They gotta use parachutes to get them this year!

I have my upside down tomatos planted and the raccoons are going to have to parachute in to get them. They are about 6 ft. off the ground. I will take more pics of them as they grow. They will get sun from sun up to sun down.

 

I hope it works Capt. but I did hear that the racoons were trying new flying equipment this year so youbetter watch out. Keep us posted.

 

Definitely keep us posted on the tomatoes progress! I bought an "Upside down pot" from a mail order place a few years ago and have never had much luck with it. Because I'm so cheap I ordered the smallest one they make. Maybe I should have splurged a little and bought one size bigger. I've planted lobelia and nasturtiums with no luck. I'd love to see your raccoon-proof tomatoes as they grow.
Deanna
:-D

 

The buckets are 5 gal buckets. I got them at Wal Mart and I already had the lids. I used the Miracle Grow potting soil, so that should help them quite a lot. When I put them up this morning both were hanging straight down. I just looked at them and the one on the right in the picture is trying to curve up all ready. I was surprised. We had a brief shower a little while ago and the water coming off the eaves watered them for me. I already have 2 lids ready to put on top of them when they don't need watering and it's raining.

 

Ingenious. Interested to see the results. 8)

 

Both plants are starting to turn up this morning. Toni, the plants I bought were Bonnie brand and they come in a large peat pot. The pots were about 4 inches across. The hole is a 2 inch hole. I packed the soil in the bottom about 2 inches deep, and then romoved enough to epose the hole. I then threaded the leaves and stem down through the hole and let the pot rest on the dirt. I then filled in around the pot with soil. I ripped the bottom of the pot off and then filled the bucket up the rest of the way. I put a circle of landscape cloth on top of the soil and then the lid. The lid is one that snaps on and I had to use a mallet to get it on all the way. Then turn the bucket upside down and fill in the hole with a little dirt. But the pot is what really holds the plant in.

 

They are saying heavy rain for this evening, and since the dirt in them is moist enough, I put plastic shopping bags over the tops to keep the rain from the eaves from running into them. Can't do that when they are planted in the ground!

 

I might just have to try that ^_^ Thanks for the idea Oh, and I can probably get bucket for free from the bakery I used to work at

 

I wish you luck with that captain, looks good. I can tell you from experience that you will have a limited harvest by growing this way!!! So plant more that you think you need.

A simple remedy for coons and other garden destroying varmits....
A .22 cal rifle.. Bolt action with snap caps. It's sounds like a soft air pistol.. It's nice to not offend the neighbors!

I'm sure the PETA folks will flame me for this...LMAO

 

When I planted the maters on Monday, there were no blooms. I looked at them today and one plant has 3 bloom getting ready to open and the other one has 4. It looks like the plats have grown about an inch also.

 

Racoons gotta live to.

I keep saying I'm gonna try that Capt. and have yet to do so.

 

how did you think of this idea? Sounds very cool I am also interested to hear how it works (so I can pass on this info...raccoons aren't an issue in our area but deer def. are). How do they get enough water?