With heat comes growth! Ain’t that the truth.
The tomatoes in the Topsy Turvy Tree are wild and crazy big. The patio tomato is now showing new tomatoes…finally! I am a bit surprised that I don’t see any new tomatoes on the Roma plant, but there are a lot of flower clusters that I’m hopeful will produce.
Patio tomatoes making it to the party
Roma tomatoes
These tomato plants are bigger than they look here
Yes, there is a Topsy Turvy Tree planter in there somewhere...
The peppers in the Topsy Turvy Pepper planter are also doing great. The sweet peppers each have one or two big ones on them, and the Anaheim and Yellow peppers have a lot of little buds that I think will turn into peppers as we head into later in the summer.
This orange sweet pepper is about 4 inches long now
Giant Marconi peppers happily growing
Topsy Turvy Pepper planter showing strong growth
The cherry tomato is nearly touching the ground and it’s time for me to find a new (and higher) home for it. Still working that part out.
Cherry tomato plant nearly reaching the ground. Need to move it.
The herbs are doing great, except for the marjoram. I think it’s dead. Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, and Cilantro are all happy campers. I’ll be harvesting some of the cilantro tonight for dinner. It’s time already, can you believe it?!?!
Topsy Turvy herbs are great!
The June bearing strawberries are done producing. Looking forward to seeing what the late season strawberry plants will give us.
Strawberry plants still plugging away, just not producing right now
Last 3 posts by Andrea Kalli
- I Hit The Tomato Motherload This Weekend - Topsy Turvy Update 9-5-2010 - September 7th, 2010
- My List of Gardening Books - Part 1 - September 3rd, 2010
- Events at Hudson Gardens in September 2010 - September 1st, 2010
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Your topsy turvys are doing great. This is my third year and I am about to give up if nothing comes forth. I have tomatoes, bell peppers and squash (one squash already died trying to get it situated in the planter). I also have a strawberry planter and was able to find strawberry seeds(nobody had six inch plants). It has been two weeks and a few days since we planted the topsy turvy and seeds (we also did green beens). We have two green beans coming out and look like they are ready to be moved. But no strawberry plants. Am I planting my strawberries during the wrong season.? There are June strawberries and then late strawberries? We bought those little cups that are biodegradable for easy moving to a topsy. Also, I water the seeds and topsy turvys once a day. The seeds have all day sun and the topsy turvy has 8 hours of sun. We live in central Arkansas seeing temps of 100 this June. Oh yeah, I fed them miracle grow exactly two weeks since I planted them (which they had miracle grow then too). Should I feed more often? I am glad I found your blog. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, Calvin! I wish I could tell you more about these Topsy Turvy planters, but this is my first year experimenting with them. It’s also my first try at growing edibles. I’m a flower/shrub/tree girl. It sure is fun to watch the peppers and tomatoes grow, so I think I’m hooked.
Anyway, when I first planted my topsy turvy planters I think I was watering too much, but that was in late May and early June when the temps were lower. I was also fertilizing with every watering. I stopped that. When the plants all began to wilt and look sickly I slowed watering to every 2 or 3 days and only fertilize about 2 times a month. The potting soil I used was the water-saving Miracle Grow with fertilizer, so I don’t think I have to water as much anyway. Now that the temps have reached the 90s, I’m watering daily or every other day. My planters are located on the east side of my house and get midday sun only. It’s situation between my house and the neighbors house, so it doesn’t even get early morning sun.
To be honest, I’m not sold on the strawberry planters. Yes, I got some small strawberries in June, but the everbearing plants are supposed to produce berries a few times a year. Truthfully, I think I’m supposed to pinch off the flowers in the first year. I didn’t realize that strawberries lived for several years here. Goes to show that it’s a good idea to read up on the fruit and vegetable plants before you actually go buy them so you know what to expect and what you’re supposed to do.
I will try backing off the water every other day. I notice that after I fed them miracle grow they perk up. I think I will feed them again in a week. I also put in a plastic container I picked up at Home Depot that I put 4 holes in. I feel that up and it waters them in 30 mins. Thanks for your reply.
When are the squash ready to be picked that are grown in the topys turvy planter.
Thank you
I have no idea. I don’t have any squash. I’m wondering if asking the people at http://frontrangefoodgardener.blogspot.com/ and http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com would help. Sorry.