this weekend for a family reunion, so I can't watch them. Do you think I should move them away from the healthier ones?

All have toms though. :)

---

Three main reasons for leaf curl...
*environmental stress... We know they've been under stress, The hot weather.
*herbicide damage... We know You try to be as organic as possible What'a 'bout your neighbors herbicide use
-for lawn care?
*viral infection... We don't know if you've checked for virus's or fungi, or bugs.

For tomato mosaic virus, symptoms of this virus include Curl, mottled leaves and smaller than normal leaflets.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is transmitted by sap-sucking insects :eek: and causes leaf roll symptoms in infected tomato plants. Purplish veins on the leaf underside will help to distinguish this virus from environmental leaf roll and herbicide injury. Once it gets this though, the plant is usually a goner. :(

If you don't see bugs like aphids or otherwise damaged leaves, they should be okay.
For the environment check the weather forcast's.
One thing that is impossible to control is herbicide drift from your neighbors.

:) When in doubt, move 'em out! :)

News from the Bucket, June 13th, 2009:

Rain is again the top story here at the bucket, although not as persistent as it had been in past weeks.

Taken from NWS Local Forcast:
PARTLY SUNNY ACROSS THE REGION WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS...INCREASING IN AREAL COVERAGE DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME STRONG...PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...BRIEF GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S AT 1215 PM WILL WARM INTO THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S AT 3 PM.

Its 80.3°F at 1:1:28pm edt
Rain this week ending 061209; 2.13 ~~~ NWS 1.85

BB's doing well, considering the lack of direct sunlight. He's 38” vertical, and 34 horizontal, sent along three pix, two of them are back when, and now shots for comparison. The main stem is the longest, and I started to train the one on the right to go to the right, there is one on the left, but it's smaller, and towards the back.

He's getting a lot of fruit stems, but Still no fruit! :( . The first stem to get flowers has its blossoms 'bout ready to fall off, and I don't want to resort to strong chemicals. Except for the yard dirt and an initial dose of MG, I've left it on its own. Anyone's welcome to chime in, if I come up with something I'll let you know.

Wait... back when I first hung it the temps where mid 50's or above, then we had that cold spell where it got down in the 30's hmmm, I wonder..

Well I got to get goin' chores you know... I have a new project this week, replacing an old basement window an puttin' in glass block, with a covered well on the outside.

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

:D!. :D!. NEWS FLASH!. :D..! NEWS FLASH!. :D!. :D

To all the gardening gurus across the world BB is a father or mother or hybrid, well, I'm not going to get into semantics :eek:

Was out in the yard today looking him over, when I spied the new arrivals hiding in the back. I kept looking at the first fruit stem, and here they snuck up on me! Their at least penny, close to nickel size.

They could have been there for a week, who knows? I still don't think I'll have toms by the 4th. I'm thinking more like the end of July, even the peepers (frogs) are running late this year.

See Ya 'round the compost pile!
KUXJ

WOW, BB looks great and big!

I just got back from Southern Illinois and haven't had time to check on mine yet, BUT I was walking the blocks down there and a couple people had UDTP and they were teeny tiny, so I felt better about mine.

Now have seen yours and the feeling has changed :(
Maybe I'll be surprised when I get home this afternoon.

The pics looked great!:)

Sounds like things are going awesome guys.. except for the few problems along the way. I know I haven't said much in this thread but that's because I don't know tomato talk HAHA :) but I am loving reading on how yours are going and the things that effect/affect (not sure exactally the right word) the plants and the reasons

Yours seem to be doing decent dahlia... sometimes nature is just hateful and causes problems when it wants to lol.. you've got some small ones growingh on your plant don't you... there also could be quite the geographic difference between you and them and a temp difference etc so that could be why yours are not growing nor acting the same?

Well KUXJ is from Cen. Pa and I'm from Sacramento, so there is a big difference in weather, but wither way he knows what he's doing.:)

I'm originally from Chicago, where you could practically throw some seeds on the ground and get great tomatoes. I never boned up on it.

It's been ten days, so I think I'll post another pic, I still only have one tomato and it's small. I'm not discouraged, because I have 9 other plants.:D

I measured and UDT is only 26" and sticking straight out. Only one shoot, just one, nothing coming off the sides yet and when it starts going down (if it doesn't die first) it will be dragging on the ground.:( I don't have anything higher with sun to hang it from.
Attachment 20843

Attachment 20844

The second picture is of a plant 3 doors down from UDT, it has tomatoes, but something is happening with it. I'm going to MG it again with all the others since it has been 10 days.

I just got in from yard work... STOP

Happy you had nice trip... STOP :)

Watch the MG on that 2nd plant... STOP :eek:

It could be variety that has curled leaves... STOP ;)

Do you know what variety?. STOP :confused:

I've a lot more to say... STOP :rolleyes:

Will get back in 2hrs after clean-up and supper... STOP :D

I've got everything labeled except for the UDT, so I'll check when I get home and report. I have 2 of each, so I'll be able to see if both have the leaf curl.:confused: