If you couldn't do it successfully in pots (hanging or on the ground) You can be sure it can be done as Topsy Turvy. For hanging baskets there are various dwarf cherry varieties.

Topsy Turvy is an idea like swimming against the current or sailing against the winds. . The roots naturally go down ( by gravitational pull) and the foliage grow upward toward light. In a TT you are just trying to do the things opposite way.

Sey

How about a "basket variety" like Tumbling Tom, Hundreds and Thousands, Whippersnapper or Ditmarsher? I think they would do best as they are not too big and have that tumbling habit.

Linda

I tried a Topsy Turvy one year. In my climate it had to be watered at least once a day and some times more often.

Thanks for the feedback. It got me thinking.........with only one hole(at the bottom) of the Topsy Turvy planter is there some plant(s) that might be more suited to growing out the bottom of such a planter?

Harry

Harry .... that is how a tomato can be / is grown as Topsy Turvy.

I made my own by drilling a 2" hole at the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, pushed the tomato root in ... held it there with some foam ... filled it half way with soil ... hung it ..... filled more soil and planted an ivy petunia on the top.

Seysonn, I know the TopsyT thing is supposed to work like that but it seems like trying to work against nature. What are the advantages of such a contraption? How well did your homemade version work?

Harry

Harry, you are right. That is also what I said in my first post.

Roots grow downward and the foliage upward. In Topsy Turvy it is an attempt to do do it in exact opposite way, against the nature..

Sey

From the plant's POV, using a TT is like a person trying go through life walking backwards and upside down.

Dave

I've used them. They always require a lot of watering, more than regular containers. And don't use the bottom hole, just cover that sucker up before you even add dirt. And don't plant tomatoes in them, that's a bad idea. But they are otherwise ok for growing some lettuce or herbs if you only add them into the side holes and water and feed all the time.

I agree with all the negative comments about these. My daughter gave me one for Mother's Day so I had to try it out for a couple years. I tried Early Wonder and bush early girl. In addition to the other problems mentioned, there is the question of where you will hang it. It needs to be fairly high -- at least 5-6 feet above the ground, so I needed a step ladder to water. And all the options I had, like a tree limb or roof overhang, meant only part of the plant got direct sunlight. I only got a few tiny tomatoes for a whole lot of work.

I also agree with the negative comments. I just didn't have any luck with it nor did the tomato produce anything. It was kinda pitiful watching it try to turn upward only to be forced down by weight of foliage.

Has anyone found the TopsyTurvy planter to be particularly suited to growing something other than tomatoes?

Hello, I know this is an old thread...

Does anyone know how to make a topsy tomato bag? The old one where the tomatoes grow out the side, not the bottom?

We did it several years ago and had a bumper crop on our small rooftop (we live in the city).

I'm finding conflicting explanations on the internet as to how to do this.

Many thanks.

Growing on a rooftop stresses a plant enough due to wind and sun and drainage problems. I would use a conventional 15-20 gallon container with a quality non soil potting mix and a sturdy tomato cage to optimize results in such an environment.

Thanks Ohiofem,

But do you know how to make a topsy tomato bag? Our rooftop tomatoes came out spectacular, but I do not want to use that bag where they grow out of the bottom, and the one I want they no longer make.

Well, if you have a sewing machine, you could get creative and just sew your own with any fabric you like, line it with a plastic trash bag, cutting off the excess, and poke or cut enough holes for drainage. Sew two cross pieces across the top that you can hang over a big S hook. Slash into the sides if you don't want to grow out of the top, but since tomatoes growing out of the top will hang over and cover the sides eventually, I don't much see the point in that. Unless you are growing a bunch of small things like strawberries or flowers.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the question, you just have to make a hole on the side of a normal container, and plant the tomato there. As others have noted however, the best way to plant is straight up, why would you want on the side?

Hi Fungus,

Our rooftop tomatoes came out amazing the time we did the topsy turvy thing with the holes coming out the sides of the bag, but they no longer make that particular bag. We had so much fun with the whole silly thing too!

The only bag made now is with the tomatoes growing out of the bottom of the bag. I've googled how to make the old bag and have gotten conflicting information, so I was hoping one of you pro's could give me advice on how to make the old topsy tomato bag with the holes on the side.

As all the past discussions about TT reveal you are one of the very few folks who found the experience successful much less productive and fun. It is generally considered a waste of time, space, and energy. So it isn't something experienced growers would mess with or be able to advise you on. Perhaps we could be more helpful if you could provide details on the "conflicting info" or links to the sites in question.

I know in the past some experimented with suspended plastic 5 gallon buckets with large planting holes drilled in the sides approx. 1/4 of the way up from the bottom. Maybe that would work for you.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for you input!

Yes, we actually had tremendous success and fun, living in the city has its challenges for sure, but it doesn't mean we have to miss out all together.

I think you're right, the 5 gallon bucket is probably the best direction for us to go in. I like ddasck idea too, but we do not have a sewing machine, even if we did, I'd probably screw it up and not sure what material to use.