Buy It And Try It: The Topsy Turvy

It's called the Topsy Turvy, and it promises to be the easiest way to
grow tomatoes. Let's see if that's true.

Jahd'n Darshan has spent the past decade helping customers at Talini's
Nursery in Sacramento. He says tomatoes are one of the easiest fruits
and vegetables to grow.

"I don't even know how it can get easier," he says. "I guess we'll find out."

The Topsy Turvy comes with a bag, directions and a recipe book that
explains how to make spaghetti sauce, ketchup or tomato marmalade.

But first, we have to grow the tomatoes. We're going to plant sun gold
tomatoes, which are Jahd'n's favorite to eat.

Following the directions, first he takes the plant out of its
container, then places the supplied sponge around the base, sliding it
through the hole at the bottom of the bag.

After a bit of the struggle, he hangs it up and pours in regular
potting soil. About 10 minutes into the process, it's time to add a
gallon of water.

"It might send it into shock," Jahd'n says. "Plants want to grow
toward the sun, and I've just placed it upside down."

The infomercial claims the Topsy Turvy can grow tomatoes up to four
weeks faster than conventional planting, so Jahd'n plants a second
tomato plant in a pot for our test.

We give the plants more than two months to grow, and find two plants
with a lot of golden tomatoes.

"It's pretty equal, the only difference is [that] one is hanging, and
one is on the ground," he says.

The tomatoes even taste the same. Jahd'n says there was no weeding or
bending over, but Topsy Turvey grew no faster than the potted plant.

"I'd say it doesn't stand to its claim, but it still is a great
experiment," he says. "It'd still check it out."

I paid $19.99 plus shipping and handling, and I bought it at HangingTomato.com