DIY Topsi Turvey

[WindHarvester]

For all you folks that see them on TV, but don't want to drop 20 something bucks plus shipping & handling (Like myself).

I found this site, I think I'll give it a try. It's a good way to recycle as well.

http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/2009/04/make-your-own-upside-down-tomato.html

 

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[sniffer]

my neighbor had one of those. unless you water it 7-8 times a day it won't live

 

[WindHarvester]

Thanks for the heads up Sniffer, it's appreciated.

 

[sniffer]

she tried 2 of them and only got one tomato big enough to eat

 

[warsawdaddy]

My she-cousin tried it - big flop.

 

[WishfulThinker]

Use auto watering system at least 4 times a day ... or have drip irrigation from 5-Gal bucket ... mix in fertilizer. Friend used 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 garden soil mix; best though, if you can afford it, use all potting soil. Peppers work ok too. Put something in bottom of bucket for drainage, and add filler moss or something to hold water in bottom half of soil mix. Otherwise, it dries out like concrete.
Have you ever been to Disney World in Fla ... chain drive hydroponic plant growing line with nutrient sprayed onto roots was way out there.

 

[Tubecity]

I've talked to several people & none of them had any success with the 'topsy turvey'.
My wife found one for about $9 dollars at the end of last season & I'll try maybe 2
small hot pepper plants in it, but I'm not wasting any good 'mater' plants . I'll put
those in the ground or big containers the old fashioned way.

 

[rockhound]

I had decent luck with one a few years back. If you are home most of the day to water them, they work fine. Otherwise you do need an automatic watering bulb.They need water often as the soil dries out fast in the sun,because of the small amount of soil or material. I would suggest using a sponge or other water retention substance to keep the roots moist. With a little ingenuity and experiment they should work great. I haven't used one in the lat few years. I also tried one with strawberries, it worked better than the one for tomatoes.I found that I could do just as good,with less work, by using a long rectangular planter, resting on a deck or porch.It holds more moisture and requires less watering.The only problem is that you will have to stake your tomatoes unless you use determinate tomatoes.Good Luck. rockhound

 

[WindHarvester]

I was thinking about the water retention, the gel you mix with soil to hold water is nothing more than the gel in UNUSED baby diapers.

My brother and his wife just had his first their first baby girl, I may see if she has outgrown any. I thought it would be a interesting project for my son and daughter.

If no tomato's grow, that's fine as we have a large garden. It will just be a cheap and easy project for the kids.

 

[TheHarleyMan2]

That gel you are talking about is polymer. You can get a 45lb bag from about $50.00 I will have to find the name of the chemical plant.

That polymer works really well for planting for indoor plants, if you get any on a floor and it gets wet. Not only you have a slippery surface to break something if you fall, but it is also hard to clean up using a mop.