Q Last year you were going to compare tomatoes grown upside-down in the air with those grown in the ground. How did that turn out? Is the upside-down method better than the traditional way?
A Last summer I experimented with growing tomatoes three ways: in the ground, in an upside-down planter called the Topsy Turvy and in a homemade version of the upside-down tomato planter -- a plastic bird-seed bucket with holes drilled in the bottom.
Identical tomato plants were placed in the ground and in the upside-down containers. Over the summer, it looked at times as if the upside-down tomatoes would win the contest; other times, the in-ground ones did better.
The upside-down plants bore fruit earlier, were easier to pick, seemed less likely to get diseased and were relatively squirrel-proof. (The Topsy Turvy did outperform my homemade version.) However, the tomatoes grown upside-down were slightly smaller and a little less tasty. And you really have to tend the plants, giving them a gallon of water a day and fertilizing weekly. The plants also get heavy. You need a sturdy place to hang them, such as along a wall or off a deck; a shepherd's hook won't do.
In the end, the results were mixed. There was no clear winner. Lots of folks e-mailed me pictures and stories of their upside-down tomato experiences. Some were delighted with upside-down growing, but many more were disappointed.
If you have little or no garden space, plenty of sun and the time to water daily and fertilize weekly, the Topsy Turvy might be a good option.
Cleaning exhaust filters Q What is the most effective way to clean the removable filter screens that are part of the exhaust-fan assembly over the stove? I have soaked them repeatedly in dish soap and hot water, but they still feel greasy.
A Check the owner's manual. If you don't have one, cleaning instructions often are available at a retailer selling that brand of exhaust fan, or look on the manufacturer's website.
