Turn your plants on their heads by growing them upside down in a lampshade. It may look quirky, but some vegetables thrive on this method, and it’s ideal if you have limited space to grow things.
. TIME IT RIGHT Young, small plants or
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seedlings are easier to plant in early to mid-spring. Depending on what you’re using, hang in a sheltered, frost-free place until the danger of frost has passed.
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чЛ—Project Steps
3 Holding the section of dowel under the drilled holes and flush against the top opening, drill screws through the holes and firmly into the dowel.
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Insert your plant through the cross. Carefully turn the bag over, resting it at the edge of the work surface so the plant hangs over the side.
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Turn the lampshade over.
Match a drill bit to the width of the cup hook and drill a shallow hole into the center of the dowel, to help screw in the hook.
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Take the plant bag and cut a small cross in the center of the base, just large enough to fit the root ball of your plant.
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If necessary, stitch together the seams of the opening in the plant bag with garden wire to make the plant more secure. Cut a cross in the hanging basket liner to match the one in the plant bag. Ease the liner over the root ball of the plant, making sure it fits snugly around where the stem comes out of the opening. Trim the liner so it fits inside the bag.
8 Fill around the root ball with potting mix, mixing in a handful of slow-release fertilizer granules. Stop when three-quarters full to allow space for watering.
Lift the plant bag into the lampshade and hang it by the handles from the cup hook. Put an S-hook under the dowel, or fix it firmly with garden wire, and use the top of the S-hook to hang from a sturdy support.
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Where to site Chile peppers need a good amount of sun to ripen, so place the planter in a sunny but sheltered place, where you can easily access the top for watering.
‘Watering and feeding Water frequently during the growing season and while the plant is establishing, especially if the weather is hot and sunny. Add some diluted liquid fertilizer to the water once or twice a month in the main growing season. Watering is done through the open top of the lampshade directly into the plant bag, so use a watering can with a long spout. You can also mist the plants in hotter weather.
General Care Remove damaged or dying foliage during the growing period. Chile peppers are not frost hardy and will die back if left outside in winter. You could try to overwinter your plant by moving it into a light, frost-free place, or simply hang it inside by a sunny window. Reduce watering. Change soil mix in spring—your plant may or may not start to grow new shoots!
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Plastic Cup
