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How to Grow Cucumbers in a Topsy-Turvy
How to Grow Cucumbers in a Topsy-Turvy. The Topsy-Turvy method holds the promise of growing vegetables without having to worry about weeding, pests or even bending over to care for them. Growing tomatoes upside-down appealed to many, and the product sold well through television and other outlets. Soon, gardeners discovered that other plants such as...
The Topsy-Turvy method holds the promise of growing vegetables without having to worry about weeding, pests or even bending over to care for them. Growing tomatoes upside-down appealed to many, and the product sold well through television and other outlets. Soon, gardeners discovered that other plants such as cucumbers can grow in a Topsy Turvy also.
Things You'll Need
Drill with 3/16-inch drill bit
Heavy-duty screw hook capable of holding 75 lbs.
"S" hook and chain capable of holding 75 lbs.
Topsy Turvy kit
Potting soil
Fertilizer
Cucumber seedling
3-foot wooden pole
2 sturdy chairs with tall backs
Water the potting soil mix in a container until it is very wet.
Mix an all-purpose vegetable fertilizer into the mix according to the instructions on the fertilizer container. Do not overfertilize the soil.
Drill a 1-inch deep hole into an overhead rafter or other joist. Drywall or thin plywood by itself cannot hold the weight of the filled unit. A 2-by-4 wood section that is securely fastened to other joists is best.
Screw the hook into the supporting wood until all the threads have entered the wood.
Hang the bag at waist height on a pole run between the backs of two sturdy chairs.
Take off the top of the bag and reach inside to remove all the foam rings.
Stick the root ball of the cucumber plant or plants, through the bottom hole and into the bag. While someone holds the plants in place, reach through the top of the bag and place the split ring pieces around the stems from the inside. This holds the root ball inside the bag.
Fill the bag one-third of the way with the wet soil. Add a circular foam ring to the top of the soil when you reach that mark.
Add enough soil to reach the two-thirds mark and add the other foam rings to the top of the soil.
Continue to fill the bag until you are 2 inches from the top.
Add the top piece back to the bag.
Hang the Topsy Turvy from the prepared hook. Adjust the height by adding an "S" hook and a chain between the bag connectors and the ceiling hook if you desire.
Monitor the water and add daily as necessary. According to Washington State University, a mature plant can use up to a gallon of water a day. Observe the cucumbers and see how they respond to watering. Use a water-soluble fertilizer if the plants seem to be growing slowly.
