I face NE, am on the 18th floor with a covered balcony, and have my tomatoes directly across from my bedroom window AC. In my case, being up above the tree line, I get full sun all morning and being on the western corner of my building, I get some afternoon sun in summer in that corner, which is where I put my tomatoes. The downside is that the corner is very windy, so over the years, I've tried various things there to block the wind in lieu of me getting some plexiglass to put there. The poor shrubs there right now (a pee gee hydrangea and beautyberry) are sortof taking the brunt but have hung in there. With respect to the AC... the past couple years I found that the hot air exhaust would eventually dessicate the plants directly across from it and would also encourage spider mites to live on them (these inturn yellowed the leaves even more and webbed the foliage and tomatoes). So this year I took one of my outdoor AC covers to hang just in front of the exhaust to divert it (it's not covering the AC but is about a foot in front). This has made a tremendous difference, although next year I think I'll find something bigger to go around the one side where my clematis is so the air isn't diverted there (it crisped up the clematis leaves). I've never used the topsy turvey planters but a number of people who have posted here and elsewhere in the past have. I think it would probably work best with a dwarf plant or determinant but people have reported success with it.

Yes anything in the nighshade family is toxic (Tomatoe & potato leaves). Having said that we plant tomatoes in our garden, which is in the middle of the horse pasture. Fencing is very secure, and they cannot reach over to eat the tomato plants as I plant them at least 4ft away from the fence. Volunteer tomatoes come up every year in our horse pasture, perhaps 4 or 5 plants. I've never seen the horses eat them, then again they have free choice hay & pasture 24/7 so never feel the need to eat them, but that doesn't mean yours wont. I don't think a nibble or two will hurt them, but I don't know the amount ingested that will. Brendasue

Not sure if they will produce fruit again...but if you wanted to extend your growing season, I can tell you this. The tops that you cut down can be put in a pot of soil and will grow new roots. You can then take this indoors once the frost arrives and still have access to fresh tomatoes for a little while. I have done this many times over the years - works great. And you arbor is LOVELY!! I would love to try that out next summer - my daughter would be in tomato heaven. :D

The older and larger the plant the less tolerant it is of transplanting much less root separation. So if you are going to do it, I'd do it now and transplant them deeply so new root can form along the stems. But you will risk losing all of them. Another option is just to cut off 3 of them and leave one in the pot. You can then root the top 5-6" of those cuttings in individual containers and plant them in separate containers once well rooted. That is what I would do at this stage. Dave