Well Not long ago I bought 2 Topsy Turvys® and I told you guys that I would let you know how they are doing.
Here is the first photo of them after I planted the tomatos.
The plants in them are doing great but I have a big problem and will have to let the plants die. You see birds moved into the topsy turvys and have built nest. One had 5 eggs in it. The other one hasn't done anything yet, but I don't want to move the bird out of its house so late in the season.
Here is a video from YouTube that I made showing you the nest.
So to make sure this doesn't happen to you if you buy one. Put a screen on the lid on the inside of it with a hot glue gun. This way you can still water and birds can't build in the container.
Looks like they have changed the new ones they are coming out with so the top doesn't have a hole in it where the birds can get in. I guess others had the same problem.
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Comments: 36
We see the ad on TV. Nice to know it really works.
I, too have seen the commercial. I planted my Tomatoes in containers this year. I bought a drought-resistant hybrid that is doing fairly well-5 little Tomatoes so far. I grow herbs as well year round.
Awwww! That was such a cute video! I'm sorry about your plant but those eggs in the nest are so cute!
My husband just saw these on TV and said something about getting them. I told him there was a lady on Gather who had them and was going to keep us posted about how they worked. It does look like the plants are doing well! Too bad the bird decided to make it it's home! Good video!
Thanks for the honest review, and the tip about the screen. it looks like the tomatoes grew well, sorry that birds built a nest in them.
the tv made the planter seem really nice
The planter is really nice and is working real well. The tomato plants are growing very well. They just need to add a screen to the top of it so they birds can't do this. I just looked on their site and it looks like the new ones don't have the hole in the top like this one.
a very interesting invention!!
I don't know if this is good news or bad for you. Looks like maybe chickadee eggs. Good to know they came up with a new design and I hope you'll enjoy the new little birds. How nice of you to not kick them out.
so in actuallity it's a topsy turvy bird house!
I was going to try that. I'm glad I didn't.
that is so sweet I would leave the nest alone myself
Oh my! That's really nice that you're going to let the nest be though!
We got one, and as soon as we hung it up sparrows started trying to build a nest. Right away my dad duct taped some screen over the top and stopped them. You can fix anything with duct tape LOL!
Wow, what kind of birds? Do you know?
very good info Amy. I have actually thought about making my own. But it might be too late now.
That sure is some interesting fruit your tomatoes are bearing.
The video was helpful, Amy. Bummer that the birds decided that these would make a nice home.
Hmm...my neighbor has one and the plant seems to be doing well. No birds had moved in last I looked at it.. I wonder if you can somehow still get water to the plant...
too cute..I am glad it works well though!
Hm, we saw this on the news then in the store and was thinking about it, i'll have to inform my mom. thanks :)
Talk about not quite the harvest that you planned on!
Great video! You're doing the right thing by sacrificing the plant for the nest and eggs.
Darn, too bad the birds build a nest in there!
I honestly would just move the nest. It looks substantial enough that you wouldn't actually have to touch the eggs. I think this could work just fine. And in case anyone wants to flame me or sick PETA on me... the next time you make eggs for breakfast, just remember, those were baby chickens until a human stepped in and snatched them out of the hen's nest.
Those are incredible pictures.
i want one yet cant find it so I turn an old hanging pot into my own topes thingy it is different
I'm glad you are not kicking the birds out of the planter.
The problem I have with this Topsh-Turvy thing is that it's ugly. Tomato plants look nice in the backyard whether in a garden or big pots. But these things are ugly.
I will say, though, the bird nests and eggs are pretty, certainly prettier than an upsidedown tomato plant hanging from an ugly green bag. And your photography is really great, too.
oh i wondered what it did! thanks for the review! say hi to the birds!
I think I would put on gloves and move the nest. Birds make such a mess, and it's annoying when it's close to the house. I'd rather have the tomatoes.
Thanks for posting to All About Autumn
I think it's nice that you arn't moving the nest. You have some new neighbors now. We also have been thinking about getting some of these Topsy Turvys but we would need something on top of it. We feed a lot of birds here, and I really don't want a nest of them.
That's funny and cute too!
Can you poke holes in the sides and water them that way?
Awww, that is so sweet! You are giving up your tomatoes for a bird family!!
That's kind of funny. I wonder what kind of birds they are? I'm horrible at identifying birds by eggs.
Shame about your maters though :( can't transplant them I'm guessing?