Topsy Turvy
The Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter makes it easy for people to grow their own vegetables on their deck or patio without the need for digging a garden.
Despite the allergens in the air, spring has always been my favorite season. Flowers and trees bloom, replacing the dead, brown leaves and filling out the barren landscape. It is the time of the year that brings about new beginnings for everyone. Most of all, it marks the end of the icy weather by which we are so often plagued.
As I left for work that morning, I made a mental note to drag out two of my Christmas gifts and start putting them to use – my Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planters.
What it is
The Topsy Turvy line of gardening products turns traditional gardening upside down. These products are hanging greenhouse-like bags that allow the plant to grow from the bottom or sides, depending on which product you purchase.
How it works
The Topsy Turvy eliminates the need for erecting stakes, building fencing and digging holes to grow vegetables like tomatoes, strawberries, zucchini, peppers and other small-to-medium-sized produce. It works by placing a seedling in the holder at the bottom of the bag with the leaves pointing downward. After the soil is placed in the bag and the roots are gingerly spread out, all you have to do is provide ample sunlight and water. The sunlight will work with the greenhouse-like bag to encourage root growth that helps absorb nutrients and make your produce more plentiful.
Pros and cons
With no yard of my own to plant a garden, the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter is a great solution for growing my own produce on my small deck. Since this is my first real attempt at having a green thumb, the instructions are simple, so my results should not be too bad.
The instructions require a seedling instead of seeds to be planted, so you will have to also look for a hearty seedling in the garden section of your local store.
With a hanging tomato planter, I do not have to fuss over supporting the branches with stakes or protecting them from rabbits with fences, so I eliminate that extra cost and effort. Since the plants will not be growing from the ground, I also will not have as many bugs and other pests to contend with, and the plants can get better air circulation.
The only worry I have about this product is the weight of the bag, soil and water – if I have not hung it in a secure, sturdy place, it could fall and potentially cause damage to the plant and the spot where it is hung.
Also, I may need to do some re-planting because one of my planters has a tomato plant and the other has a strawberry plant. I have discovered a Topsy Turvy Strawberry Planter with multiple holes on the sides that might be better suited for them. Since it is so simple to do, that should not be a big problem.
One potential problem users might have is the frequency with which you will need to water your plants. The bag has overflow holes on the bottom to prevent overwatering, but they can definitely suffer from not watering them enough. Also, since there are holes in the bottom, it would not be a good item to bring indoors if the weather suddenly gets to be freezing again.
With Earth Day and Administrative Professionals Day just around the corner, these would make perfect gifts.
Essentially the only very serious drawback to this item is whether to call them tomatoes or tomahtoes, when you are discussing them with others.
Where to buy
The Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter is available in many stores for about $9.99 plus taxes. It comes with a UV-resistant bag and a durable hook to hang it. Seedlings, soil and fertilizer will need to be purchased separately.
Submissions
Have a gadget you would like me to review? Send the information to me at misty@dailydata.com.