Upside Down Tomato Planters

Well, I bought the planter and THEN read the reviews and I must say I was worried. It was a little difficult to set up, but the instructions actually say it is best with two people, so I got a friend to help. Pushing the plant through the hole was a little tricky, but we got there. The compost is good (using the recommended proportions) the water reservoir works perfectly (although being a very short person I have to water it from my bathroom window!) and it has grown incredibly and is covered with flowers and tiny tomatoes. It looks bigger than the one in the picture and is admired by everyone!! Thank you. Can I send you a photo to prove it can be done?

At first we though that these pots would be useless. We used one small plant for each bag and, in the threading through process, broke both plants so that only a small stub of stem remained outside the bag. These soon rotted away. So my husband devised the following method: Start by following the instructions on the box. Place each strong healthy plant in a plastic bag, head first so that the root remains outside the bag. Place the tomato plant (within its plastic bag) horizontally in the planter bag. Carefully push the plant by the root forward until a small amount of plastic shows through the hole; pull on the plastic, not the plant from the outside and carefully push the root from the inside until enough plant has emerged from the hole; stop pushing the root and pull the remaining plastic bag from the hole. The plant should be intact, untouched by hand and as healthy-looking as before. Continue following the instructions on the box.

Unfortunately I too have had problems with this item. As other reviewers describe, it was difficult to assemble the kit, and the first tomato seedling failed to thrive. We replaced it with a stronger plant and did much better. However the main problem is that although the wicking strip is correctly set up, it is not providing the compost with enough water. The water in the reservoir is hardly going down. We are now watering by hand. We are considering making a hole in the bottom of the reservoir, or just removing it altogether.

I didn't have trouble planting my small tomato plant and followed the instructions on the box - they were clear. I thought the compost was as wet as a well wrung sponge. The watering pot and capillary strip were just as instructed so hung it up. Water dripping down the plant in the morning + wet patch on ground. So removed water pot after bailing out and Capillary strip until as dry as instructed on box. Replaced after 36 hours with same result - water dripping down plant. So removed water pot and strip again (baled out water again) and waited 3 days this time. Replaced for 3rd time and same result - water dripping down plant. So I'm afraid I've given up - disappointed as it looked such a lovely way to grow tomatoes! Sorry to not be positive - not really 1 star

I bought 2 of these last year thinking they would look interesting from the pergola. No problem at all planting it up, but because it has to go so very high up it was extremely difficult to water. When you do manage to get any water in the top hole it starts seeping out of the sides and bottom so if you are not careful you get soaked. I persevered for the whole season and the yield was very poor. I grew the same variety of tomato in growbags and pots and they gave a much better yield.