Topsy Turvy = Mr Beer of Gardening, who's doin it?

[GilaMinumBeer]

Or a bucket clone of the concept. And, what'cha got turvied in it?

I am doing some Grape Tomatoes for my son. The inserts say it works for cucmbers and even squash but, I have a hard time seeing that. I have done cucmbers before and I'd think the plant would be too delicate, wieghted down, and likely snap at the first sign of a breeze.

Anyone else here tried?

 

[weirdboy]

Screw that I'm going straight to the kegging of gardening: DIY aeroponics. I already have my system designed and a pump bought...I just need to get the rest of the stuff and wait for my wife to leave town.

 

[Mutilated1]

I'm doing it. I've got two real topsey turveys with tomatos out front and I'm going to trick out my dog pen with some homemade bucket style planters this weekend.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

We've got 4 DIY topsy turvy thingies. Just purchased some 3 gallon buckets at lowes and drilled holes in the bottom. 1 plant is dead (the pole we had them on at first tipped over) but the other three are cruising right along.

 

[Brandon O]

We've got 4 DIY topsy turvy thingies. Just purchased some 3 gallon buckets at lowes and drilled holes in the bottom. 1 plant is dead (the pole we had them on at first tipped over) but the other three are cruising right along.

I love to see how you made those, I've been thinking about doing something like that.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

Really not that much to it...just took a 2" hole saw and drilled a hole in the bottom. Took the plant through the top. Then filled in the bucket with planting soil. The containers they starters came out of where big enough that the plants didn't fall through.

 

[RogerMcAllen]

I have done cucmbers before and I'd think the plant would be too delicate, wieghted down, and likely snap at the first sign of a breeze.

Anyone else here tried?

I always grow my cucumbers in the air (I think my highest climbed 5' or so) so that the fruit doesn't lay on the ground. I normally put three pieces of bamboo in the ground around the plant, and make a web of twine around it. It takes a bit of training at first, but after that it pretty much takes care of itself. For you I would suggest making a loose net that you can attach to the hanger. The cucumber will send out little vines that will wrap around the twine and support the plant.

 

[Mutilated1]

I was wondering about making a topsy turvey clone from just the top part of the bucket and using a salvaged grain sack that my beer malts come in to make up the bucket ? It feels like the grain sack is made out of similar material to the real topsy turvey -- and it might help more with the solar energy heating the roots aspect of what makes the topsy turvey work so well.

What do you think ?

Maybe cut the top ring off the bucket leaving just a rigid support and the handle, and then put the grain bag over the bucket-ring and use something to fasten it down - maybe sew it, staple it, or I have a surplus of cable ties that would likely work.

I'm kind of thinking that might work better than just a bucket since it would be air permeable, it would probably drain better as not to get moldy or rotten, and it would let the sun heat the roots.

Plus, I bet you guys already have a sack full of salvaged grain sacks from your beer making - might as well use them for something.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Here is my own half assed attempt planted this weekend. I know the pots are way too small, but hell, we had an old patio umbrella lying around doing nothing. If these do actually grow to anything half decent, i am confident the brolly can take the weight. You have to look really hard for the toms and peppers underneath.

(Hop porn on the fence)

 

[jgln]

Here is my own half assed attempt planted this weekend. I know the pots are way too small, but hell, we had an old patio umbrella lying around doing nothing. If these do actually grow to anything half decent, i am confident the brolly can take the weight. You have to look really hard for the toms and peppers underneath.

(Hop porn on the fence)

Hate to tell you but I don't think you are going to get any tomatoes off those things. :cross:

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Hate to tell you but I don't think you are going to get any tomatoes off those things. :cross:

haha! Maybe, maybe not. I edited that post to add that you have to look really hard at the underside, as they were only planted this weekend.

Having said all that, I am also prepared for embarrassment on this project.

 

[Mutilated1]

Interesting idea, but you should have planted marigolds with your tomatos instead of petunias. Marigolds will do a lot better in the heat and sun that tomatos thrive in while Petunias have a harder time in that environment. Plus marigolds will keep unfriendly insects that will like to eat your tomatos away.

Still thats a lovely garden you've got going there.

 

[Bobby_M]

I have two tomato plants destined to be inverted. The biggest problem with the real topsy is that its inverted from the beginning. If you hang a young plant upside down initially, it doesn't grow very long and will try turning right side up. It gets all curled up on itself. I grow mine in 3 gallon buckets right side up until it gets about 2 feet tall, then flip it over.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Interesting idea, but you should have planted marigolds with your tomatos instead of petunias. Marigolds will do a lot better in the heat and sun that tomatos thrive in while Petunias have a harder time in that environment. Plus marigolds will keep unfriendly insects that will like to eat your tomatos away.

Still thats a lovely garden you've got going there.

I am just impressed you knew those were Petunias and not Marigolds.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I have two tomato plants destined to be inverted. The biggest problem with the real topsy is that its inverted from the beginning. If you hang a young plant upside down initially, it doesn't grow very long and will try turning right side up. It gets all curled up on itself. I grow mine in 3 gallon buckets right side up until it gets about 2 feet tall, then flip it over.

I am already seeing this with my wee mater'.

 

[Bedlam]

I always grow my cucumbers in the air (I think my highest climbed 5' or so) so that the fruit doesn't lay on the ground. I normally put three pieces of bamboo in the ground around the plant, and make a web of twine around it. It takes a bit of training at first, but after that it pretty much takes care of itself. For you I would suggest making a loose net that you can attach to the hanger. The cucumber will send out little vines that will wrap around the twine and support the plant.

Got any pics of this? I love the idea!

thanks

 

[RogerMcAllen]

Got any pics of this? I love the idea!

No pictures, but I can try to describe it a bit better:

1. Stake three 6' pieces of bamboo around the base of the plant tilted a bit outwards
2. Bamboo has "knuckles" every 6-12" or so, tie one of the the twine to the lowest "knuckle"
3. Run the twine over to the lowest "knuckle" of the 2nd pole and wrap it a few times above the knuckle so that the twine can't slip downwards.
4. Do the same thing on the 3rd pole, and just keep going around until you are ~3' high.
5. As the cucumber grows, lay it over the lowest level of twine. You should see the littler runners that come off of the vine attach to the twine, if they don't you can wrap them manually.
6. If the you need more support for the plant just make a few extra connections between "knuckles". Same deal if the plant gets taller than the original 3'.

 

[Mutilated1]

I am just impressed you knew those were Petunias and not Marigolds.

lol - well I don't usually brag about it but I know a lot of stuff about flowers

my grandparents had a florist shop and nursery when I was little and I spent a lot of time there during the summers growing up

back on topic of topsy turveys - I suppose I won't be making any homemade topsy turveys after all, I stopped by the co-op on the way home today and they had the pepper planters on sale real cheap, so I just bought a few of them and some peppers and came home and set it up and moved my hanging garden out back by the dog pen -- they were cheap enough it didn't seem worth messing with trying to make one.

But who knows, I still have lots of potting mix and old grain sacks to recycle so I may have to give it a try just to satisfy my curiosity.

But I don't need anymore right now. I've got a total of 1 Talladega Hybrid Tomato, 2 cluster cherry tomatos, and 12 varietys of peppers just in the topsy planters, so I'll be good for veggies this year. Was kind of wanting to see what hops would do in one, but I guess that will wait for next year.

 

[McKBrew]

I did my topsy turvy clones just like Bobby_M. Let them grow upright for a bit to get the roots established and then flip them and hang them.

 

[david_42]

I've got a neighbor who has been using something like this for years. He's got three hanging on his patio with tomato plants (Willamette, I believe). He likes them because there's never a problem with snails and slugs. This is a guy who raises his own potatoes and has over 100 blueberry bushes, so they must do the trick.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Here is an update of my converted umbrella planter.

It is certainly under a lot of strain with the weight at the moment, but that is not the cause of it's lean to the right. I blame Fox News for that! I'm still hopeful for a good outcome!

 

[Revvy]

I've been seeing these things all over the place. Evidently it's the rage now to have these topsy turvy things hanging on your front porch with tomatoes and whatever else.

It's replacing the bent over farmer lawn ornament as the de rigeur white trash front yard decoration in my area.

But think these would work with hops?