The Vertical Gardening Guidebook

by Tom Corson-Knowles

  Keep in mind that some plants can grow to be large (especially plants that live all year round), casting shadows over the other plants below them. Try to make a pyramid from biggest to smallest, so that all of your plants are able to receive equal sunlight. Of course, there are some plants that love shadows, so use this knowledge to plan out which plants will be where in your vertical garden.

  Make sure to plan space in your gardening location and design for foot paths so that you can walk around your garden and tend to it once it’s up and producing. If you’re planning to grow in a tight area, such as a balcony, rooftop or small space in your yard, then you will need to design your vertical garden in a way that will allow you easy access.

  Sounds obvious, I know, but I’ve seen people “wall off” parts of their yard with huge tomato plants or cucumber vines and then have to rip them out and start over with a better design. Just a little bit of thought ahead of time can save you a lot of money, time and effort once your garden is growing!

  Vertical Gardening Tip: You might want to draw a simple picture of your vertical garden design. It doesn’t need to be fancy at all, but just get the dimensions of your space and choose which plants you want to plant where. Drawing it out can help make the planning process a whole lot easier!

  Inside Your Home

  Indoor plants have always been popular with nature lovers. Why not try vertical gardening inside of your home?

  It’s already a growing trend throughout the world, simply because it gives more room for plants and you can keep animals and bugs away from your vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers. The only thing you need to do to ensure their survival is to choose a location in your home that receives lots of sunlight.

  A vertical gardening panel like the one pictured above can be kept indoors and moved outdoors when the weather changes.

  If the vertical garden is mobile, you can move the garden outdoors on your patio or balcony to get extra sun for a few hours and then bring them back inside (although that can be a lot of work depending on how big your garden is). Grow lights can be used indoors as well.

  Indoor vertical gardening isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve got the space you can make it happen! Aeroponics vertical gardening kits like can also make indoor vertical gardening a whole lot easier (See Chapter 11 on aeroponics for more info).

  Patio Vertical Gardens

  If you don’t have yard space to grow a vertical garden, you can plan on using an available patio, deck or balcony instead. Patios can be just as effective for growing a vertical garden. As long as it gets enough sunlight throughout the day, you should have no problem getting things set up. Just research the types of plants you want to grow to see how you should design your garden for maximum plant production.

  Since you are limited in the amount of space that you’re able to use, you’re going to have to get creative with the type of structures that you use. Some ideas include trellises, arbors, pyramid-shaped assemblies, fencing, tripods and containers. If you are going to be planting vining plants and others that spread rapidly, you will find vertical gardening on your patio to be quite successful.

  To maximize the usage of space, you can use hanging containers, upside down planters and baskets that can be hung on railings, canopies or arbors. Having a row of plants on shelves can also produce more space for other structures you may want to use.

  You can also use vertical planters like the one pictured below to grow more in a small patio space.

  Choosing the Type of Structures to Use for Your Vertical Garden

  As mentioned, there are many different types of structures that you can use for your vertical garden. There are a multitude of possible setups for the different types of plants that you’ll be growing.

  It’s important to note how heavy your plants will become and how much weight the structure is able to handle so that your vegetation will have enough support as it grows. The structures you use should be anchored into the ground, so that it’s not easy to tip over by passersby and your growing plants.

  This is especially important when growing heavier vining plants like melons, pumpkins and squash. These plants absolutely thrive in vertical gardenings and you would be surprised how big and fast they will grow. All of these plants love “climbing” with their vines and lots of sunlight and I’ve seen 40 pound pumpkins growing from a vertical garden – so make sure you’ve got enough support for when the big fruits come!

  Trellises

  One structural option for your vertical garden is a trellis. These are small enough to fit in almost any space and can hold different types of plants. You can make it yourself or purchase it from a store.

  Trellises can also be attached to a wall in your garden or staked into the earth for better support and the design prevents mold from spreading disease throughout your plants. Trellises have a nice design and can be combined with other forms of garden structures. Plants that grow well on trellises and tripods are those that have tendrils, such as pole beans.

  This trellis is supporting several bean plants and is one of the simplest vertical gardens you can create.

  If you decide to plant heavy plants on your trellises, make sure that the trellis you use is made of either wood or metal. Lighter plants can be used on metal trellises as well. Try arranging your plants in a pyramid shape. To keep your trellis in place, you can stake it to the ground using poles or stakes made of wood or iron.

  Wire Fences and Poles

  If you want an organized vertical garden that is filled with many types of vining plants, like peas and green beans, then wire fences and poles are your best bet. These types of plants may need a bit of help creeping up vertically. You can simply tie up the vines along the poles and wires and they will do the rest.

  If you already have a fence set up, you can plant crops next to it that will grow upwards using the support of the fence. You can also just build your own using some simple chicken wire or other type of fencing material.

  Arches

  Another great structure that fits nicely in gardens is arches. These can be used for plants that are heavier, such as vining plants like grapes.

  Arches can also be used for plants that climb or hanging baskets of plants. Your vertical garden can look like a typical garden with beautiful garden furniture and arches, making anyone want to lounge out in the yard on a warm day and enjoy the spectacular view.

  This arch is completely covered with beans! Arches make for a beautiful, simple vertical garden design and can be a lot of fun.

  Pockets

  Pockets can be purchased at the store or you can make them yourself by using the shoe pockets that are commonly found hanging in closets (holes will need to be drilled to allow for aeration and water drainage. The pockets should be 15 inches by 24 inches, which can support up to 20 pounds of dirt. Pockets can be used for planting small perennials and edible plants.

  Pocket bags like in this picture above can also support a small vertical garden – in this case with lots of fresh greens!

  Trays

  Trays are rectangular in shape and are divided into 30-degree angle individual cells for planting. There are holes at the bottom that allow air and water to seep through. To make your tray look unique, you can make or buy a frame of your choice to go around it.

  Gardening trays that were designed for vertical gardening come with brackets that allow you to easily mount them.

  Trays for vertical gardening like the ones pictured above can be mounted on a wall which is often how small green walls are made at home. Just make sure your wall or siding of your house can support the weight!

  If you keep the base of the tray on the ground and attach some screws, nails or clips to fasten it to the wall it should hold up fine.

  Hanging Pots

  The design of pot hangers are made so that they are easy to install and nearly invisible. They have hangers that can hold up to 100 pounds. The hangers can be screwed into a wall. The pots are held onto the structure with the help of clamp
s.

  Hanging pots like the ones pictured above can make for gorgeous flower arrangements.

  Walls

  If you have walls in your garden or plan to build some, you will find that you can have certain plants grow along it. All some vining plants need is a rough surface to attach to. You don’t want to use wood, painted or mortar surfaces because plants can cause damage to these types of structures. Brick walls are usually alright, but Ivy vines can cause damage to the bricks so be warned!

  Wall vertical gardens can be extremely elaborate like in this picture or much simpler – it’s up to you.

  Make sure to place your vining plants in an area where you don’t mind them spreading. Some plants end up growing vertically too far, reaching the gutters of homes and eventually pulling them down with their weight. Morning Glories are notorious for doing this.

  Some of the plants you grow may have to be tied to their structure, such as with tomatoes, otherwise they will spread across the ground – defeating the purpose of vertical gardening.

  When you grow plants on the walls outside of your home, it can help prevent your home from getting damaged by acid rain and other pollution, and it helps to keep the soil around the home from flooding because the vertical garden will soak up extra rain water. It creates a great year-round eco-system that absorbs pollutants and natural gas – naturally!

  Planters and Gutters

  If you decide to use planters or rain gutters, make sure to purchase them between eight inches and 12 inches so that they’re strong enough to support the plants. These can be placed along your wall. If the pieces are too long, you can use a saw to make them the right size.

  Holes will also need to be drilled at the bottom of the gutters or planters, which should be around six inches apart. This will allow water to drain, so that the roots of your plants don’t end up rotting from sitting in water.

  A gutter garden like the one pictured above can be created with just a normal rain gutter and a wire or hook to hold it in place. Just make sure not to place it somewhere that’s exposed to strong winds because it could get damaged and your garden could get ruined from a wind storm.

  Choosing the Type of Gardening Style You’ll Use

  There are many different forms of vertical gardening. There are three types of vertical gardens that you can start in your home, including the following:

  Traditional – This is the most common way for growing vertical gardens, which uses soil.

  Hydroponics – Another form of gardening that is gaining popularity, which uses no soil, only water and aqua-life. This method is expensive to set up. I don’t cover hydroponics in this book because it can be very complicated, especially if you’re going the aquaponics route and requires a lot of specialized equipment and knowledge.

  Aeroponics – A new technique that is picking up momentum in the planting world. This too can be used for vertical gardening and the awesome thing about this method is that it requires no water systems or soil, only nutrient-rich water. We’ll get more into this later in Chapter 11.

  Choosing What to Grow in Your Vertical Garden

  There’s a large variety of plants that you can grow in your vertical garden. The site you choose will determine how many large and widespread plants that you will be able to grow. The setup of your vertical garden will also play a role in what types of plants you’ll be able to grow.

  The most popular plants that are grown in vertical gardens are vine and creeping plants. Even gardeners, who aren’t necessarily converting to vertical gardening, use vertical supports like beanpoles and trellises to grow their, gourds, zucchini and peas.

  Fruits, vegetables, perennials and annuals can all be grown in vertical gardens. Those that have vines are the best suited, such as grapes, strawberries, Morning Glories, melons and pumpkins. Plants that vine offer higher yields, which is always a great thing. Other plants that you can choose that don’t grow vertically on their own can also be grown, including raspberries, roses and tomatoes. Some people even grow small trees on their patios!

  If you decide to go with tomatoes, you should choose a variety that is indeterminate because their stems continue growing. Determinates have roots that stop growing after reaching a few feet. Then for the heavier vining plants such as the melon, gourds, cucumbers and the like, you should go with varieties that are smaller. Having heavier and bigger plants can be too much for small supports.

  Fruits, vegetables and other plants that you decide to grow that are medium in size can be done with the help of slings and ties. Some use household items which should be placed at the bottom of the plants and tied to the structure. Just try to use ties that are made up of cloth, so that it won’t cut into the plants. You can look for nice looking ones that will offer a nice accent to the décor of your vertical garden. Preferably something that blends in well.

  Choosing the type of plants you want to grow in your vertical garden should be based on multiple factors, including weather, space, shade and the area you live in. Learn more about the types of plants that grow best in your town. If you’re totally new to gardening and not sure, look up a local gardening store and talk to some of the experienced staff there – they’ll be able to tell you what kinds of plants grow best in your area and help you find seeds and supplies!

  Keep in mind that certain plants grow well together while others don’t and some plants grow better vertically, while other plants don’t. For instance, vining varieties grow better in vertical gardens than a bush would, simply because bushes are too big. There are some plants that come in the form of vines and bushes, such as peas, cucumbers, squash and beans, so make sure to buy the vine varieties if possible.

  Melons and pumpkins are two types of fruits that do well in vertical gardens. These two will need to be supported by slings and ties to grow vertically. Here’s a list of the types of plants that are commonly grown in vertical gardens:

   Capsciums

   Korean Box

   Golden Diosmas

   Cuphea

   Chillies

   Lettuce

   Mondo Grass

   Mandevilla

   Chinese Star Jasmine

   Daisies

   Petunias

   Miniature and Climbing Roses

  The plants you choose should be based around a root system. As you may know, some plants have a vigorous rooting system that is large and complicated. These plants require lots of support.

  Overall, the plants you decide to grow should be grouped together by similarities. The ones that need a lot of water, shade or sunshine can be placed on their own trellises or walls.

  Designing Your Vertical Garden

  The main purpose of vertical gardening is to be able to grow lots of plants in a limited amount of space. Making the most of the space you do have, whether big or small is very important. The design of your vertical garden is what will ensure that you do just that.

  Start from the Back

  When setting up your vertical garden, you should start from the back and work your way to the front. For instance, at the back of your vertical garden, you want to place your lush and productive plants. These will give a nice backdrop for the rest of your garden. The plants that you decide to grow along a wall can also be placed at the back, such as pole beans and other spreading varieties.

  To create a nice design for your wall, you can grow vines on your walls that have beautiful flowers. Other plants you can grow include cucumbers, squash and beans, which all grow well together. Again, try to choose smaller varieties at first to avoid having an out-of-control 50-ft long squash monster!

  Next in line could be your indeterminate heirloom tomatoes and medium-sized plants. These grow to be a good size and can be pruned into a single vine per plant if needed. This is done by plucking off the vines that grow out of the main vine.

  Another variety is the heirloom cherry tomato, which are very tasty. Your tomatoes can be planted in an upside down hanging planter or in a d
eep container. By hanging your tomatoes, it can lessen the damage caused by harmful insects and make more room in the middle of your vertical garden for other plants that you may want to grow.

  Lastly, you can plant your main vertical plants in the front and to the sides of your vertical garden. You can place trellises and other structures that you find attractive around the garden.

  Some people grow potatoes in potato grow bags because they produce lovely flowers. These can be placed in deep pots to give more pizazz to your vertical garden if you decide to do the same. Others grow radishes, carrots and other types of fruits and vegetables in this area. To dress up the sides of your vertical garden, you can install railings or tables, where you can grow even more plant life.

  Don’t forget that vertical gardening casts shadows for the plants below them. Try planting sun-loving plants on top and shadow loving plants at the very bottom, underneath the vining plants with big leaves.

  Preparing the Soil for Your Vertical Garden

  Preparing soil for your vertical garden is similar to traditional in-the-ground gardening, but it’s a lot easier. For starters, vertical gardens only require small pots or strips of fertile soil. This is enough to give your plants sufficient nutrition to flourish.

  With most vertical gardens, you don’t need a lot of compost, fertilizer or water. Depending on the design of your garden, watering should be a breeze. You can either use a drip can, irrigation system or watering can. The best part about gardening is that you can make your own compost at home using scraps of other plants, vegetables and fruits that one would usually throw away – especially since you won’t need as much soil as in a conventional garden.

  Vertical gardens are more exposed to the elements, which means that they tend to dry out quicker, which is a good thing for plants that commonly get fungi growth. You’ll need to keep an eye on the soil because it will likely require fertilization (preferably using natural methods rather than conventional fertilizers, but that choice is up to you). Make sure that there is sufficient drainage for the plants. There should also be enough room to allow roots to grow.