- Tomatoes are big, vigorous plants with long vines and much foliage. They need at least 3 feet per plant in a garden setting. Peppers are in the same botanical family as tomatoes but grow only 2 feet high and are more compact. The main concern with growing them together in a topsy turvy is allowing adequate space for both plants. Select a determinate cherry-type tomato plant for best success. These plants have a compact, bush-type growth and don't produce long vines. Any pepper plant grows well with them.
- Gardeners often avoid planting tomatoes and peppers together in a garden setting because the two plants share common diseases, such as fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt. These diseases spread through wet leaves and build up in the soil. Because topsy-turvy containers are watered at the root level, the leaves don't get wet, reducing the chance of disease.
- Do not use garden soil in the topsy turvy. Garden soil is too heavy, doesn't drain well and may harbor disease. Use soilless potting mix or make your own from equal parts potting soil, compost, perlite and sphagnum peat moss. Add a slow-release fertilizer to the mix. Discard the soil at the end of the season.
- Water the young plants every other day. As the plants grow and summer days become hot, water them every day. To determine if you are watering enough, lift the bag. It should feel heavy. Water more frequently if the bag feels light or if the plants' leaves curl. Place the bag in full sun unless the weather is very hot. Move it temporarily to a shaded location in very hot weather. Fertilize the plants every three weeks with water-soluble vegetable fertilizer.