Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree - Fresh Veggies Anywhere

Got my Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree and assembled it in no time (I'm 73 and had no problem with it) followed the directions exactly and am now enjoying many, many delicious tomatoes, warm and ripe right from the vine. I planted the "Better Boy" variety and am very pleased with it. We even took pictures to show everyone, we were so proud of the results. I'm very satisfied with this product and would recommend it to friends and family. I'm going to try zucchini and eggplant next season. Votes: +0

Contributors: When writing, tell where you grow, My Texas coast climate is different from Maine or Colorado, I'm basing these comments on vertical planting, just now trying Topsy's.
There are many varieties of tomatoes; annual determinants or long-living indeterminants, There are cherries, grapes, slicers. etc. Some may grow well in a Topsy-Turvy's, others not. Let's focus first on varieties that grow well in Topsy's followed by best for climate. Your experience IS important. I'm trying Juliet grapes in Topsy's instead of 25 gal. pots with four foot vertical cages.
Whatever soil you mix, add a bit of turkey manure based organic fertilizer, lots of BAKED compost (seed & bug free) with a touch of epsom salt (prevents blossom end rot). If you need to bulk up heavy soil DO NOT use peat moss. If it dries it's hard to re-wet (sorry, Bill). Use fine compost, coconut hull fiber or you must pulverize any peat moss used (See below).
Plant the start DEEP up in the collar. All stem in dirt will soon grow roots. Tomatoes are weird plants. As you add soil dust in dry rock phosphate around the stem with a small handful at the root ball, yep! This may be 6 or 7 inches up in the bag.
To first water add a bit of molasses (sugar will do), liquid seaweed and liquid fish to add nutrients and soil activators. Repeat once a month.
1.) A tall, long lived plant (indeterminant) may be pulled up and buried horizontally in an earth trench with only the top foot or two turned up to the sun. In good soil the buried plant will root and flourish!
2.) Peat moss is a great preservative. In a Scottish bog it preserved a drowned deer body for over four thousand years. It is NOT good for beneficial soil microbes which a gardener needs to break down compounds and feed roots. Organic experts are against peat moss.
Know this is long but I hope it helps. Votes: +0

I thought I'd give the topsy turvy a try this year after last year's disasterous crop (both in the ground and potted). This year, we planted two TTs with tomato plants meant for patio growing. We also planted tomatoes in pots. The plants in the TTs thrived and gave a high yield. The fruit was ready far earlier than the ones in the pots. In the beginning, the plants did grow up the sides of the planters but, as they matured, they grew down. I had no bugs, no slugs, no rot, and the squirrels couldn't get at them. I will buy more of the topsy turvy planters for next year and am going to try growing peppers as well as more tomatoes in them. Be forewarned, they must be watered every day. I find that mine take about 1/2 gal of water. I also fertilized a couple of times during the season Votes: +1

To be fair, we have 2 turvy's and 2 potted tomato plants. I must confess the turvys are in far better shape than the potted plants. Requires lots of water. You must water every other day without fail if in dry, hot, humid areas. Votes: +1

I have used the Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree for 3 seasons now, and will never, ever plant my tomatoes in the ground again. This product is sturdy, simple to use, and produces beautiful fruit. Because the plants grow toward the sun and never touch the ground, the slugs and other critters cannot ruin or run off with your produce. As I have already stated, I have used the same bags for 3 seasons now, and have not had any problems at all. I highly recommend this product. Votes: +0

This tomato tree is one of those simple gadgets that works amazingly well, but people do like to make it difficult. If you read the directions, you'll have a very hard time NOT growing delicious tomatoes, and other vegetables, too. I have all the tomatoes I can use, and then I can the rest. Votes: +1

I bought 2 Topsy Turvys last year - it worked great in my pool enclosure - not far from the kitchen and great tomatoes and we even put pepper plants in a few of the holes. The one we filled with Miracle Grow dirt produced more faster - but with the Florida heat at end of year they were shredding; so for other climates I'm sure you could get a few summers out of it. Votes: +1

It's true that there are instructions on making your own bucket hanging tomato planter and if I were crafty I'd probably do so and may give it a try one day since it is the cheapest way to go...HOWEVER....even at the higher end of the cost bracket I've seen these things go for it is still MUCH cheaper than buying rock hard bland tasting tasting tomatoes at the grocery store. Votes: +0

I love my topsy turvy tomato tree. Had lots of three different types of tomatoes.
thanks
carol Votes: +0

The Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree is an old idea turned on its head - for fantastic improvement in growing tomatoes! Votes: +0

I was excited when I received my Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree. I had seen them on television and immediately envisioned bucket fulls of ripe delicious tomatoes! I live in an apartment so my small balcony is the only space I have available for my gardening. In the past I have used 5 gallon buckets to grow my tomatoes with good results so I was eager to see if the Topsy Turvy would prove to be a better, more fruitful option. I opened the box to find the bag with a set of clear instructions. The instructions said I could plant 6 seedlings but I chose to only plant two. I hung the bag from a sturdy plant hanger. After about a week I noticed rapid plant growth and within a month I had blossoms! I'm just now starting to pick my first tomatoes and they are bigger & juicier than the ones I'm growing in my 5 gallon bucket! You do have to water every day to prevent the plants from dehydrating but I'm used to that since I container garden. The Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree has so far proved to be a great investment in my balcony garden, in fact I may have to purchase one or two more for cucumbers and peppers! Votes: +2

I have no idea if these things are easy to grow or not, but my neighbor gives us tons of homegrown tomatoes all summer. She has three or four of these trees on her patio and her family can't eat all the fruit. Makes me happy. Votes: +0

My mom's patio is covered with these, and she gives us baskets of the best tomatoes I've ever eaten. Votes: +0

I made one from a five gallon bucket, my question is should I put a lid on it ,or keep it open,I live in al and we have a lot of rain in the spring, i used a sponge in the hole area to keep the plant [ 8 in ] from falling out ,until it cal takes root,when I touch the sponge it is water filled ,to the point of dripping for about a week, could someone post advise please !!! Votes: +1

I as told how to do this with a 5 gallon white bucket that comes with a lid about 2 years before this came out. They cut a small hole in the bottom of the plastic bucket for the plant to grow out ofput a little dirt in but plant the tomatoe where the leaves are coming out the hole then add more dirt. Hang it from he hanger that comes on the bucket. When you want to water it you just take the lid off and water it then put it back on. It works the same. Next thing I know they were coming out this this stupid thing and charging more than the tomatoes would cost. The bucket is only a few bucks. Votes: +3

I purchased mine at our local linen store, Bed Bath and Beyond for $9.99 each. I also saw them at Fred Meyer for $14.99 each. Wal Mart had them but sold out in a day.
I did not buy a hanger as I have three Topsy's. I bought some very strong planter brackets from our local hardware store. At least I thought they were strong. These planters are really heavy when they are full of soil. I agree, best to use potting soil. They really should caution you about the weight in the instructions. Also, the instructions say to fill with soil within two inches of the top. I've grown tomatos in the ground before and never had the roots go that deep! My friend had these last year and said they work really well. We'll see. Votes: +0

I purchased this product not sure how well the toamatoes will grow but the they advertise a 6 foot stand and when I got mine put together the stand is not taller than 5 feet I am 5'2" and I can clearly see the top to the stand with not problem I am taller than the stand Votes: -1

The Topsy Turvy promises to turn your gardening world upside down!
But before I get into the details, let me ask you this. Are you truly happy with your gardening efforts? Do you like the weeding, the staking, the insects, and the back-breaking time spent in the garden during the harvest?

With The Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter, the above problems will be a thing of the past!

Once a down-in-the-dirt gardener, I decided to give the Topsy Turvy a try. The first thing that I noticed was the quality construction; from the thick, Tyvek-like growing bag, to the double stitching and strong metal hanging wires. This was a major league product, undoubtedly designed for much more than one growing season.

The instructions were short, simple, and easy to understand. You simply insert your tomato seeding through the bottom of the growing bag, insert the patented slit growing sponge, add the soil, and hang it in a sunny location. That's all there is to it!

Gravity and Mother Nature takes care of the rest, as the newly planted seedling grows downward from the center of the growing bag. Upside down growing has been around for years, but it took Topsy Turvy to make it practical and simple.

Being practically maintenance free, there are a few important points that one must be aware of for successful growing. First, be sure the growing bag is in a sunny location and has adequate support and water. Remember, you are not only holding the soil, but the water as well. You also must remember that in a few months, you will also be supporting a fully "loaded" tomato plant. Also, it is important to use a lighter "potting soil" in lieu of heavy garden soil.

The advantages of the Topsy Turvy are many. No tilling or digging the soil, the growing bag can be placed practically anywhere (it's nice to be able to plant early and bring the bags indoors if a frost should occur). The soil is never walked upon, and there is no need for cumbersome staking. Insect damage is also rare, since most insects invade from the ground up.

All in all, there is nothing that a gardener would love more than the Topsy Turvy.
It's convenience, ease-of-use, and simple design make it a winner for any home or garden!
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Hi there - Here is the link that will give you all of the customer service information you need to contact Tospy Turvy - http://amazingproducts.tv/tops...vice.html. Votes: +0

there are several sights on line that tell you how to make your own from 5 gallon buckets or milk jugs. if you don't like the color you can simple paint them and their is one sight that even explains how to prepare the soil. I am making my own for a fraction of the cost of your product. I have also found out that my small town hardware store will be carrying these for around $13.00 for the smaller single plant hanging container, and NO SHIPPING charges I agree with the several complains about the cost Votes: +6

Hi Terry: Since AmazingProducts.tv is not the manufacturer of this product, I don't know the answer to your question. The purpose of our website it to showcase and feature products that we think are great. However, if you click on this link, it will give you all of the contact information for Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree. You should contact them directly with your question. http://amazingproducts.tv/tops...vice.html.
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Does the seeds or plant come with the device? Votes: +0

Hi Bernadine! You will need to contact Topsy Turvy's customer service directly, and they will be able to give you the information you need. Here is a link that will give you all of the cs contact information - http://amazingproducts.tv/tops...vice.html. Votes: +0

I just place an order for the topsy turvy tomato tree and didn't get an order number or how much my two payments would be! So could you seen me that...

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While I have not reached the 200 mark, I am hoping for that this year. I had well over 100 Tomatoes on my plant last year and I started late. I have ordered mine, and waiting for it to arrive. Votes: +0

The claim of 200 tomatoes may be a bit exaggerated but this is an easy way to get a good tomato plant. Votes: +1

This is a no brainer for anybody that lives in the city without hope of having a veggie garden. I'm addicted to my own tomatoes that are now taking over my terrace. I have a pot of basil growing next to the topsy turvy and now I've got all my friends coming over to pluck tomatoes and basil from my "garden". Maybe I should set up a farmstand and cash in on the deal! Votes: +0