Earth Box vs. Topsy Turvy; Which is Best?

The Earth Box tomatoes have an early lead in the race as of July 1.

And they’re off!!!!

In late May I decided to have a little tomato race. In my garden.

I bought six Big Beef tomato plants and planted some in Earth Boxes and one (because that’s all that would fit) in a Topsy Turvy upside-down tomato planter — you know, just like the ones you see on late nite TV or in the ad sections of glossy magazines that come inside the Sunday papers.

So far, at about eight weeks out, it appears the Earth Box tomatoes are winning.

From the giddy up I gave all the tomatoes the same treatment, planting both batches in the same Miracle-Gro Garden Soil and placing them in the same general area near my cukes, zukes, peppers and lettuce in my cramped and busy backyard urban garden. They were watered at the same time and have not been moved except for routine pruning and maintenance.

All of the tomatoes were purchased in one batch on the same day from the Dobb’s Produce stand at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market, held twice weekly (Tuesdays and Fridays, May to November) in the parking lot of the Farm Show in Harrisburg. Dobb’s Produce is from nearby Perry County.

Initial differences were in the set up costs: Earth Boxes (www.earthbox.com) are much more expensive at around $50 (not including the soil and fertilizer) when compared to the Topsy Turvy planters (www.topsygardening.com), which for the one I am using clocks in at less than $10.

However, the Earth Boxes, which I’ve also found are particularly good for growing basil (think pesto, lots of pesto, people) can hold far more plants. Because I am lucky enough to have acquired three Earth Boxes for free from my wife’s generous relatives, I only put two Big Beef tomatoes in the Earth Box selected for this experiment. In the past I have fit far more plants of other varieties (basil, beans, lettuce) in the Earth Boxes.

The Earth Boxes are essentially modified heavy duty plastic box planters with a reservoir at the bottom which are replenished through a feed tube shoved down through the soil into the reservoir. An overflow spout at the bottom of the box lets you know when it is full by spitting out cold water directly over your toes. A plastic soil cover comes with the Earth Box through which you are directed to slash holes in the spots where you want plants to grow. I omitted the covers, which has probably resulted in an increase in water usage, but added metal casters so I could easily roll my Earth Boxes around since once filled with soil and water they become quite heavy.

When dry my Earth Boxes will take about two gallons of water. Add to that weight about two cubic feet of soil and you should get the picture. Once mature I’ve found my tomatoes enjoy being watered about every 24-to-36 hours although others who have used the plastic soil covers say they cut down on water usage.

Topsy Turvy planters are nylon bags similar to a feed bag with holes on each end suspended by three thin cables arranged in a triangular fashion joining at the top at a metal hook. The hook is in turn connected to a chain the height of which can be adjusted by simply moving the hook up or down the links and out of the reach of curious and nimble 2-year-old hands.

The plant is inserted top down through the bottom aperture, soil is placed in the bag over the root system up to the fill line (the directions make no provision to use seeds), a heavy plastic cap (with a watering hole) is placed over the top opening and the bag is suspended. The plant in effect grows upside down although the one I suspended from my second floor balcony outside of my kitchen door has tended to grow in an lateral, arching fashion as if seeking more light.

Other than that the primary difference is in how the plants are watered, although once you compare each way the more you think they’re different the more they seem alike: Whether upside down or right side up, both systems introduce water to the plants from the root source “up” regardless if it’s poured in from the top (Topsy Turvy) or sucked up from a reservoir on the bottom (Earth Box). Even though the planter in the Topsy Turvy is, well, “topsy turvy,” i.e., upside down, if you think about it it’s actually working the same way as the Earth Box. Perhaps therein lies the secret.

“Follow the instructions. Don’t second guess them,” Earth Box’s general manager Frank DiPaulo said when called and told of my little experiment. “Keep the reservoir filled. I think it’s a pretty easy system to use,” DiPaulo said.

I called and called the Topsy Turvy people, leaving several voice mails and even once speaking personally to a guy by the name of Bob Gaines, the director of marketing at Allstar Products Group, the firm which handles media calls for Topsy Turvy. I even e-mailed a few times, but I guess no one there was too interested in my little experiment since no one ever called or even bothered to e-mail me back.

Well, now it’s approaching the middle of what has proven to be an extremely hot and sticky July – just the weather tomatoes love.

The Topsy Turvy now boasts about two fully developed tomatoes while the Earth Box tomatoes have bested them by a ratio of about 2:1. All of the tomatoes – Topsy Turvy or Earth Box – seem to be a healthy bright green and are of the same approximate size. I’m still waiting to see which one produces red fruit first.

I’ll keep you posted.

Reggie Sheffield is an urban gardener living in Central Pennsylvania who can be contacted via e-mail at troylus@verizon.net.

The topsy-turvy planters are producing nice healthy fruit.