Vegetable gardeners enjoy Topsy Turvy Tomatoes Planters because they allow tomatoes to grow well on patios and decks. The design saves gardening work because there is no need to weed, dig holes or stake tomato plants. Plants grow well and tend to yield a high crop volume.

Support for Weight

Topsy Turvy Tomato containers can become quite heavy after being filled with soil. Watering adds additional weight. Hanging Topsy Turvy Tomato containers from house siding or weak deck structures could cause damage. Be certain the location for hanging provides adequate support for approximately 40 to 50 pounds of weight.

Tomato Seedlings

Topsy Turvy Tomato containers can hold up to two full-grown tomato plants. Insert four seedlings in the hole. Allow to grow for one week to allow the seedlings to establish themselves. Typically, two will be less hearty. Remove these and keep the two strongest to grow tomatoes. Gardeners can begin seedlings after the chance of the first frost has passed.

Watering

Water every other day while the seedlings are young and weather is mild to moderate in temperature. As the tomatoes mature, begin watering daily. When the Topsy Turvy is light, it is time to water.

Fertilizing

Tomatoes grow rapidly and require a large amount of nutrients. Initially, mix a time-released vegetable or tomato fertilizer into the potting soil. After a couple of weeks, begin feeding liquid fertilizer bi-weekly to support growth. When the plants are yielding tomato crops, fertilize weekly.

Trimming Plants

To achieve the highest crop yield and larger tomatoes, pinch away yellow leaves and small off-shoots. Often tomato plants will produce new growth between the main plant stems. Remove these as soon as they emerge. The plants will not waste nutrients to grow these smaller shoots but grow more and larger tomatoes instead.

Worms

Worms keep soil from compacting to provide additional oxygen to the root system of plants. Byproducts that worms produce are rich in nutrients for plant roots. Add 6 earthworms to the top of the Topsy Turvy Tomato container. The worms will naturally go down into the soil. Worms will reproduce and keep the tomatoes fertilized to promote larger crop yields.