Topsy-Turvy: End of Summer Update

Early Girl - more plentiful, but terrible leaf curl

I had promised an update of this popular 'Topsy Turvy' planter and - so - here it is! The Early Girl was grown in near full sun. Despite watering every day the leaves developed a terrible leaf curl that left the plant looking yellowed & spindly. The dirt was not quite to the top - perhaps I needed 3 more inches? Was that the problem perhaps? Was the sun just too dang hot? I opened the top of the planter to 'vent' it a bit and remembered to water at the end of the day so that the roots would not 'boil' in the heat of the day. None-the-less , despite the leaf issues, I did get some tomatoes from this plant but not anywhere near as many as I would have had the plants been in the ground with a cap. Our nights can get pretty cool even in summer (one of the great benefits of where I live!) and perhaps the plant just did not like it.

Roma's - very good!

These Romas were is a slightly shadier place on the deck and experienced some leaf curl too but not as badly as the Early Girl's. Lots of tomatoes - many of which are still ripening. The leaves were rather too yellow as well after awhile. Perhaps both plants would have benefited from more fertilizer - but there again who knows what happened! Next year I think I may just grow tomatoes in a huge pot & I will try growing sweet peas or some other hanging flowering plant in the 'Topsy Turvys'. Perhaps I will discover what the error of my ways was and I will try tomatoes again. One way or the other this was an interesting experiment in alternate ways to grow vegetables and plants.

The roses seemed to have liked the extra heat and sun this summer. This 'Joseph's Coat' is still blooming furiously & beautifully. My favorite damask rose, 'Rose deRescht' is also still giving me a precious few late blooms. It is thriving in it's new home - a large, comfortable pot that is against the house and in a spot that enjoys lots of sun & summer warmth. I think I may buy a few new damasks and grow them similarly. I have lots of fungus issues with my ramblers & I think fighting it will always be a constant battle that requires chemicals that I prefer not to use. Thankfully the 'Joseph's Coat' seems more resistant and all I will do with it is a severe pruning this winter.

A soft, gentle 'volunteer'. I wait for these to appear each year!

These shelf mushrooms, on an old cedar stump, are one of my favorites.
They are so beautiful in a very 'wabi sabi' way!

As Seen On TV: We'll See If It Works!

As many of you might have noticed by now - I am a total gadget gal. This is an addiction that I think I must blame my Father for as he was also a person that had to try all things new and different. My love for gardening has, in past years, been severely curtailed by both rocky soil and aching bones. The one vegetable that I missed the most though has always been tomatoes. My alter-ego/sister/friend, Lauren, decided that I needed to have a go at trying these Topsy Turvey tomoto planters. It could be a perfect solution since we have very few places at our house that get full sun for more than a few hours a day. This might really work! I may have to get another one for peppers. Squash?Topsy Turvey provides you with a round sponge that fits in the bottom of the planter - it prevents soil - and the plant - from falling out. The sponge has a slit in it so that the plant stem is softly surrounded by the sponge. I am wondering if this might rot the stem - but I guess I will know soon if that's the case. The planter itself is made from stong, durable, re-inforced plastic - sort of like the stuff that large bags of birdseed are packaged in. There is a stiff plastic scalloped lid that fits over the top - holds the edges firmly in shape and provides a large hole that helps funnel water. I always hestitate to buy these "as seen on TV" things - but this thing might actually work. If it does I am going to be one, very happy, tomato eater!