Has anyone tried a Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Tree Planter Kit basket?

consumermonkey

Hiya, Last year I tried doing the upside down tomato thing home-made using 6pint milk bottles, cut off the bottom and used them upside down, with the plant comming out of the neck of the bottle. For me there was not enough soil and got too dry too quickly. Had a few tomatoes but not enough to make it worthwhile.

I bought the tposy-turvy tomato planters but planted them up too late to harvest anything last year.

Determined to give this thing a really good go, this year I bought a few different types of upside down planters and so far the ones I planted up in early May have not really come to much yet, probably planted them up too early, but they are starting to put on a little growth. Others I planted up two weeks ago from much more established plants are doing a lot better with lots of flower which will hopefully end up in lots of fruit.

Seems to do SIGNIFICANTLY better in high sun area.

Totts

Wow I really appreciate the feedback.

I managed to get a really cheap deal on the upside down ones (£9 for 2) so I am going to try it and I will report back honestly, basically because I bought these tomato plants from Lidl and although my garden is very sunny for a good part of the day they look the same now as when I got them. I haven't re-potted them as I am waiting for the planters - by the way I loved the photos sb44! Was encoraged to hear Betty Boo did well with the upside down ones, I think my success will depend on planting decent tomato plants of my own next year as what I bought from Lidl seem a bit iffy and the lavender I got from there has died (not my fault since my Mum said the entire display was dead when she went back yesterday)!

I might post some pics of these toms for advice later but if you promise not to laugh I have a bit of a coriander crisis on my hands so I am off to post about them now as I think it could be curtains for coriander in my garden today.

PS - Lotus eater I had already thanked you before I read the comment

Lotus-eater

Totts wrote: »

PS - Lotus eater I had already thanked you before I read the comment

You're welcome

Morty_007

Have just posted some early photos of upside down efforts in Tesco Hessian bags http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1743031&page=2 if you are interested. They are doing superbly now and I am really pleased.
xx

Totts

I'll go and have a peek in a sec Morty thanks.

My tomato plants from Lidl look the same as when I bought them - green and no progress at all - it's been about 3 weeks now I think - maybe a few days less. I will put somepics up soon.

My planters arrived today but I've not opened them yet as I am bogged down with horrible things to sort out instead!

Totts

As a newbie to gardening I am struggling as aside from summer hols in suffolk with my great uncle & aunts huge allotment many years ago have zero exoerience of anything.

As some of you may remember I bought some 'micro-tomate' from Lidl a while back as well as some Basil, Chives & Mint. I added to them with some dill and coriander from Morrisons (the latter 2 were very spindley). Things were ok, until I wasn't able to be at home unexpectedly due to an urgent family matter and everything's gone a bit squiffy, with things getting eaten, battered in storms, and dried out unwatered in the sun so I am now on a rescue mission for all of them. I had lavender too - but heaven knows if that can ever be revived.

I can't find out what type of tomatoes I have as all it says on the tag of the toms is Lycopersicon lycopersicum with a picture of the sun, a height indication of 100-160cm height and then a dinner plate with a knife and fork and VII - X (is this the amount of toms I'll get? LOL)! Whilst away I received 2 upside down tomato planters I got cheap off of an auction site.

I need help as they have come with no instructions. I have 2 growbags from Lidl, but I don't want to use them at low level as I am pushed for space, and I have lots of snails eating my plants & I caught one of my small dogs with a tomato in it's mouth a few days back (they are poisonous to dogs). I also need to identify what type of small tomatoes these are and if the tomatoes are even going to adjust to being tipped upside down as they already have fruit growing downwards. They look in a pretty sorry state though and I am desperate toplant them today if poss.

It appreaciate it's all very simple to those who know, but I don't want to be too shy to ask and ruin my plants, or not save them. They desperately need repotting, and I was going to put some chives, mint basil and poss dill in the top (although they have come with a lid) as these are looking less healthy than they were before I went away. I know basil hates the sun though and toms need sun - but I did read they were good to keep flies away.

I'm deliberating and feel very silly for asking, but these planters are pretty huge and I've read about toms having two roots at different levels, one set for drinking and one set for feeding. there's also only one bit of sponge in the bottom bit and I wondered if I needed to cut up some more and put in mixed with the earth or just do it as it came?

Forgot to mention I've got parsely as well.

Also that my tomatoes have got warty knobbly bits on the stems where they've grown since I have had them and that when my Mum was here she smoked in the garden (which I've read is bad for tomato plants?).