Topsy Turvey Planter

Saw this advertised on TV last night.
Seems a rather wierd way of growing toms (and other plants) - plant them in the bottom of the planter, hang the bag up and the toms grow downwards!!
I would have thought it was natural for roots to grow downwards and the plant shoots to try to grow upwards, as dictated by gravity.
I have no intention of buying one, but I wondered if anybody has any experience of using one of these items.

The advertisers, if I remember correctly as I was in shock at the time, seem to be saying that the nutrition from the roots will "run down" the plant to the leaves and fruit!
I don't somehow think that is how the plant works, at least it wasn't when I did biology 45 years ago.
But I suppose things could have evolved in the last 45 years and plants have now decided this is a better way to get feed from the roots to the fruit.

I know that you attach stems of climbing roses and such like so that they are bent nearly horizontal so it produces more flowers but upside down toms IMHO is just another of those awful fads that keep cropping up (or down, as the case may be - no pun intended). If it is such a good idea, it would have been done years ago. Don't waste your money..! 

recently there was a thread on geo and photo trophism. I dont blame the idea but if it works out then it would be one of the "catseye" of roads "richies paper pots"/"DDs peas" of growing
BTW DD where are you?
Hope you are well and in good health.

Quote from: prakash_mib on April 21, 2010, 15:01

BTW DD where are you?
Hope you are well and in good health.

I also wondered where DD had got to and someone said he was on sabbatical.

That does seem to be the case (if he's gone for a pea he's certainly taking his time!) 

Hi Gimli, when I was watching G World on Friday evening I noticed Toby Buckland's upside down planter outside the greenhouse looked rather sad (in fact it didn't look as if there was anything in it even though he said he'd give it a go!), so you're not alone! Always better to have a go than not try at all. I suppose if you want toms that grow down, just grow the tumbling variety as we know those really do grown downwards!!! Jude.

Think I'll stick to regular hanging baskets - my 100s & 1000s are loving it up there 

Barbarella, I'm going to the NEC on Friday to G World Live - if I see him I'll ask!!!!!!