Topsy Turvy Tomato Planters
Topsy Turvy tomato planters are all the rage. Why? I do not know. The planters are totally hideous. The novelty of growing a tomato upside down certainly does not outweigh the eyesore factor.
I’ve had several people tell me that tomatoes do wonderfully in Topsy Turvy planters, but I will not be swayed in my opinion that a green plastic column has no place hanging in my garden when tomatoes perform well when grown upright and in the ground.
I do not, however, reserve my scorn for all upside down planters. In fact, I am strangely drawn to the idea of growing a plant the wrong way up. Enter the Sky Planter. This self-watering container features a minimal, modernist design and hangs from inconspicuous metal wires. It is certainly smaller than the Topsy Turvy, but I think dwarf tomato varieties like ‘Totem’, which only grows 12 inches tall, or ‘Tumbling Tom’, which tops out at 2 feet, would grow well in the Sky Planter and look nice, too.
Hideous, Don’t You Think?
I still think those topsy turvies look, feel and sound like a green diaper. Any option, even an ugly old pot flipped over is more appealing to me
September 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pmYou nailed it, Willi! They’re fugly.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pmI hate them too. At least design a better pattern for the wrapper. I guess if you’re an apartment dweller, maybe it makes sense, but otherwise just pot it!
September 16th, 2009 at 3:18 pmMy neighbor has one of those horrible things and I don’t think he’s gotten a single tomato off of the vine. Even if he has the plant is looking almost as bad as the planter itself.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:29 pmA friend and I were talking about this exact topic: how ugly they are, and decided growing tomatoes upside down along the front of our houses in repurposed cat litter buckets would look better than those topsy turvies. And I believe the term “ticky tacky” was also used.
September 16th, 2009 at 5:21 pmNone of our tomatoes did particularly well this year, but I would still not resort to using these. My brother made his own and grew basil out the top and tomatoes out the bottom but even then the planter weighted a TON. Just grow them the normal way, people.
September 16th, 2009 at 6:34 pmThey are unsightly, yes, but there’s another reason they bother me. Since most plants grow towards from the force of gravity and towards light, a plant in one of these types of planters would simply grow up anyway, Right? Unless of course, the weight of itself, and its fruit (in the case of a tomato) would pull it down. I know I’m being anthropomorphic, but, “Ouch!”
September 16th, 2009 at 6:38 pmMy kids totally make fun of those things! I loathe them.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:19 pmTo add space to my growing area, I bought two solid green ones from Gardener’s Supply. MUCH more attractive than the hideous green on green and plastic. I’m not sold on the idea yet…they have a self watering container on top with these strips that get clogged. Suddenly my poor plant gets totally wilted. That has happened several times this season. To their credit, GS contacted me to say that they learned their strips need to be replaced every 3 months and sent me new strips. However, I have found they need to be changed monthly=PAIN. The plant does try to grow upright but has to give in to the weight of the fruit. I’m on the fence as to whether I’ll give them another go next season. Do ck out the all green ones though folks!
September 17th, 2009 at 6:11 amGardenMentor–You’re totally right. They do kind of remind me of diapers.
Andrea–I love the word fugly. It is just so descriptive.
Anne–I agree that they could at least make them less ugly, since so many people like to use them. It would make life easier for the rest of us!
Elle–I’m interested that you’ve seen a plant doing badly, because I only hear about how great tomatoes do in them. V. interesting!
Lelo–Perhaps we could petition the makers of this product to add ticky tacky to the name.
Tiffany–I was wondering about weight. They just look heavy.
Colleen–it seems that the fruit does indeed weigh them down.
Suzanne–your kids have good taste!
Becca–I’m glad to hear that they are now making plain Topsy Turvy planters. As someone with a small garden, I can see the space saving appeal of the planters, but I think I’ll stick with my tomatoes in the ground
September 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm