One of the great things about gardening {in my opinion} is there never seems to be a lack of new growing methods to try. For years now I’ve wanted to try one of those Topsy Turvy tomato planters. But I never thought they were especially attractive. But I still wanted to give growing tomatoes upside down a try.
So this morning I went to The Home Depot and picked up a wire hanging basket with a coco liner for my garden experiment. I paid $6.97 for the basket. If I wanted to be super thrifty and not spend a dime, I could have simply cut the bottom out of a black 5 gallon pot and bent a few wire hangers to hang it up.
But I live in high maintenance suburbia. Home of fake tans and all things pretty. Plus, if the Handsome Husband were to look outside and see wire hangers dangling from the porch, he’d totally freak out {which he does quite often anyway, because of all the shenanigans I try and pull}.
So back to the knock off Topsy Turvy. Have you ever made on of these before? Well if you haven’t, I’m here to tell you it is not rocket science. Nope. Just grab a lined hanging wire basket, plastic planter or whatever you can find and cut a hole in the bottom. Carefully insert a tomato plant so it is hanging out the bottom of your container. If you are not using a coco liner than simply cut a little hole in a piece of landscape fabric and place it over the larger hole in the bottom of your container before you insert your tomato plant so your dirt does not fall out.
Add potting soil and moisten.
Next, be sure and add a little bling to the top. I chose to plant cascading lobelia and petunias in the top of my planter. In a few months not only will I have delicious tomatoes to pick, but I can enjoy some pretty flowers as well. If you already have a bunch of flowers in hanging baskets, you could also plant your upside down tomato planter with a few herbs or strawberries.
So what do you think? Have you ever grown tomatoes upside down before? Do you think it will work?
Heidi says
Great idea! I’ve had topsy turvy planters for two years and hadn’t planted them until last weekend due to how unattractive they are. I planted them a week to early!!! I would have much rather planted the beautiful baskets you made. Maybe I will switch them out. My neighbors will thank me 🙂
Mavis says
Ha Ha Ha
Sarah says
What kind of tomato did you use? I’ve been told that cherry tomatoes (or just any small tomatoes) work best. I’ve done cherry tomatoes in my topsy tervy, and found that it takes a lot more watering that my other tomato planting methods. Also, I’ve had to add soil to the top a couple of times as the summer progresses.
Look forward to your update on the upside-down tomato! I like the creative idea of using the coco-line basket.
Mavis says
I used a cherry tomato. Yum Yum Yum!
Sarah says
Also, I’ve seen where people do the same thing with strawberries – just cut holes around the sides and bottom of the basket and plop a few in!
Kelly says
Check out your local dollar stores as well, I purchased 4 of these topsy turvys for 2 dollars each at Dollaramma here in Canada.
Michelle says
I bought a topsy turvy at Wal-mart a few weeks ago ( less than $5 there) and my plant is not doing all that great. It looks sad. Right after I got it, the wind whipped the crud out of it and now its got some leaves but nothing close to my other 2 plants that are doing exceptionally well. I don’t think upside down plants work in New Mexico. boo.
Mavis says
I think I am going to keep mine in the greenhouse so I won’t have to deal with the wind issue. 🙂 I didn’t really think about it until you mentioned it. Thank you, and I’m sorry to hear about your plant. 🙁
mona says
I used the topsy one year, and discovered the issue is keeping it hydrated. Now I just use containers and a raised bed “box” which is much more productive. Just saying.
margie says
so far I don’t know I just planted my tamatos they looked good the 1st couple days today not so much.