We love a good garden hack around here, so I was pretty excited when I ran across this video on how to make your own upside down tomato planter from a reclaimed five gallon bucket:

Upside down planting is a great way to make use of vertical space. The thing this video doesn't address is making sure that your bucket is anchored well. All of that soil and water is heavy, and you don't want the planter to fall! It's also a good idea to place a towel or another bucket under the planter when you water, if you're hanging this on a porch or deck. You don't want the water runoff from the planter to damage the wood!

You can snag a bucket from a local deli or restaurant. Just politely ask if any of their salads or veggies come in five gallon buckets and if they'd be OK giving you one. You'll have better luck if you try at a restaurant you frequent, but don't be shy about asking around!

Tomatoes aren't the only plants that you can grow upside down. Pretty much any vine will work. I've seen folks successfully grow cucumbers and strawberries upside down.

Have you done any upside down planting? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!