Topsy Turvy

[FarmerPhil]

Has anyone had any success using the topsy turvy? I have one and I am going to try just to see if it works. I will let you know how is goes.

[gumbo2176]

My father-in-law, who is up in age and at one time was an avid gardner, has tried those over the last few years. Not much success with them but it may have more to do with his forgetting to take care of them like they need. I've personally never tried them and think of them as more of a gimmick than an alternative. Let us know how yours turn out since I like the concept of not having to stake them.

[Lunacy]

I was able to grow a determinate cherry tomato in one. I wouldn't try for more than that. The tv adds sure seem to over promise.

[FarmerPhil]

Thanks for the replys I will let you know how it works

[rainbowgardener]

Here's some threads where we discussed topsy turvy's

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=145142&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#145142

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=144899&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#144899

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=123548&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#123548

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15806&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes&start=0

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=118397&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#118397 (this is one of the more positive reports)

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=101628&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#101628

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=100750&highlight=topsy+turvy+tomatoes#100750

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=99825&highlight=upside+tomatoes#99825

I found these by typing topsy turvy tomatoes into the Search the Forum feature above (in the black strip across the top, click on Search the Forum and then type your subject into the keyword box that comes up) There were 51 hits.

I think the summary would be, dwarf, cherry, patio-sized, or smaller determinate varieties grow better in them than trying to grow a full size tomato. No one who has actually tried it seems to be saying that any tomato really grows better in the T-T than in the ground. But if you don't have ground space to grow tomatoes, the T-T is better than nothing!

But we like experiments! By all means, do the experiment for yourself, grow two plants of the same variety, one in the T-T and one in the ground, and let us know the results!

[Dixana]

My aunt-in-law has health problems and can't do the in ground garden, but she has containers of flowers EVERWHERE and 2 topsy turvys. They grow pretty well for her but are more prone to mold and mildew diseases because the water runs down the plants, and need to be watered everyday.
I think hers might grow better than others who have tried because we spray with milk solution once a week or so and water with AACT also once a week or so.

[FarmerPhil]

Thank you for all the information when I get sometime I will read the other posts. I will defently try the experiment suggested thanks for everything

[erlyberd]

Why not use 5 gallon buckets and save your money for seed!

[FarmerPhil]

OK so today is day one of my experiment, I just bought 4 tomato plants and I have put 2 of them in my topsy turvy and the other 2 in a regular planter. I am going to see which way they grow the best. I will keep everyone informed as the tomatos go. thanks you all for your input

[Francis Barnswallow]

I've tried that. All I got was a large tomato plant with no fruit.

[krzyk4]

I'm going to try it too ... I got some T-T's from a discount store and thought "what the heck". What kind of tomatoes did you use for the experiment? I think I will try the cherry tomatoes.

[johnny123]

As Seen On TV and I don't buy it.

[FarmerPhil]

I used regular Hybrid tomato plants, we will wait and see what happens.

[rainbowgardener]

@krzyk - I really recommend you check out some of the links I posted above, before you buy it. But if you do buy one, I think cherry tomatoes are the best way to go with it.

[Yogas]

I am one of the rare few that loves Topsy Turveys. I've grown Roma, razzleberry, garden peach. I am not afraid to try any type. I hang them on my kid's old swing set and they do great. I actually got less disease with them than the ones in the ground last year. I do water everyday but have learned to just give them a pitcher of water (about 2 quarts) rather than drenching them. I'll have to give you an update if the weather ever warms up here in Chicago!

[fishntime]

My in-laws have given it a try the last two years and really it was a waste of money for them. They say they won't do it again.

[Anastasis]

I have one, and the plant is growing quite well, except its not producing fruit, while my other tomatoes are.

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/PFC-Vegeta/DSC03010.jpg[/img]

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/PFC-Vegeta/DSC03011.jpg[/img]


Yea, growing great, just no fruit.

[Francis Barnswallow]

^Thats exactly what happened to me, I tried it 3 times with the same results.

Never again.

[Newbie Mike]

I've been using 5 gal. buckets for upsidedown gardening for the last couple years. I've found that my tomatoes seem to do better right side up, but green peppers do about the same either way and cucumbers do well upside down if you give the vines something to cling to/climb.