Are you interested in rows of vegetables like green beans, squash and tomatoes? Are you jealous of the products from the farmers’ market? Does the thought of growing vegetables scare you? Do space restrictions keep you from being a farmer?
Well, your worries are over. Friends, you might say “no way” but I say “yes”.
Gardening takes effort. I will exhaust myself trying to find and bake the perfect chocolate chip cookies. I just don’t know about growing vegetables. However, I am attracted to the taste of a delicious tomato full of flavors.
I live in a house with a courtyard the size of postage stamps. “Yes, right,” you might be thinking. How small is your garden? Our garden measures 15 by 45 meters. Half of this area is paved with beautiful stone slabs that only serve to twist my ankle. That’s why I know the challenges of creating a vegetable garden in a confined space very well.
Before we get into the “how”, let’s discuss the “what, why, and where”. What is vertical gardening? You plant your plants so that they grow upwards instead of horizontally. This will maximize the space available. Wherever you live you can have a vertical vegetable garden.
Why should you start such a project? It prides itself on growing it itself. You are not limited by what you can buy. Your vegetables can be pesticide or chemical free. Your vegetables are allowed to ripen completely in the garden. You also contribute to the preservation of our earth as your products do not have to be brought to market.
Where in the world can you find information about vertical vegetable growing? You can surf the World Wide Web. I am amazed at what you can find on the internet. Your local library is also an excellent resource.
When I first looked into vertical gardens, I looked for a pre-made version. These structures were quite expensive. My inner curmudgeon was challenged. How could I have a vertical garden on a budget?
What is your budget The choice of plants is very important. Smaller plants like lettuce and herbs are great suggestions. Take into account your space, plant size, time of year, lighting, and watering requirements when choosing plants. Make sure they are compatible.
What are you planting Planning is the key. It is your preference. Don’t plant okra if you hate okra. What is your level of patience? Impatient, I chose plants rather than seeds for my vertical project.
Gardening is only limited by your imagination. The Victoria Educational Gardens has several great examples. You can use ladders, arches, trellises, or hanging baskets. I didn’t have any of these options.
So I dragged my husband to the hardware store to brainstorm. He’s a freelancer, smart, and has a pickup truck. I chose concrete blocks and PVC gutters. I also used some plastic fencing to make a trellis. I had pots, soil, and stakes. This project was doable for very little money.
I stacked the cinder blocks with lengths of gutter in between. I used foil to cover the ends of the gutters to keep the floor from washing out. I added soil and plants. Next, I wired the fence to the stakes in the pots. When I added plants to the pots, I became a vegetable gardener.
I was able to harvest some delicious products. Some plants didn’t do as well as others. I laughed at my “Barbie-sized” carrots. I learned quite a bit about the vertical vegetable garden.
You might want to give it a try. Vertical vegetable growing is on the rise.
The Gardeners’ Dirt was written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational institution of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions to Attorney, PO Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column on VictoriaAdvocate.com.
