Homemade Upside Down Tomato Planter
- 1). Cut a 2-inch diameter circle in the center bottom of the 5-gallon bucket with a sharp knife. The hole does not need to be exact. You will use this hole to plant the tomato seedling.
- 2). Cut four small holes on the bottom of the bucket no larger than 1/4 inch diameter. The placement of these holes does not matter because they will provide extra drainage.
- 3). Place the bottom of the bucket on a piece of plastic window screening. Trace the bottom of the bucket with a permanent marker. Cut the plastic screening and place it inside the tomato bucket.
- 4). Trace the center hole on the bottom of the bucket onto the screen with a permanent marker. Remove the plastic screening and fold it in half. Cut three slits into the center hole. Unfold the screen and separate the slits by cutting through the center to create six small squares. This will help to hold the tomato seedling in place.
- 5). Place the plastic screen back into the bucket. Fill the 5-gallon bucket with commercial potting soil. Add a tomato fertilizer to the soil, based on manufacturer recommendations.
- 6). Remove the tomato seedling from its container. Separate the roots and remove the excess soil.
- 7). Secure the lid on the bucket. Push the tomato seedling into the soil. Plant the seedling into the soil up to the first set of leaves.
- 8). Water the tomato plant so the soil remains moist. Do not allow the soil to dry. Apply a liquid fertilizer to the tomato plant on a weekly basis.
- 9). Allow the tomato plant to reach 12 inches in height. Hang the tomato upside down from the handle from a sturdy object like a metal post.
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