Growing tomatoes upside down and gravitropism

  • Thread starter Thread starter tony873004
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the method of growing tomatoes upside down and the implications of gravitropism on root development. Participants highlight that roots naturally grow downward due to gravitropism, raising concerns about the effectiveness of upside-down planting. A suggested approach is to initially plant seedlings upright to establish a robust root system before inverting them, although this method lacks widespread documentation. The conversation emphasizes the need for further exploration of techniques to optimize root growth in unconventional planting methods.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitropism in plants
  • Basic knowledge of tomato cultivation techniques
  • Familiarity with container gardening
  • Awareness of plant growth stages
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of gravitropism on root development in various plant species
  • Explore advanced container gardening techniques for optimizing root growth
  • Investigate the best practices for transplanting seedlings from upright to upside-down positions
  • Learn about the physiological responses of tomatoes to unconventional growing methods
USEFUL FOR

Gardeners, horticulturists, and anyone interested in innovative tomato cultivation methods or the effects of plant biology on gardening practices.

tony873004
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
1,753
Reaction score
143
I noticed the latest craze is to grow tomatoes upside down, so I though I'd try it. But in Biology of Plants class, we learned that roots only grow downward due to gravitropism. So if I plant the seedlings at the bottom of the pot, how will they ever develop a big root system that fills the container? I figured I could always start the plants right-side up, wait until they've developed a healthy root system throughout the container, and then turn them upside down. But nothing I read suggests doing it this way.
 
Biology news on Phys.org
http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/2009/04/make-your-own-upside-down-tomato.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
32K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
13K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
5K