Customers at the farmers market kept asking me about upside-down tomato planters, so I decided to trial them at my farm, HeathGlen Organic Farm. The concept seemed odd to me, but I understand the appeal for balcony and apartment gardeners with limited space.
I tested two small-fruited heirloom varieties (Prescott and Raspberry Lyanna) in Topsy Turvy planters and compared them to the same varieties grown in the greenhouse. Here’s what I learned, including the problems you’ll encounter and whether these planters are worth it.
Quick Summary: Topsy Turvy upside-down planters work but produce smaller plants and later harvests than soil-grown tomatoes. Choose small-fruited, determinate varieties to avoid weight problems. Key challenges: finding sturdy hanging support, preventing stem breakage as vines bend toward light, and remembering to water (though moisture-control soil helps). For most growers, regular hanging baskets with cascading tomato varieties are a better option. Read time: 5 min | Experience level: Beginner
Jump to: Best Varieties for Upside Down Planters | How to Plant | Test Results | FAQ
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What Tomato Varieties Work Best in Upside-Down Planters?
I decided to try two different heirlooms that I thought would be successful in this type of planter due to their smaller fruit size which would not weigh down the planters with heavy fruit. I planted Prescott and Raspberry Lyanna.
- Prescott is a small grape heirloom which is considered an early tomato (69 days) and is )determinate.
- Raspberry Lyanna is a medium, pink, fairly early (75 days) slicing tomato which is described by some seed catalogs as determinate and by some as indeterminate. From the looks of the plant, my bet is on determinate.
Two weeks after planting, the Raspberry Lyanna had small fruit and the Prescott only had flowers at this time.
I also planted these tomato varieties in the greenhouse for a comparison and the tomatoes in the greenhouse are about twice the size of the same variety planted in the Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato Planter.
How Do You Plant a Topsy Turvy Planter?
Rather than use my organic potting mix and aged horse manure, I decided to use materials that the typical urban apartment grower might have easier access to.
Miracle Grow potting mix with moisture control is the best commercial potting soil I have found for container plants.
The directions included with the Topsy Turvy planter are pretty clear on how to insert the seedling tomato and secure it. Just be sure the seedling is old enough that the tomato stem is sturdy enough to be handled with breaking it
Also make sure your tomato plant was hardened off. The photos here show a plant that is approximately 6 weeks old.
It is a little clumsy to hold the planter upright and scoop in the soil at the same time.
I balanced the edge of the planter on a table while using a large metal ice scoop to add the soil. Alternatively you could get someone to help you, but it does get heavy, as it takes quite a bit of soil.
My biggest problem was finding a post or garden trellis that was sturdy enough to hold the planter once the soil was wet.
It is quite heavy once watered, and I imagine it will get even heavier as the fruits start to mature.
What Did I Learn from Testing Upside-Down Tomatoes?
Both varieties in the planters seem to be doing well and they look quite healthy. Neither are as large or as far along as the plants that were planted in the soil, but they appear to be doing just fine.
What I learned from this test:
- The company did not supply large hooks with the planter and it would be helpful to have these. The planter should hang freely away from the post or wall and it should be high enough above the ground that you don’t get splash-back from any diseased soil on the ground when it rains. I moved my planter several times before finding a spot that worked.
- Don’t forget to water. The plastic sides, along with the moisture control in the potting soil should be enough that you don’t have to water daily like a plant in a clay pot. Be sure and check daily however, especially in hot weather.
- I was able to go two weeks without watering. Watering container plants has always been the downfall for me in the past, so I am encouraged that the Topsy Turvy planter might help the sometimes neglectful gardener.
- The Raspberry Lyanna planted in the soil in the greenhouse developed much larger fruit and it ripened earlier than the plant in the hanging container. The leaf coverage is approximately the same however.
- The plant’s vines can bend upwards in search of light which caused a few of the stems to snap at the bend when it become laden with fruit.
All in all, it was an interesting experiment and I wouldn’t hesitate to grow tomatoes upside down if you are limited in space and want to grow a specific variety of tomato.
If you are not particular about the tomato variety, I would opt for growing tomatoes in a regular hanging basket with one of the cascading tomato varieties.
FAQ
Yes, but with limitations. Plants grow smaller and produce later than soil-grown tomatoes. They work best for small-fruited, determinate varieties.
Small-fruited, determinate types like Tumbler, Tiny Tim, or grape tomatoes. Heavy beefsteak tomatoes will weigh down the planter and break stems.
Finding sturdy support. The planter gets very heavy once watered and loaded with fruit. Most hooks and posts aren’t strong enough. Stems can also snap where they bend upward seeking light.
Less often than expected if you use moisture-control potting soil. I went two weeks without watering. Check daily in hot weather, but the plastic sides retain moisture well.
For most growers, regular hanging baskets with cascading varieties (Tumbler, Tumbling Tom) are easier and produce better results. Upside-down planters work if you’re set on a specific variety that doesn’t cascade.
No. In my trial, greenhouse-grown plants of the same variety were twice the size and ripened earlier. Upside-down plants were healthy but smaller and later.
I have just planted my first tomato plant into the Topsy Turvy planter and I appreciated your comments on how to do it. So far so good and I look forward to your progress so that I can compare. Thanks
Hi Joyce, Glad to know it was helpful. I had “OK” luck with mine, but nothing to brag about. I probably won’t do it again as the yield just isn’t enough for me. It might be a nice solution for people that don’t have room for a garden however.