Comments on: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planters

By: Roberta Falatyn

Roberta Falatyn — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:16:36 +0000

I just bought one of the Topsy Turvy planters for strawberries with all the holes even though I also have a traditional garden. They are ugly but I am hoping that they keep my herbs away from the voles. I planted thyme yesterday and this morning it was gone! Eaten right down to the roots. This has happened year after year. I’ll let you know how it works after the season is over. My seedlings are growing beautifully and I can’t wait to get them outside. Now all I have to do is learn how to trellis squash!

By: Willi

Willi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:32:26 +0000

GardenMentor–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

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:11:21 +0000

To 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!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:19:09 +0000

My kids totally make fun of those things! I loathe them.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:38:03 +0000

They 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!”

By: Tiffany S.

Tiffany S. — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:34:09 +0000

None 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.

By: Lelo

Lelo — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:21:59 +0000

A 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.

By: elle

elle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:29:46 +0000

My 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.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:18:30 +0000

I 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!

By: Heavy Petal

Heavy Petal — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:14:52 +0000

You nailed it, Willi! They’re fugly.