By Sage McHugh on June 11, 2010 in
The Topsy Turvy (*Est. $10) is a unique planter that allows you to grow tomato plants upside down. Since it can be hung almost anywhere, the Topsy Turvy eliminates the need for an actual garden and is ideal for those with limited space. By suspending the plants in the air, the manufacturer claims they will be safe from pests and weeds. So does the Topsy Turvy actually work as advertised? We take a look at professional tests and user reviews to find out.
Lauren Keith, a reporter for KFVS (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), tries out the Topsy Turvy at the home of local viewer Ruth Kasten. They give it a grade of "A" because it's easy to assemble and provides a convenient alternative to a garden, which Ruth said was impossible to have due to heavy rain.
Over 250 users have reviewed the Topsy Turvy at Amazon.com, where it earns an average rating of three stars. Reviews are basically split down the middle: Some users had great success and highly recommend the planter, yet others say it's impossible to grow tomatoes because they must be watered constantly -- as much as twice a day in some instances -- and plants die quickly if they're not. They also warn that the planter becomes very heavy once the soil is added, which can make it difficult to hang.
Reviews on Epinions.com skew more positive; most users say their tomatoes grew quickly and that the Topsy Turvy protected their plants from insects. Yet even satisfied customers note that the soil requires constant watering. We found a few reports of the plastic planter tearing and rendering the Topsy Turvy unusable.
Editors at HowToGardenGuide.com describe their experience with the Topsy Turvy and offer some helpful tips for consumers. First, you want to pick a variety of tomato that will thrive in a hanging planter. Don't set your expectations too high in terms of size: The planter is only capable of holding about 11 quarts of soil, so limit yourself to small plants. Be sure to hang the Topsy Turvy on a strong hook, because it gets heavy when it's full.
HowToGardenGuide.com editors were able to grow tomatoes as well as bell peppers in the Topsy Turvy, but the plants eventually died after a few months. "The biggest disappointment in our eyes was the durability of these hanging planters," according to editors who say the plastic material began to fade and disintegrate after about six months.
The bottom line: Despite some drawbacks, the Topsy Turvy is a decent option if you lack garden space. If you're diligent about watering your plant, tomatoes will likely bloom within a month. Just don't be surprised if you have to replace the Topsy Turvy each year.