Although hydroponics and vertical growing may seem like a hot new thing, the truth is it’s they’re not.
The hanging gardens of Babylon date back to the 6th century B.C. You could argue, and people do, that they are the predecessor of today’s vertical gardens.
Historians debate the specific details of this fabled wonder. One thing that they can’t dispute is the potential of vertical gardens. They could help feed the worlds growing population.
Read on to learn about growing hearty crops in any amount of space.
What is Vertical Gardening?
Vertical gardens are pretty much what they sound like. Instead of growing horizontally or outward, they grow vertically or upward.
There are unlimited ways in which to grow things vertically.
If you can’t visualize this, just think about vining ivy or jasmine. These plants wrap around whatever they can— climbing ever upwards towards the sun.
Savvy gardeners have figured out how to harness this method. And now, you can grow loads of produce in a small space.
Benefits of Vertical Gardens
The benefits of vertical gardening are vast. Here are a few key benefits.
If you do vertical growing indoors you can completely control the climate and have a better handle on food safety.
You won’t need to use any nasty chemicals either. Making vertical farming more eco-friendly.
Vertical gardens allow you to grow any crop at any time with consistently high yields. Do you want tomatoes in the heart of winter? No problem!
How about dark leafy greens in the height summer? You can do that too!
Getting Started
If you don’t have a big backyard, or any space to garden, no worries! Vertical growing can happen in any size space.
There are so many types of vertical gardens. Finding one that suits your tastes, style, and space available is part of the fun.
Some of the most popular vertical gardening techniques include:
Trellising
These can be components in your space for plants to latch on to or a full wall. Using a wall will allow you to grow vegetables that have long vines. Think such cucumbers, green beans, and squash.
They will train themselves to grow upwards on the trellis, rather than out.
Vertical Containers
There are some excellent pre-made containers for vertical gardens. They often stack on one another and are quite compact. Despite their compactness, they can produce impressive yields.
There are many models and sizes available, or you can make your own with a little DIY ingenuity.
Upcycled Vertical Growing
If you have a DIY flair, you can use almost anything to grow vegetables vertically. Things like pallets make great vertical vegetation hubs. You can plant directly into them or attach pots onto them.
You can repurpose old rain gutters, stacking them high within a frame. You can even use plastic bottles, baskets, or traditional hanging planters.
What Can I Grow With Vertical Farming?
The possibilities for vertical gardens are almost endless. Some good options include:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Beans and peas
- Cucumbers
- Melons
- Squash
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Microgreens
- Spinach
- Kiwi
- Strawberries
- Various herbs
You can easily supplement your weekly groceries with your own harvest once you get your vertical vegetation going.
Time to Get Gardening!
If you’re ready for the freshest produce you’ve ever had, it’s time to try your hand at vertical growing!
We hope you feel inspired and encouraged to flex your green thumb in your own small space. And if you’re looking for more lifestyle tips, please browse our previous posts! Our blog is chock full of content sure to please.
*This is a collaboration post
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