Upside-down gardening

Upside-down gardening is a hanging vegetable garden being the suspension of soil and seedlings of a kitchen garden to stop pests and blight,[1] and eliminate the typical gardening tasks of tilling, weeding, and staking plants.[2] The vegetable growing yield is only marginally affected. Kathi (Lael) Morris was the first known to grow tomatoes and peppers this way, starting in 1998. Since then, the concept gained tremendous popularity. Ms. Morris grew mostly heirloom varieties, researching over a span of 11 years, which varieties were compact enough to produce fruit in abundance with little or no breakage of the stems. Traditional horticulture experts are curious whether upside-down gardening is a fad as "traditionalist gardening snobs" say or not.[1][3]

Advantages over normal gardening

Since upside-down gardens take up far less room than the traditional in-ground type, upside-down ones are more useful in urban areas.[4]

Suitable plantings

Larger vegetables such as bell peppers or large tomatoes tend to break the vine; smaller peppers such as cayenne peppers and tabasco pepper have lower weight and thus gravity does not stress the vine to breakage.[5] Other potential upside-down gardening vegetables include: cucumbers, eggplants, and beans.[6]

The top side may also be used. On the top side of upside-down planters, lettuce, radishes and cress may be grown,[6] and herbs or flowers such as marigolds can absorb sunlight to decrease desiccation of the planter; that is, preventing drying out.[1] Unsuited are lettuce, peas and carrots as they do not generally do well, grown upside-down.[1]

There are some commercial products that help with upside-down gardening, including the Topsy Turvy; and there's also fairly easy instructions on how to construct them at home.[7]

See also

References
  1. Murphy, Kate (May 19, 2010). "Growing Vegetables Upside Down". New York Times.
  2. "Upside-Down Gardening". Nikki Phipps. Retrieved 2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. Gilmore, Michael. "Upside-Down Crops Are Growing in Popularity". Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  4. Morris, Tracy S. "Growing Plants Upside Down". Demand Media. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  5. "Growing Tomatoes Upside Down? An Alternative Garden Plan". Kathi Morris. Retrieved 2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. "Hanging Vegetable Garden – What Vegetables Can Be Grown Upside Down". Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  7. "Tips for Growing Tomatoes Upside Down". Gardining Channel. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
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