As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??

I thought I'd seen everything until now.

This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down! You
water it from above.

If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
processing and shipping.

Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with significantly
less than 360° of sunlight???

Am I on candid camera? Again??

I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
ridiculous.

Sheesh.

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

On May 3, 3:07*pm, Andy > wrote:
> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down! You
> water it from above.
>
> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
> processing and shipping.
>
> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with significantly
> less than 360° of sunlight???
>
> Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
> I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
> ridiculous.
>
> Sheesh.
>
> Andy
> --
> Eat first, talk later.

As PT Barnum said, there's a sucker born every minute!

I just planted 4 regular tomato plants yesterday.

John Kuthe,,,

On Sun, 03 May 2009 15:07:21 -0500, Andy > wrote:

>As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
>I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
>This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down! You
>water it from above.
>
>If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
>processing and shipping.
>
>Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with significantly
>less than 360° of sunlight???
>
>Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
>I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
>ridiculous.
>
Somebody buys it, Andy... this isn't the first year. Maybe it's like
Chia.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Sun, 03 May 2009 15:07:21 -0500, Andy > wrote:

>As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
>I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
>This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down! You
>water it from above.
>
>If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
>processing and shipping.
>
>Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with significantly
>less than 360° of sunlight???
>
>Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
>I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
>ridiculous.
>
Maybe people who don't have a nice sunny garden bed available to plant
conventional tomatoes in?

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down!
> You
> water it from above.
>
> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
> processing and shipping.
>
> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with
> significantly
> less than 360° of sunlight???
>
> Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
> I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
> ridiculous.

I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display had
only two left!
You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.

sf said...

> On Sun, 03 May 2009 15:07:21 -0500, Andy > wrote:
>
>>As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>
>>I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>>
>>This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down!
>>You water it from above.
>>
>>If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
>>processing and shipping.
>>
>>Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with
>>significantly less than 360° of sunlight???
>>
>>Am I on candid camera? Again??
>>
>>I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this
>>is ridiculous.
>>
> Somebody buys it, Andy... this isn't the first year. Maybe it's like
> Chia.


sf,

Funny thing about chia pets...

In Oakland, one of our across the alley neighbors (our picture window
looked into their back door). Well one day they planted a chia pet guy (Mr.
Clean to begin with? on their backdoor porch railing facing us. We
watched it grow and eventually said hello to them and then began across-
the-alley conversations with them.

We became best friends. One of whom I share the same birthday with and more
than 30 years later are still fast friends!

Cha-Cha-Cha Chia! ))

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

dejablues said...

>
> "Andy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>
> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
> had only two left!
> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.


dejablues,

I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy of
trees.

I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
population?!!

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down!
> You
> water it from above.
>
> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
> processing and shipping.
>
> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with
> significantly
> less than 360° of sunlight???
>
> Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
> I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
> ridiculous.


I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow peppers, tomatoes and
cucumbers with them. My sister has used them for years. The plants don't
care at all that they are upside down.

Paul

Paul M. Cook wrote:

> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow peppers, tomatoes and
> cucumbers with them. My sister has used them for years. The plants don't
> care at all that they are upside down.

Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a couple last
year. Considering the poor luck I had with the container growing, I'd be
interested in giving the Topsy Turvy a go. What part of the country are
you in?

--Lin

Andy > wrote:

> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down! You
> water it from above.
>
> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
> processing and shipping.
>
> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with significantly
> less than 360° of sunlight???

I don't see anything wrong with it, except for your interpretation
of it. It doesn't have to hang from a porch beam.

It keeps tomatoes out of the dirt and there['s no need to stake or
cage them. Sounds like a plan to me. Heck, I'd pound in some fence
posts just to hand these from and save the other aggravations.

-sw

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>
> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>
> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down!
> You
> water it from above.
>
> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
> processing and shipping.
>
> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with
> significantly
> less than 360° of sunlight???
>
> Am I on candid camera? Again??
>
> I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this is
> ridiculous.
>
> Sheesh.
>
> Andy
There were some lawsuits last year because the weight of the thing pulled it
from where it was hanging or if on a plant stand tipped it over and injured
folks.
Don't know if it was the same product, but certainly the same idea.
Janet

Andy wrote:
> dejablues said...
>
>> "Andy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>>
>> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
>> had only two left!
>> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.
>
>
> dejablues,
>
> I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy of
> trees.
>
> I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
> population?!!
>
> Best,
>
> Andy

Oh! It sounds like you live in my type of environment!

--
Jean B.

Jean B. said...

> Andy wrote:
>> dejablues said...
>>
>>> "Andy" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>>>
>>> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
>>> had only two left!
>>> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.
>>
>>
>> dejablues,
>>
>> I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy
of
>> trees.
>>
>> I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
>> population?!!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Andy
>
> Oh! It sounds like you live in my type of environment!


Jean B,

Maybe so.

http://i40.tinypic.com/24eop61.jpg

Overnight fall, porchin' it, up on the roof and a winter's day.

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

"l, not -l" > wrote in message
...
>
> On 3-May-2009, Kajikit > wrote:
>
>> >
>> >I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this
>> >is
>> >ridiculous.
>> >
>> Maybe people who don't have a nice sunny garden bed available to plant
>> conventional tomatoes in?
>
> Or elderly people who want home-grown tomatoes; but, haven't the strength
> and flexibility to plant, weed, stake and harvest from plants grown in the
> traditional manner. My 87 year-old mother has similar, made by my BIL out
> of a large bucket, hung from the old clothes line pole by a chain. Last
> year it produced a number of tasty tomatoes without her having to stake
> the
> plant even bend over to weed and pick them.
>
> While a porch may not be the best location for one, the idea itself is not
> as stupid as has been portrayed. The negative comments show a lack of
> ability, or willingness, to see beyond ones own situation and at $10, or
> less if made from discarded materials, certainly doesn't make one a
> "sucker". It was a wonderful thing for my mother to have, allowing her to
> have a sense of accomplishment in tending her "garden" though encumbered
> by
> the infirmities of age and a portable oxygen supply.
>
> Sometimes, that which seems absurd, is simply something not well
> understood.
> --
> Change Cujo to Juno in email address.



I must agree with this! But it's easy (as you said) to make your own
planter. If you have a place to hang and secure a bucket and the necessary
potting soil, etc., who says tomatoes have to grow UP?

Jill

"l, not -l" > wrote in message
...
>
> On 3-May-2009, Kajikit > wrote:
>
>> >
>> >I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this
>> >is
>> >ridiculous.
>> >
>> Maybe people who don't have a nice sunny garden bed available to plant
>> conventional tomatoes in?
>
> Or elderly people who want home-grown tomatoes; but, haven't the strength
> and flexibility to plant, weed, stake and harvest from plants grown in the
> traditional manner. My 87 year-old mother has similar, made by my BIL out
> of a large bucket, hung from the old clothes line pole by a chain. Last
> year it produced a number of tasty tomatoes without her having to stake
> the
> plant even bend over to weed and pick them.
>
> While a porch may not be the best location for one, the idea itself is not
> as stupid as has been portrayed. The negative comments show a lack of
> ability, or willingness, to see beyond ones own situation and at $10, or
> less if made from discarded materials, certainly doesn't make one a
> "sucker". It was a wonderful thing for my mother to have, allowing her to
> have a sense of accomplishment in tending her "garden" though encumbered
> by
> the infirmities of age and a portable oxygen supply.
>
> Sometimes, that which seems absurd, is simply something not well
> understood.


Clamato comes to mind.

TFM®

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> dejablues said...
>
>>
>> "Andy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>>
>> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
>> had only two left!
>> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.
>
>
> dejablues,
>
> I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy of
> trees.
>
> I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
> population?!!


Because deer taste better than tomatoes?

Grow your own bait, shoot the varmints.

Don't be a dumbass all your life, Andy.

TFM®

jmcquown wrote:
>
> "l, not -l" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > On 3-May-2009, Kajikit > wrote:
> >
> >> >
> >> >I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this
> >> >is
> >> >ridiculous.
> >> >
> >> Maybe people who don't have a nice sunny garden bed available to plant
> >> conventional tomatoes in?
> >
> > Or elderly people who want home-grown tomatoes; but, haven't the strength
> > and flexibility to plant, weed, stake and harvest from plants grown in the
> > traditional manner. My 87 year-old mother has similar, made by my BIL out
> > of a large bucket, hung from the old clothes line pole by a chain. Last
> > year it produced a number of tasty tomatoes without her having to stake
> > the
> > plant even bend over to weed and pick them.
> >
> > While a porch may not be the best location for one, the idea itself is not
> > as stupid as has been portrayed. The negative comments show a lack of
> > ability, or willingness, to see beyond ones own situation and at $10, or
> > less if made from discarded materials, certainly doesn't make one a
> > "sucker". It was a wonderful thing for my mother to have, allowing her to
> > have a sense of accomplishment in tending her "garden" though encumbered
> > by
> > the infirmities of age and a portable oxygen supply.
> >
> > Sometimes, that which seems absurd, is simply something not well
> > understood.
> > --
> > Change Cujo to Juno in email address.
>
> I must agree with this! But it's easy (as you said) to make your own
> planter. If you have a place to hang and secure a bucket and the necessary
> potting soil, etc., who says tomatoes have to grow UP?
>
> Jill

Very, very simple to make and much less expensive than the ones shown on
TV Just buy a 5-gallon plastic bucket (for less than $3 or $4,
usually), fill to the top with soil, invert with a temporary cover over
the bucket's top to hold in the soil, cut out a small hole in the bottom
of said bucket, plant the tomato seedling in that hole and keep
"upright" (er, inverted) for a couple of weeks or so. That will allow
the roots to grow downward with gravity into the bucket, then hang the
bucket by its handle to let the plant hang downwards. HOWEVER, it's
best to reinforce the bucket's handle with heavy string or lightweight
rope because the bucket's handle is not strong enough (as me how I know
<VBG>!)

Sky, who will make one very soon

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice!!

"TFM®" > wrote in message
om...
>
>
> "Andy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> dejablues said...
>>
>>>
>>> "Andy" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>>>
>>> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
>>> had only two left!
>>> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.
>>
>>
>> dejablues,
>>
>> I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy of
>> trees.
>>
>> I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
>> population?!!
>
>
> Because deer taste better than tomatoes?
>
> Grow your own bait, shoot the varmints.

Discharging of firearms is illegal in the township where Andy lives.

Andy wrote:
> Jean B. said...
>
>> Andy wrote:
>>> dejablues said...
>>>
>>>> "Andy" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>>>>
>>>> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display
>>>> had only two left!
>>>> You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.
>>>
>>> dejablues,
>>>
>>> I only get maybe 3 hours of direct midday sunlight thanks to my canopy
> of
>>> trees.
>>>
>>> I'd be lucky to grow cherry tomatoes right side up but why feed the deer
>>> population?!!
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Andy
>> Oh! It sounds like you live in my type of environment!
>
>
> Jean B,
>
> Maybe so.
>
> http://i40.tinypic.com/24eop61.jpg
>
> Overnight fall, porchin' it, up on the roof and a winter's day.
>
> Best,
>
> Andy

I really like the verdant views. Wish me luck...

--
Jean B.

Andy wrote:

> Jean B,
>
> Maybe so.
>
> http://i40.tinypic.com/24eop61.jpg
>
> Overnight fall, porchin' it, up on the roof and a winter's day.

Do you take care of all that by yourself, Andy? It's gorgeous,
but it doesn't maintain itself.

nancy

On Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:06 -0700, Lin >
wrote:

>Paul M. Cook wrote:
>
>> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow peppers, tomatoes and
>> cucumbers with them. My sister has used them for years. The plants don't
>> care at all that they are upside down.
>
>Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a couple last
>year. Considering the poor luck I had with the container growing, I'd be
>interested in giving the Topsy Turvy a go. What part of the country are
>you in?
>
It strikes me as logical. For plants that need staking why not let
gravity do the job?
>--Lin


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Nancy Young said...

> Andy wrote:
>
>> Jean B,
>>
>> Maybe so.
>>
>> http://i40.tinypic.com/24eop61.jpg
>>
>> Overnight fall, porchin' it, up on the roof and a winter's day.
>
> Do you take care of all that by yourself, Andy? It's gorgeous,
> but it doesn't maintain itself.
>
> nancy


nancy,

It's lots of work, like you mention!

I don't do much of it myself anymore.

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

sf said...

> On Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:06 -0700, Lin >
> wrote:
>
>>Paul M. Cook wrote:
>>
>>> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow peppers,
>>> tomatoes and cucumbers with them. My sister has used them for years.
>>> The plants don't care at all that they are upside down.
>>
>>Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a couple last
>>year. Considering the poor luck I had with the container growing, I'd be
>>interested in giving the Topsy Turvy a go. What part of the country are
>>you in?
>>
> It strikes me as logical. For plants that need staking why not let
> gravity do the job?
>>--Lin


Lin,

I'm reminded of my youth's backyard inverted pyramid clothes hanger in the
yard.

That would be a good method to use for those kind of planters, excepting
I've seen deer standing on their hind legs about 8' tall.

I could picture the clothes hanger raised and lowered on a flag pole, if
that didn't invite the crows!

I don't stand a chance, do I??

Best,

Andy
--
Eat first, talk later.

"Lin" > wrote in message
...
> Paul M. Cook wrote:
>
>> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow peppers, tomatoes
>> and cucumbers with them. My sister has used them for years. The plants
>> don't care at all that they are upside down.
>
> Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a couple last
> year. Considering the poor luck I had with the container growing, I'd be
> interested in giving the Topsy Turvy a go. What part of the country are
> you in?
>

Southern California. My sister is near Sacramento. The planters work
really well but you have to be very mindful of watering. They do tend to
dry out quickly and if you are trying to set fruit this can be a problem.
You'll need to water almost every day. That's really the only catch to
using them.

Paul

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Andy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> As Seen on TV: Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter??
>>
>> I thought I'd seen everything until now.
>>
>> This contraption hangs from a porch beam and a tomato plant grows down!
>> You
>> water it from above.
>>
>> If you act now you can get another topsy turvy planter free, just pay
>> processing and shipping.
>>
>> Who in their right mind would plant tomatoes upside down with
>> significantly
>> less than 360° of sunlight???
>>
>> Am I on candid camera? Again??
>>
>> I KNOW it's morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money but this
>> is
>> ridiculous.
>>
>> Sheesh.
>>
>> Andy
> There were some lawsuits last year because the weight of the thing pulled
> it from where it was hanging or if on a plant stand tipped it over and
> injured folks.
> Don't know if it was the same product, but certainly the same idea.
> Janet

Fully loaded with fruit they can weigh 50 pounds or so. You need to use a
very sturdy hook that screws into a very sturdy beam. I use 1 inch J hooks
screwed into the bottom of the fascia board of the roof. That has been
plenty strong enough.

Paul
>

Paul M. Cook wrote:

> Southern California. My sister is near Sacramento. The planters work
> really well but you have to be very mindful of watering. They do tend to
> dry out quickly and if you are trying to set fruit this can be a problem.
> You'll need to water almost every day. That's really the only catch to
> using them.

Your sister and I are probably neighbors! LOL! It was so hot and dry
here last year. I watered a lot -- maybe too much.

I might be tempted to experiment with the TTTP and not expect anything
only to be surprised with something great. ;-)

--Lin

"Lin" > wrote in message
.. .
> Paul M. Cook wrote:
>
>> Southern California. My sister is near Sacramento. The planters work
>> really well but you have to be very mindful of watering. They do tend to
>> dry out quickly and if you are trying to set fruit this can be a problem.
>> You'll need to water almost every day. That's really the only catch to
>> using them.
>
> Your sister and I are probably neighbors! LOL! It was so hot and dry here
> last year. I watered a lot -- maybe too much.

She lives in Davis. She has such a green thumb. She got incredible yield
from her planters.

> I might be tempted to experiment with the TTTP and not expect anything
> only to be surprised with something great. ;-)

Sure, go for it. Peppers are the easiest, tomatoes pretty easy and cucs are
the "hardest." But that is relative. You get pretty good sized cucs but
they need more TLC. Of course the best luck is when you get nursery raised
seedlings from a strong and productive varietal. I used to buy seed at my
market and the results were awful. My local nursery has some awseome
seedlings and they put out a lot of fruit. So go seedlings if you can.

Oh one great thing about the TTTP is that you get fewer slugs and
caterpillars. Snails are just not a problem at all. That means no poison
and I like that.

And ladybugs, buy a couple cans of ladybugs.

Paul

Andy wrote on Sun, 03 May 2009 19:52:30 -0500:

>> On Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:06 -0700, Lin >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Paul M. Cook wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow
>>>> peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers with them. My sister has
>>>> used them for years. The plants don't care at all that they
>>>> are upside down.
>>>
>>> Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a
>>> couple last year. Considering the poor luck I had with the
>>> container growing, I'd be interested in giving the Topsy
>>> Turvy a go. What part of the country are you in?
>>>
>> It strikes me as logical. For plants that need staking why
>> not let gravity do the job?
>>> --Lin

> Lin,

> I'm reminded of my youth's backyard inverted pyramid clothes
> hanger in the yard.

> That would be a good method to use for those kind of planters,
> excepting I've seen deer standing on their hind legs about 8'
> tall.

The major question is do the devices work instead of staking? It seems
they do and could replace even the cage. The Topsy-Turvy might also
appeal to apartment dwellers with balconies.

Incidentally, cages are much less work than staking and I've never had
deer getting into a cage. Squirrels also tend to keep out of cages. .

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Mon, 04 May 2009 12:54:31 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

> Andy wrote on Sun, 03 May 2009 19:52:30 -0500:
>
>>> On Sun, 03 May 2009 14:30:06 -0700, Lin >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Paul M. Cook wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I have 3 of them. They work just great. You can grow
>>>>> peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers with them. My sister has
>>>>> used them for years. The plants don't care at all that they
>>>>> are upside down.
>>>>
>>>> Yay! Finally someone that has tried them. I almost bought a
>>>> couple last year. Considering the poor luck I had with the
>>>> container growing, I'd be interested in giving the Topsy
>>>> Turvy a go. What part of the country are you in?
>>>>
>>> It strikes me as logical. For plants that need staking why
>>> not let gravity do the job?
>>>> --Lin
>
>> Lin,
>
>> I'm reminded of my youth's backyard inverted pyramid clothes
>> hanger in the yard.
>
>> That would be a good method to use for those kind of planters,
>> excepting I've seen deer standing on their hind legs about 8'
>> tall.
>
>The major question is do the devices work instead of staking? It seems
>they do and could replace even the cage. The Topsy-Turvy might also
>appeal to apartment dwellers with balconies.
>
>Incidentally, cages are much less work than staking and I've never had
>deer getting into a cage. Squirrels also tend to keep out of cages. .


They've been selling them here for the last few years. I thought to
try beefsteak last year on the balcony, I had a huge crop which I had
to pick daily. I had the commercial hooks put 4" into the concrete
with lead ankers. They won't pull out, but thought they might with the
record batch of tomatos.
This year I'm trying Romas in one, and Golden boys in the other.

I made fifty one pints of salsa and tomato relish combined last year
from just those beef steaks, the last pint is in the fridge half
empty.

Here we go again

> Here we go again


Stu,

Nice to hear of your success!

Do you unlatch the hanging planters and 180° rotate them every so often?

Best,

Andy
--
HONK if I'm paying your mortgage!

On Sun, 03 May 2009 15:41:29 -0500, Andy wrote:
>
> Funny thing about chia pets...
>
> In Oakland, one of our across the alley neighbors (our picture window
> looked into their back door). Well one day they planted a chia pet guy (Mr.
> Clean to begin with? on their backdoor porch railing facing us. We
> watched it grow and eventually said hello to them and then began across-
> the-alley conversations with them.
>
> We became best friends. One of whom I share the same birthday with and more
> than 30 years later are still fast friends!
>
> Cha-Cha-Cha Chia! ))
>
> Best,
>
> Andy

yeah, i can see a real meeting of the minds developing there...

blake

blake murphy said...

> On Sun, 03 May 2009 15:41:29 -0500, Andy wrote:
>>
>> Funny thing about chia pets...
>>
>> In Oakland, one of our across the alley neighbors (our picture window
>> looked into their back door). Well one day they planted a chia pet guy
>> (Mr. Clean to begin with? on their backdoor porch railing facing us.
>> We watched it grow and eventually said hello to them and then began
>> across- the-alley conversations with them.
>>
>> We became best friends. One of whom I share the same birthday with and
>> more than 30 years later are still fast friends!
>>
>> Cha-Cha-Cha Chia! ))
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Andy
>
> yeah, i can see a real meeting of the minds developing there...
>
> blake


Doubtful!

On Mon, 04 May 2009 08:20:06 -0500, Andy > wrote:

>> Here we go again
>
>
>Stu,
>
>Nice to hear of your success!
>
>Do you unlatch the hanging planters and 180° rotate them every so often?
>
>Best,
>
>Andy

Actually I find no need, the apt. faces south and west so I get decent
sun from 1 pm. to about 10 pm., the hottest around 2 to 7.

dejablues wrote:
> I was at Home Depot today and they had them for sale there. The display had only two left! You can read some reviews of it on Amazon.

When I was checking out at Home Depot, the lady in front of me was
complaining because they were sold out. I record everything so I never
see commercials.


Becca

Sky wrote:
> Very, very simple to make and much less expensive than the ones shown on
> TV Just buy a 5-gallon plastic bucket (for less than $3 or $4,
> usually), fill to the top with soil, invert with a temporary cover over
> the bucket's top to hold in the soil, cut out a small hole in the bottom
> of said bucket, plant the tomato seedling in that hole and keep
> "upright" (er, inverted) for a couple of weeks or so. That will allow
> the roots to grow downward with gravity into the bucket, then hang the
> bucket by its handle to let the plant hang downwards. HOWEVER, it's
> best to reinforce the bucket's handle with heavy string or lightweight
> rope because the bucket's handle is not strong enough (as me how I know
> <VBG>!)
>
> Sky, who will make one very soon

Home Depot was selling these large buckets for $2, I bought one to brine
a 28 pound turkey. This was in November.


Becca

"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
...
> "l, not -l" >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>>
>> Sometimes, that which seems absurd, is simply something not well
>> understood.
>
> Probably. OTOH the commercials really do look like one of those come on
> items. I'd be willing to give it a try to see what happens but I'm going
> to try a pot first. Have you done the topsy turvy tomatoes and had good
> luck with them?
>


Michael ,
My sister did. She ordered 2 of these last year. They grew wonderfully full
and produced dozens of the most tastless tomatoes we'd ever experienced.

In this case it really is much better to make your own.
Jon

"Zeppo" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "l, not -l" >
>> : in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>>
>>> Sometimes, that which seems absurd, is simply something not well
>>> understood.
>>
>> Probably. OTOH the commercials really do look like one of those come on
>> items. I'd be willing to give it a try to see what happens but I'm going
>> to try a pot first. Have you done the topsy turvy tomatoes and had good
>> luck with them?
>>
>
>
> Michael ,
> My sister did. She ordered 2 of these last year. They grew wonderfully
> full and produced dozens of the most tastless tomatoes we'd ever
> experienced.
>
> In this case it really is much better to make your own.
> Jon

Please ignore my uneducated ranting above. I just spoke to my sister and the
planters she purchased came with tomato plants already started. The
tastelessness of the tomatoes was the fault of the plants it came with, not
the planter.

Jon

"Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
...
> "Paul M. Cook" > :
> in rec.food.cooking
>
>>
>> Fully loaded with fruit they can weigh 50 pounds or so. You need to
>> use a very sturdy hook that screws into a very sturdy beam. I use 1
>> inch J hooks screwed into the bottom of the fascia board of the roof.
>> That has been plenty strong enough.
>
> You've done these plants then? What were the tomatoes like? Sounds like
> they had to be pretty good for you to go to trouble for it.
>
> Michael
>
There are two kinds of tomato plants -- determinate and indeterminate --
describes how they grow. Determinate grow to a height of about 3 feet.
Indeterminate will grow until frost kills them. They grow in length and
width. Mine grow to about 10 feet in height. I would think that you would
want to get the determinate kind for growing in one of these planters.

Janet Bostwick said...

>
> "Michael "Dog3"" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Paul M. Cook" > :
>> in rec.food.cooking
>>
>>>
>>> Fully loaded with fruit they can weigh 50 pounds or so. You need to
>>> use a very sturdy hook that screws into a very sturdy beam. I use 1
>>> inch J hooks screwed into the bottom of the fascia board of the roof.
>>> That has been plenty strong enough.
>>
>> You've done these plants then? What were the tomatoes like? Sounds
>> like they had to be pretty good for you to go to trouble for it.
>>
>> Michael
>>
> There are two kinds of tomato plants -- determinate and indeterminate --
> describes how they grow. Determinate grow to a height of about 3 feet.
> Indeterminate will grow until frost kills them. They grow in length and
> width. Mine grow to about 10 feet in height. I would think that you
> would want to get the determinate kind for growing in one of these
> planters.


[standing behind Janet] YEAH!!!

Andy

On 2009-05-04, Janet Bostwick > wrote:

> There are two kinds of tomato plants -- determinate and indeterminate --
> describes how they grow. Determinate grow to a height of about 3 feet.
> Indeterminate will grow until frost kills them. They grow in length and
> width. Mine grow to about 10 feet in height. I would think that you would
> want to get the determinate kind for growing in one of these planters.

How do we ....wait for it!.... determine which is more appropriate?

nb <snort>