Frugal Gardening - Upside Down Hanging Planters

Clever, practical and fantastic.

However, what Debra does not say is that you have to do this procedure hanging upside down or standing on your head. Doing such things is of course easy for Debra, but not all of us are training for the Olympic Triathalon and learning British.

LOL William I don't have your creative writing skills so what else can I do but hang upside down like an old bat and look over your shoulder!

Let your voice smile and carefreely write along.

Wow!!  This is a wonderful article!  I've been trying to think of a way I could grow some vegetables when we move to Florida in an apartment. . . maybe I could do this if we had a balcony or deck.  :)

Michelle, you can hang them off of a clothes line if nothing else is available.

I was just wondering yesterday if I could make one myself! Awesome, great job! Thanks for doing this, gives me endless possiablities!

Have fun with it Ginger

Very clever

Thank you Robert

An excellent idea - especially for small garden areas.  A funky upside down garden appeals to me.

Be sure to hang it high enough that the Leprechauns don't run off with your crop Magi.

I will, Debra!

very nice...

Thanks Jatrene

very good advice, i finally saw the ad on tv for that topsy turvy thingy, and your bottle idea would work exactly like it does!!  great creative mind you have there!!

Thanks Fran, it holds up better too.

Great idea! I love frugal gardening:)

Thanks!

Great idea!  Frugal and green at the same time.

Thanks Kat

I am sooooo going to do this.  How many tomato plants did you ruin before you got one through in growable condition? LOL  I'll buy a bunch of them just in case. I really like this idea, thanks for sharing.

Actually none, I used small young plants and took the netting from a bag of tomatos to cover the plant, drew the end of the netting through first and they slipped right through the opening in prime condition. I used a larger plant for my article so it would show up and it is doing very well also.

A great post. I know some people who are doing this with 5 gallon buckets.

Oh yes Diane you can use any size container and need something big enough to accomidate the roots. I have a friend growing potatos and peanuts in 5 gallon buckets.

This concept is really popular this year and people are coming up with all sorts of variations.  Very clever idea  you have.  I may try something like this next year.

Good deal Nana

I'd love to give you triple 10 on this one. What a great idea. Mind if I share it? I'd like to put a link to it on my Container Gardens are Easy web page. Let me know if it's ok! Great photo essay and gardening guide. 

Mary you are welcome to use anything I post.

I've been looking at those ads and wondering how to do it without the shipping and handling fees. THANKS!

You are welcome Debra, also the soda bottles won't break down in the sun like the Topsy Turvy planters do.

I love this idea. All of my cherry tomato seeds sprouted and I now have many more plants than pots or prepared ground in which to plant them. This neatly solves that problem.

I don't drink sodas but can 'harvest' some bottles from friends who do. Does it matter if you leave the label on or can you take it off?

Its your choice Linda.

I only ask because I thought the extra shade--or lack of it--might have an effect on the root system.

FYI--I've already made two and am about to go to a friends' house to clean out their recycle bin for more 2L bottles. I LOVE this!

This just might inspire me to try this.  We have tomatoes growing in the traditional way but this does interest me.

It's a lot of fun Trish.

Another great article. Thanks for the great pictures and directions.

Thanks Sandra

If you use a small piece of paper to form a sort of funnel around your plant it will slide easier through the opening of the bottle.  Keeps from breaking too many of the branches.

Thats true thanks Judith

That's great!  Thanks for the how to and the photos.

Your'e Welcome Renee

wow another way to recycle thanks

Your'e Welcome Edna

I did this in a plastic gallon milk jug

Wow, this is so cool.  A friend of ours' mother has the real thing.  There is foam in it to keep things from falling out or keep the water in not really sure.  Anyway it has crumbled.  They were trying to figure out what to do.  Yours doesn't have that design flaw.

Yes the ones they sell do disintegrate Pretty fast

Thank you for your kind words about me losing my uncle.

Your'e Welcome Patti

I've often wondered if the local deer could get into these hanging plants.

You can always hang them higher out of reach KD

Yeah, just made my first one according to your directions--I used a V-8 fusion bottle, it has a wider spout. This one is tomato, I'm going to do oregano next. This is such fun, especially since I live on the 2d floor with a balcony. Thanks, if I can, and you agree, I'm going to try to make a video of your instructions, okay? Let me know. If it works, I'll put it on my Container Garden Are Easy

NP Mary you are welcome to anything I post

I'm going to give this a try!  Thanks, Deba.

Your'e Welcome Bob I think you will be pleased with the results