Upside Down Tomato Planter, (2- Pack) Hooks Included (Plants, Soil and Fertilizer not Included).)

Some people say you can't grow tomatoes, in a small bag like this....but it just ain't true! Yes, with a limited volume container (bag) like this, you're not going to support the root ball of a large tomato plant, like beefsteaks (that's why folks do upside down beefsteak tomato plants, using 5-gallon buckets, with a hole cut in the bottom). These are designed for smaller, indeterminate tomatoes, like cherry, pear or grape. You might even try a Roma tomato plant, though I haven't...yet!!This is my second season, working with these, and yes, I ran into the same sort of problems that others have described here:- water runs through the sides of the bag- soil can escape through the bottom slit of the bag- and, due to the cloth handle, the top of the bag can close up, instead of staying open, while hanging.Here's what I did, to fix all these problems:1. brown paper wrapping, around the inside of the bag, from top to bottom. A brown paper store sack would work. In my case, I had saved the rolled brown paper, that some wrapping paper manufacturers have started using (in lieu of the cardboard tube the paper is usually wrapped around). Turns out it was the perfect width, once I unrolled it, then rolled it in the opposite direction! I have (so far) 3 tomato plants up, in the bags I purchased, with this paper wrapping, and NONE of them are weeping water out the sides! Granted, the material won't breathe as well, but the soil mixture I use has plenty of composted material, as well as water retention ability, so I expect no problems with that issue.2. See the first photo I attached, to this review? That's the super-simple soil shield I made, for each of the bags I used. Just cut them out of some corrugated cardboard. Once you have the plant inside the bag, and before adding soil, slip this cardboard disk down past the root ball, and make sure the stem of the plant goes in the wedge that's cut out (make sure you cut that piece wide enough for some growth of the stem, and a little past the center of the circle). I have found that if you place the round piece, so that the cut-out is NOT in line with the slit in the bottom of the bag, you will have no issues, with soil wanting to fall out, as you fill the bag.3. Last year, I tried a couple pieces of 1/4" bamboo (like you'd use to support a plant), and cut them at 7.5" long, then tied them with some zip ties, in an X shape. While that held the top of the bag open better, it was still not the perfect solution (and it got in the way of anything you might want to grow, in the top of the bag).So this year, I took some scraps of wire garden fencing (like you'd use, to keep rabbits out of your garden, with the 1" gaps between the wires), and cut them ~6" wide, by 24" long, with some overlapping wire, so that I could secure it in a circular shape. Why that size? You only need to support the very top (the soil supports the rest), so you could probably get away with less than 6" wide. 24" long, because the bags are (as I said already) a little more than 7.5" diameter....but you will want these to fit the circumference of the bag (circumference = Pi x diameter, or just under 24", for a 7.5" diameter). I kept a 1" piece of wire, on each of what ended up being the verticals, to loop over the top of the bag, and secure it....but you could just as easily wrap a stitch or two of heavy thread (or dental floss) through the bag, and around the wires, to hold these in place. Whatever works, right?The 3 additional pics I just uploaded, should hopefully show you what I'm trying to explain. This yellow pear tomato plant was just recently transplanted to the bag, and I took it outside, to hang on the shepherd's hook, in front of the house. Once it was up there, I added nearly a gallon of water to the soil, before I experienced any, dripping down out of the bottom of the bag. A gallon! And once I finish setting up my drip irrigation system, I will make sure that this bag is fed, by two 1/2 GPH drippers, so that it adds the water slowly, and evenly, throughout the bag, during the watering cycle.With these three modifications, the bags are holding dirt and water well, and the top is staying wide open, so I can plant a companion plant up there (one has basil, one has oregano, and one has parsley). So long as I keep them watered, during the Texas summer, I expect to have ZERO problems.....and plenty of tomatoes!

So my husband and I decided to try one of these on a whim to see how they work. We already had an established tomato plant that we had planted one month prior. We bought the same type but it was 1/3 the size so that we could fit it through the opening in the bag. They are indeterminates. After 6 weeks, the upside down plant has surpassed the potted plant and has just over twice as many tomatoes ripening already. I’m sold!I like that there is a zipper opening to place the plant through, and that the stitching is well done. It has a nylon liner on the inside and it helps to retain the moisture in hot, dry 80-90 degree temps. I water it every other day unless it is a triple digit day, then daily. I give this two green thumbs up!

This is an amazing product. I planted three tomato plants per planter and they are growing very quickly. I water my plants once a day in the evenings. I have hung the plants on hooks that are nailed to my deck and they seem to be doing very well. The material that the planter is made out of seems durable and I haven't had any issues with it yet but I feel like after a few uses they may rip. It is a felt like material and it does hold the water in. When I first received the planters I was worried that the water would end up leaking through the felt but the inside is lined to keep moisture on the soil. Overall this is a great product.

These are way sturdier than the name brand—the outer is a very thick felt, and the inner layer is lined with a nylon material (I think). I had the original brand years ago and after a few months the single layer tarp-like material cracked and flaked.This brand has a single line of stitching but seems very sturdy when filled a few inches from the top with water-soaked potting soil. The black material looks great against my house. I’ll definitely add more next spring.

I’ve had upside down planters before. However these are really sturdy. After the season they could be washed and used again next year. Most likely a few seasons. The ones I use to get were plastic and couldn’t be used more than one. These are like paying for twoand getting at least 6 if you use them several seasons...

I am sure it will be fine although I haven't used them yet, they will be pretty heavy after they are filled with soil and plants. Think about this before hanging them.

Updated review:I added more soil and water religiously. These plants are incredibly happy. Look at this thing!Terrible. Does not hold water and barely holds the soil. Transplanted one tomato plant into one of these today and feel like it will be dead by the end of the week.

These are great ! Serves the purpose , I think I have had mine for about 3 weeks now Tomato’s are growing nicely and the chives I’m growing on top are growing very well .. I would recommend this product .. tomato’s must be watered well while in this planter