Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Review - An Update
Previously we had done a review of the Topsy Turvy tomato planter. This popular hangingtomato planter is the one that has tomatoes growing upside down, and has sold like wildfire over the last few years, and we bought a few for our own use. Here’s a look at our results.
As background we were using this in North Texas, where the summers get pretty hot (a typical summer can have a couple of dozen or more days over 100 degrees, and the nighttime temperature stays above 90 for at least a couple of weeks in July and August). So your mileage with these hanging tomato planters will differ in your area.
Probably the most critical choice you can make is to choose the right tomatoes. Not every tomato variety will tolerate these growing conditions, so pick a tomato variety for a hanging planter.
The single biggest complaint I’ve seen is the need for constant watering in the summer months, and tomatoes dying early. Remember, the soil bag only holds about 11 quarts in one of these hanging planters, so the root system is not going to be huge. Don’t expect a full sized cherry tomato plant that’s grown to be 6 or 7 feet long with dozens of tomatoes on it to be supported by that small root bag. The original design of the Topsy Turvy had some water retention rings in it to address the need for watering, but that’s apparently been taken out over the last few years, probably as a cost savings.
The reason that there’s only 11 quarts in one of these is that they get HEAVY when filled. This means you need to have a solid place where the hook is installed before you start filling the planter. And don’t water it until it’s hung. The wire hangers will cut your hands if you aren’t careful, and don’t think you can use something like the shephards hooks used to hang small bird feeders. You need something strong to hang it on.
If you want something larger, I’d suggest you look at the Topsy Tree planter. It’s on a stand and has a larger soil bag, so you can have more tomato plant or plants grow successfully with it.
We planted tomatoes the same day from the same tomato starts as we did some plants in the garden. We hung it where it got about 8 hours of mostly afternoon sun. The tomatoes in the Topsy Turvy ripened about 2 weeks earlier than those in the ground, and kept going strong for a couple of months. However, summer is hard on gardens in North Texas, but if you keep your tomatoes watered and alive you are rewarded with more tomatoes in the fall than you typically get in the spring. But the Topsy Turvy was just too hot and dried out too quickly, and those tomatoes died out. That’s really what we expected, so that wasn’t a big disappointment.
We also grew some bell peppers in one of these, and they did reasonably well, but once again didn’t make it through the summer.
Probably the biggest disappointment in our eyes was the durability of these hanging planters. The ones we had were exposed to one spring and summer in North Texas, and they simply decomposed. The plastic faded badly, and started to crumble. They had to be thrown away after one season. They aren’t that expensive, (you can find them for just over $10) but we expected to get more than one season out of them.
Gardeners supply offers their Revolution planter, that’s the same basic idea and looks a little more robust, but we haven’t tried that one yet.
Overall, we think the Topsy Turvy is a good choice for growing tomatoes in a lot of places. It can work well in patios or balconies, and is a great way to get toamtoes earlier than you an in the garden. But be realistic about the size of tomato plants you’re going to get, and be vigilant about watering. And be prepared to buy another one each year.
Filed under Container Gardening, Growing Tomatoes by John
Comments on Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Review - An Update »
Venecia @ 8:44 pm
I bough 2 Tupsy Turvy tomato planters and followed the instructions to the teeth. I picked a cherry tomatoes variety and a patio tomato. I live in Miami and it gets pretty hot here. It is only April and this weekend we had temp in the 80’s
I’m very anxious to see the results.
patty @ 9:06 pm
I have bought 4 topsey turvey planters. Im in Northern Ca and it doesn’t get very hot here. We have the problem of coastal fog every summer. I worry about it not getting hot enough. So heres to waiting and seeing!!!!
Suzanne @ 8:32 pm
Great info thank you so much.
kjcm @ 8:51 am
One heavy rain seorm and it bent the metal pole supporting it and broke the plant
Sandy @ 10:57 am
Received the planters and recipe books; but not the supposed inclusive tomato cutters.
The circular foam blockers are for holding the plants in place and reduce water spurting out the openings. (Information is limited on this feature.)
So far, no problem. The plants seem happy. I do water them every morning, when there’s not been rain. The strawberries have produced a couple berries to date. The tomatoes and peppers are flowering. The herbs are doing nicely.
I do recommend this technology, especially for families with limited space to nurture their own gardens.
Sandy
Jim @ 8:54 am
Plants in hanging unit die within three days. What are we doing wrong?
John @ 11:15 am
It’s hard to say without knowing your growing conditions, but for them to die that quickly you may have damaged them putting them in the planter, assuming you’ve watered them at least once thoroughly.
Denise @ 2:44 pm
Definitely a rip off!
The TV & online offer says buy one get one free, for just $19.95.
And then shipping was another $15.95, unbelievable! It would have been alright until I went to Home Depot to buy the tomatoe plants, and saw the topsy turvy there for only $9.95.
Just planted today, now let’s see if it really works!
Elaine @ 10:10 pm
I was very dissapointed in the product. I have grown Tomatoes every year, different varieties in Tucson, AZ. I planted according to directions, and yes, you must have a sturdy hook. The first 2 weeks everything was ok. Then the plant turned 180 degrees and grew up towards the sky. I have tried to hang things on the plant to get it to grow down, but to no luck. So I dont have a clue as to why the pictures show the plants growing toward the earth. So I consider it a waste of my money
John @ 10:42 pm
In my experience, you just have to be a little more patient. As the plant matures and gets heavier, especially as it starts to grow fruit it will hang down and start to fill out. You don’t need to hang things on it, it will eventually hang down of its own weight.
Bonita @ 7:13 pm
I don’t know what I am doing wrong but I can’t get the tomatoe seedlings into the bottom. I just destroyed two seedling plants trying to get them in any suggestions???
John @ 12:51 pm
I have the best results with medium sized seedlings. Too small and they are too fragile, and the root ball disintegrates. Too big and you end up damaging them trying to get them through the bottom opening. The other thing to try is to use a seedling in a peat pot, so you don’t have to disturb the root ball when transplanting them.
charles @ 10:36 am
Try useing water crystals a long with the soil mix.
This should cut down on the watering.
If the bag was white, and would handle the heat build up in the bag better.
Also spray the bag with ArmorAll, it should make the bag last longer. I have used ArmorAll on vinyl boat seats. 10 years later they still looked good.
Mary @ 11:09 am
I am having trouble with knowing how often to water the plants. Sometimes the leaves look wilted. I don’t know if it is the heat or if they need water. Also, how often should I fertilize them.
Goheels @ 3:17 pm
Mary,
My understanding is that with an upside down system you cannot overwater. Any extranious water comes out of the bottom. As for ferilizer, you can buy powders that you can mix with your water that work pretty well. Hope this helps.
RAB @ 4:12 pm
This is my first growing season. I water each plant with an automatic sprinkler system, one gallon each, three times a day. Leakage through the system washes fertilizer out coating leaves and creating spotting, leaf curl and wilt. The plants are huge with more than 200 very small tomatoes each plant, about the size of a marble. Heritage tomatoes are about the size of a golf ball and fewer in number. It is still early season and it will be interesting to see what happens the rest of this season. The plants have to be shaded from the afternoon Sacramento sun which is generally above 90 degrees and dry.
Ken @ 10:37 pm
I have one of these going with a cherry tomato variety and the plant is producing, but it wants to grow up the sides of the planter.
No weeds or bugs which is a big plus. No need for cages.
I bought mine at Walgreens for $9.99. Bought a second there at the same price, then today found them on sale in a grocery store for $5! I bought the last two!
I am looking forward to trying the additional planters next season, or maybe even indoors.
Ken
Ken @ 10:40 pm
Forgot to mention that I use an AquaGlobe (Yes, another ASOTV product tha works!) for water. Seems to be the right amount every two days or so.
John @ 4:25 pm
Please, no more complaints about the companies selling these on TV. The number of complaints about the cost and responsiveness of the companies selling on TV is a different issue than how well the planter works. You can buy them from Amazon or a number of other reputable stores, and bypass all those problems. I’m moderating out all the complaints about customer service and costs, as the number of them is just too many to deal with.
Beverly Glass @ 8:46 pm
WOW,, it really works! I love it,, I watch it everyday to see whats new…..Fun family project!
Sophia Gingrich @ 1:08 pm
I am not happy with the topsy turvy, I planted 3 plants, 1 died after a couple of weeks, the other 2 have produced small tomatoes and the tip of the tomato gets over-ripe and has to be cut off. I grew another plant separately in a planter box and it did very well. I have been planting for 40 years and this was my first try. Next year I will plant in the ground, I think the root system does better and my tomatoes will be healthier. I live in Toms River,New Jersey, which is known for good tomato growing atmosphere.
I am not pleased with my results.
r halford @ 6:00 pm
It is not worth the time and money.Already falling a part injust 6 months, they make sound like it is space age material thats going to last for seasons to come.
jan-cleveland @ 6:40 pm
I think the topsy turvy was one of the worst investments I ever made. I spent over $200 on their two plus planters and I had to replace the tomatoes 3 times before they even started to grow because they died. Then we had a small crop and I mean small. We planted some in the ground which did a whole lot better and when the season (first and only) 2009 they are all dry rotted. I cannot even use them again. WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY ! I would not recommend them to anyone. Absolute junk.
Gordon Wegener @ 1:46 pm
I bought two topsy turvys and they lasted one season. They dont have a good uv treatment, and the sun eats them up. dont by them, not a good product. I spent 19.95 each I could have bought many more tomatoes for that price.
John @ 11:38 am
I will say that in my experience the Topsy Turvy’s are only good for one season, but I’d also note that they can be had for a lot less than $20 each (recently I saw some at Amazon
for under $7). I personally don’t buy things off of direct market TV ads, that’s usually not a good buy.
Nancy L @ 1:52 pm
I am not satisfied be my topsy turvey. You are suppose to be able to use them for several years. And I was taking the dirt out and the bags just disintergrated. Fell completely apart as if they were dry rotted.
Carly @ 10:21 am
I am very disappointed with my Topsy Turvy. It did not grow big tomatoes like they said. When taking it down for the season it fell apart. I too will plant my tomatoes in the ground or a 5 gal bucket. Would not recommend this item.
Hanging Tomato Planters – A Look at the Alternatives @ 3:39 pm
[...] for your tomato planting. There are the simple bags that hang a single plant upside down like the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter, and you can also find stands that hold more than one plant, or even a tomato garden that holds [...]
viloria @ 10:51 pm
If your plants are healthy when you put them up in the Topsy Turvy . . .they probably died of strangulation. I had the same thing happen to mine and my local garden supply said the weight of the soil packing down with water does the deed!
Ricky @ 10:22 pm
I bought the TT 4 years ago. I live in central VA and I have had mixed results. My bags are still intact! My problem may have been my soil mixture. It was always a “blind test” and my results ranged from great to pathetic. I had some great Romas and cherries, finding the vining indeterminate arent the best choice. Much upkeep and plenty of panty hose (BTW to those who wondered why they grow up the sides, they are supposed to.They are chasing light!)I read in the manual they said to use straight peat for water rtention and weight issues. You must fertilize at proper intervals.This was my downfall last season. I also installed a drip irrigation ystem and noticed after 5 minutes or so the water was dripping from bottom of unit. Maybe retaining water TOO much, I dunno. Added powdered fertilizer ay recommended dose but something was wrong. One big bushy plant, no fruit. One plant great start then severe blossom rot. And the black plant produced THREE wonderful fruits!! Will not try straight peat this year and will experiment and notate results. I do believe as long as they do not fall apart it is an great idea, with the pest/disease issues to be the most positive issue
Ricky
CJ McGee @ 1:46 pm
A total rip off. Purchased 4 of them and I had a total of 5 tomatoes. The leaves turned yellow and the plants were trying to grow upwards. What a waste of time and money
curly @ 5:35 pm
We live in the Fort Worth area. The last two years we tried the topsy turvy but it did not produce. The plants died mid summer and produced little when they did. Any suggestions? How about the new Revolution planter? Does the heat in the topsy turvy kill the plants?