Vertical Garden Systems
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Vertical container gardening allows you to grow more in less space. In addition to saving space, some systems allow for water conservation, self fertilizing and other advantages. Going vertical also means easier access when planting and harvesting without a lot of bending. What do you need to consider when deciding on a vertical growing system?
Light
Most fruit and vegetable plants need plenty of sunlight (at least 6 hours a day) to grow. You need to be sure that your system allows for all the plants to get enough light. A tower type system that doesn’t rotate can create a “dark side” with a portion of the tower that never gets sun. Walls or fences can have angles that limit the available light as well. Additionally, small spaces often have problems with light being blocked by buildings or other structures. Before setting up or installing a vertical system, be sure to evaluate how much sun a particular spot will receive each day.
Water
Like any container system, vertical gardens will need more watering than gardens in the ground. They are subject to drying out and stressing your plants. Vertical systems are watered from the top, using gravity to get water to the plants at the bottom. This means you will need to be able to get enough water to the top of your system to provide all the plants enough. Will you be able to lift watering can that high? Can you use a hose to fill a top reservoir?
Soil
Vertical systems are container gardens. You will need to use a potting mix that has fertilizer and peat moss or coconut coir for good moisture retention. Some vertical systems have trays that are filled with soil and then lifted into place. Will you be able to lift those trays to the highest points? Is it a barrel type where you have to add the soil from the top which may be at shoulder level? Are there a lot of small pockets that need to be filled one at a time?
Like all container gardening, be aware that nutrients can wash through the soil when watering. Even a good potting mix will need periodic fertilizing.
Hanging Systems
Hanging systems can be made of a variety of materials but plastic and felt cloth systems are the most common. Cloth and plastic keep the planters themselves lightweight.
Most of these type systems have shallow soil depth but usually enough space for leafy greens like lettuce, herbs and strawberries. Some of the rigid plastic systems offer deeper planters than the cloth felt.
Free Standing Frames
If you are concerned about mounting a hanging system or you don’t have a space for one with adequate sunlight you can try a free standing system. These type systems are also good for small patios or balconies or for rental units where you cannot go putting screws or brackets into the exterior walls.
Free standing vertical planting systems can have some of the same difficulties as hanging systems, namely shallow soil pockets. However, there are a few systems that have a larger planter at the bottom and smaller containers at the top.
Tower Gardens
Tower type vertical gardens are very compact options for vertical gardening. Most systems use stacking trays that interlock to form a tall tower. These systems usually have holes in the bottom of each tray that allows water to pass to the tray below. Be careful when looking at towers, some are used only for hydroponic systems, some for only soil and some for either. Read carefully to determine which system you are getting.
Many tower type systems have a bottom tray or plate with wheels. This is a very handy feature as it allows you to not only change the location of the tower but also to rotate your tower. Being able to rotate your tower means that you can avoid having a dark side of the tower and can let you move some plants out of direct sunlight when needed.
Garden Tower 2
The Garden Tower 2 has 50 spaces for plants but only takes up two square feet of your small patio or balcony. This system does not have wheels for moving or rotating. The system rotates from the bottom tray, just above the water reservoir.
There is a worm composting system down the center of the tower. Your veggie scraps, shredded paper and worms go in the top of the composting tower. There are small holes along this center tube which allow the worms to move in and out of the compost area, spreading their castings on their own. The small holes allow the plant roots direct access to the compost as well. Compost can be emptied from the bottom of the tower for mixing into your potting mix.
The Garden Tower 2 has a very efficient watering system. You water from the top and water drips from one tray to the next. Whatever water is not held in the soil drips into a reservoir tray. When it comes time to water again, simply remove the tray and pour that water into the top. Any nutrients that may have washed down from the previous watering will be preserved in your system.
GreenStalk Tower
The GreenStalk tower is another popular vertical growing system. The individual pockets are much deeper than other systems, so deep you can grow some varieties of carrots, tomatoes and peppers.
The GreenStalk has a unique watering system as well. There is a top watering tray that fills smaller trays at each tier. Each smaller watering tray drips into the soil for that tier. This disperses the water more evenly for each individual container of plants.
There is a separate tray with wheels if you need to move or rotate the GreenStalk system.