Vertical Gardening: Stand on your Head and Grow Verticallly

In Holland it is possible to find high-rise blocks made almost entirely out of glass. You would immediately assume it would be for an office building or for a residence, however, they are for habitation. Not for humans, but for tomatoes.

Holland holds the world record for growing the most kilos of tomatoes on just a single square metre. The record is 90 kilos. Because we are on our way of becoming 11 billion people on this earth, there is less and less room for all of us, and because of the CO2 emission and transport, there is a need to utilize space in new ways. One of the ways leads us straight towards the sky and is known as vertical gardening or farming.

In your greenhouse (or garden, balcony, or terrace), it is possible to grow vertically and to maximise the potential of the space you have, to make room for both you, and your plants. Greenhouses have become very popular and have almost completely replaced the winter gardens of the 70’s and 80’s. We long for greener environments in general and want therefore also more space in our greenhouses.  Plants and people do really well together. We take advantage of each other and get energy from each other.

On One Side or the Other

Vertical cultivation is basically a combination of both vertical and horizontal cultivation. A cucumber is for example, by nature, a climber, that climbs its way up over the treetops in the jungle. It only grows vertical. Tomatoes grow in the same way. They grow from the ground up and the higher they grow, the more tomatoes they produce. The same applies to French beans and tall peas. Therefore, it makes little sense to grow for example tomatoes vertically, unless you want them hanging down from the ceiling, to become an eatable decoration, or if you need the room on the ground for something else.

Getting Started

There are different methods/materials you can choose from. Basically, there is no difference if you grow plants in pots that are hanging somewhere or standing on the ground. Either way, the material to grow in, must be drained and the plants must have water and fertilizer. Therefore, the questions you should ask yourself are how you will reach the proper height, how you will ensure water and fertilizer, and which containers you will grow in.

Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are a great option to get your plants off the ground. There are a lot of different kinds and materials to choose from. However, there are open wire baskets that you can hang on a hook, and which are lined with a mat made of coconut fibres, that is shaped like a pot. The mat comes with the purchase or is already built in the basket. By using a coconut mat instead of a closed clay or plastic pot, you can make an incision with a scissor or sharp knife into the sides, so it is possible to plant in the sides and not only in the middle of the pot. The coconut mat can also lead away excess water. To collect some of the water, you can place a piece of plastic or a saucer in the bottom. The hanging baskets are especially suited for growing flowers or strawberries, which completely hide the pot. It is important, when planting in the sides of the coconut mat, that the plants are small. A bigger root net can more easily be damaged.

Recycle

Pots can be anything, as long as they can contain water. That means clay, ceramics, fabric, bags, cut open soda bottles, jute sacks and so on can be used. For a vertical garden, preferably choose materials that are not too heavy. Light materials are easier to set up and you also don’t have to carry heavy pots up the stairs, if you, for an example, are making a vertical structure on a third-floor balcony.

Shelves

A vertical gardening structure can also consist of a couple of shelves build on top of each other. In Juliana’s assortment, you can always find shelves to put up in your greenhouse. If you are looking for a different style, use recycled shelves or build your own with bricks and wooden boards.

Pots in a Tower

• Buckets for paint are a good idea as well as they can be put on top of each other. Drill some holes, for the plants, in the side of the buckets and all the way around. Maybe line them with jute and cut a hole in it afterwards.
• Fill the buckets with soil all the way to the edge and place as high up as you want.
• A big plastic pipe with a rather large diameter can be used in the same way.
• If you are being really creative, place beautiful cans on a string next to each other.
• A ladder is very suited as a shelf. Furthermore, it is possible to buy already made wall systems.

Plant Examples

Tomatoes are well suited for hanging baskets. Choose a medium-sized variety, for example the ones we call cherry tomatoes. A possible sort could be ‘Macot’, ‘Venus’ or the bigger ‘Tiny Tim’. Plant your tomato in the middle of the pot and press down soil around it. There should be a few centimetres up to the edge, so the water won’t overflow when you water your plants.

Strawberries

Strawberries are also suited for vertical cultivation in hanging baskets and on shelves, especially smaller sorts like ‘Fragaria vesca’. In general, plants with small root nets are best suited for growing in hanging baskets. This includes almost all spices, but also peas and chillies.

No matter what you plant, the most important thing is the soil, drainage, watering, and fertilizer. If you don’t manage these things, your project will fail.

Soil

Generally, all plants will grow in potting soil. If you are able to get soil with coconut coir, that is the best. In small containers, like pots, it is important to have a good drainage system. In the hanging baskets with coconut fibres, there is a build-in drain, but in more closed containers it is important to mix the soil with clay pebbles to improve drainage.

Fertilizer

Use a long-life fertilizer and water with a liquid fertilizer. In the first 14 days, the plants don’t need fertilizer.

Water

Watering is the biggest challenge, when talking about vertical cultivation. Everything that is not directly grown in beds should be watered regularly. The smaller the pot, the more often the plant needs water. It is a big advantage if you have a rainwater barrel right by the greenhouse. This way, you always have tempered water. Some bought vertical gardening systems include a drip irrigation system. Buying a separate drip irrigation system is otherwise also an option. Gardena has a good selection, and some options where the pump is powered with batteries charged by the sun.