Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter: Gardening, Inverted
A hanging grow bag that makes tomato plants dangle toward the ground like confused bats.
Most gardening advice assumes plants grow up. The Topsy Turvy ignores that entirely. It is a hanging planter bag that holds a tomato plant upside down, so the stem pokes out of the bottom and the vines grow toward the ground while the whole thing sways gently from a hook.
It looks completely wrong, which is half the appeal, and it frees up precious ground space, which is the other half.
How does an upside down tomato planter work?
The Topsy Turvy is a green, cylindrical grow bag with a hanger at the top. You feed a young tomato seedling through an opening at the bottom, fill the bag with soil from above, and hang it somewhere sunny. Gravity takes the plant downward, and the fruit dangles in the air rather than lying on the soil.
According to the listing, the appeal is convenience: you skip the stooping, the cages, the stakes and the weeding. Given regular feeding, watering and sun, the brand says one plant can yield as much as 30 pounds of tomatoes in a season. That number is a best-case promise, so treat it as the upper end of the range rather than a guarantee. Sun, water and the variety you choose will decide the real harvest.
There are a few practical realities to plan for. A soil-filled planter gets heavy once it is watered, so it needs a strong hook or bracket on a deck, balcony, porch or patio. Hanging containers also dry out faster than garden beds, which means regular watering during hot weeks. Plants, soil and fertilizer are not included, so you will be shopping for those as well.
Topsy Turvy planter: who it’s for (plus gift ideas)
This is for apartment gardeners with a sunny balcony, people with bad knees who hate kneeling in a garden bed, and anyone who loves a gardening project that makes the neighbors stop and stare.
- Balcony and patio gardeners with no yard
- Beginners who want a low-effort tomato project
- A quirky garden bundle with the Bob Ross Chia Pet
- Anyone who has battled weeds and lost
Pros and cons
What we like
- Saves ground space on patios and balconies
- No staking, caging or weeding, according to the maker
- Fruit hangs off the soil
- Easy to move to a sunnier spot before planting
- A genuine conversation starter
What gives us pause
- Needs a sturdy hook once filled with wet soil
- Dries out quickly in hot weather
- Harvest depends on sun, variety and care
- Plants and soil not included
FAQ
Can you really grow tomatoes upside down?
Yes. The plant grows down through the opening in the bottom of the bag. It still needs plenty of sun, water and feeding to produce well.
How many tomatoes will I get?
The maker claims as much as 30 pounds in a season with regular feeding, watering and sun. Actual results vary with weather, variety and care.
Where should I hang it?
Somewhere with direct sunlight, such as a deck, balcony or patio, on a hook strong enough to hold a heavy, watered planter.
Does it come with a plant?
No. You need to supply the plant, soil and fertilizer.
The verdict
The Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter is weird by design and handy in small spaces. If you have a sunny balcony and a strong hook, it is a fun way to grow something you can eat. For more garden oddities, see the horse head squirrel feeder or our strange things to buy on Amazon.