Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about whether a vertical herb garden is right for you and, if so, the best herbs to grow.

Can You Grow Herbs In A Vertical Garden?

You can grow almost any herb in a vertical garden, and it will thrive. A vertical herb garden is a great way to grow fresh herbs at home with limited space or grow more with your gardening space.

A vertical herb garden is also a great choice if you have other gardens, such as vegetable gardens, and want to keep them separate. For example, you don’t want to grow aromatic herbs, such as sage, next to cucumbers. Dill can also attract pests that can harm other vegetables or flowers if they are near each other.

Benefits Of Growing Herbs Vertically

There are many benefits to growing herbs vertically, from utilizing smaller spaces to cutting back on maintenance compared to traditional gardens. Here are some of those benefits.

Do More With Less Space

One of the best reasons to get a vertical herb garden is to utilize your space to grow more. Growing vertically means that you can get multiple times the amount of gardening space without giving up all of your deck or kitchen space.

Get Creative With Where You Put Your Garden

Since vertical gardens take up less space, you have more choices about where to put your garden. You also aren’t limited to your floor space as you can utilize walls and fences by hanging planters on them or a mobile garden that takes advantage of a sunny driveway when no cars are using it.

Create Some Privacy

Vertical gardens are a great way of building a living wall for privacy on a balcony or deck. If you want an indoor vertical herb garden, you can use it to block unsightly areas like power outlets or damage to walls or furniture.

Easy Maintenance

Growing vertically means you won’t have to deal with weeds and ground-dwelling pests. A bonus is that with some chicken wire around the garden or an indoor garden option, you won’t have to worry about animals getting into your herbs either.

You can also add a watering system, so you don’t have to remember when to water it to make caring for your herb garden even easier. Some store-bought vertical gardens have an automatic watering system, so you don’t have to go all DIY.

More Airflow

A vertical herb garden gets more airflow since there aren’t as many plants blocking the air circulating. Better airflow means that the leaves of your herbs will dry faster, which prevents fungus and other diseases.

Better And More Comfortable Harvest

Vertical gardens provide more growing space since the plants can grow out and down in a way traditional gardens don’t allow, which results in a larger yield. Vertical gardens are also easier to harvest since there won’t be a need to bend down or kneel on the ground as much to pick your herbs, as more of them will be around eye level.

Cleaner Herbs

Since your herbs will be more separated from the ground, the herbs will be cleaner!

How To Grow Herbs In A Vertical Garden?

Now that you know the benefits, here are some tips and things to remember while planting and caring for your garden.

Choose The Right Location

Herbs enjoy getting plenty of sunlight, so think about the best place for sunlight, either in your yard or inside your house. Consider temperature, as some herbs are sensitive to heat and cold. Aim for an average temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re planting an indoor vertical herb garden, remember to place the garden away from air vents, as the fluctuations in temperature are damaging to your plants.

Also, think about the water that could come from your vertical garden. If it’s against a wall, there may be damage to it from water spilling over or dripping down from the leaves. You will want to keep your vertical garden away from any electrical wires or expensive furnishings to stay safe.

Choosing The Right Vertical Garden For Your Space

Now that you’ve picked the right location for your vertical garden, you can decide whether to make your own or purchase one. Of course, both are possible, so it’s up to you which works best for your space, skill level, and budget.

If you decide to DIY, you might want to watch this video from “RealCedar.”

Picking Which Herbs You Want To Plant

Now that you have your planter, you can pick which herbs you will plant. You can pick pretty much any herbs you expect to use. Remember that some herbs grow best if you start them from seeds, while others grow best from a seedling.

Keep Invasive-Type Plants Separate

If you want to grow something like mint in your vertical herb garden, you might want to consider planting it in a separate planter so it doesn’t overtake your other herbs. Remember to consider which plants you are planting together since each planter has limited space for the herbs to grow and spread out.

Know Where Your Sunlight Is

Generally, the top of your vertical garden will get more sunlight than any other section. If a specific type of herb needs that surplus of sunlight, you will want to plant it at the top, but if a kind of herb needs more shade, you will want to grow it closer to the bottom.

Know Where Your Water Is

Herbs generally prefer drier climates, so you won’t water your vertical herb garden frequently. However, it would be best to remember that run-off from your watering will collect near the bottom of your planter, so herbs that prefer more water should be in the bottom planter, whereas herbs that like less water should be in the top-most planter.

You will want to water your herbs about once a week, or you can install an automatic watering system to take care of the watering. However, with an automated system, you may need to experiment with different settings and amounts to ensure your plants get just the right amount of water.

Pick Soil That Drains Well

You will want to pick soil that drains well, so you won’t get water building up in the tiers. Proper drainage is essential for the bottom-most deck as all the run-offs will collect there if you don’t have good drainage, which can cause your herbs to rot.

Pest Control

Vertical herb gardens are less likely to have pests in general, but that doesn’t mean they will never find a way to get at your herbs if they want to. Remember to check your herbs’ leaves regularly, especially if they look damaged or discolored, and to choose the right pest control spray so you can still enjoy adding your herbs to your cooking.

Indoor Vertical Herb Garden

The best reason to have an indoor herb garden is that it allows access to fresh herbs all year round. It also gives you the convenience of having your herbs ready to harvest right in or near your kitchen so you can quickly grab what you need while cooking.

You might need to invest in some artificial lights or grow lights to ensure your indoor herbs get all the light they need. Sunlight through windows won’t be as strong as direct sunlight outside, so you might want to pick herbs that don’t need much sunlight to grow.

Outdoor Vertical Herb Garden

An outdoor vertical garden is a great way to create privacy on your deck or balcony while also taking advantage of where you get the most sunlight on your property. In addition, some herbs can survive all year round outdoors after establishing them, such as mint and oregano.

Best Herbs To Grow In A Vertical Garden

You can grow just about any herb in a vertical garden, but a good rule to stick with is to use smaller plants that have minimal roots since they weigh less and need less soil. Here are some herbs that will thrive in your vertical garden.

Lemon balm

Lemon balm is part of the mint family and has leaves that emit the scent of both lemon and mint. It can grow quite a lot and has large leaves, but it thrives on being but back. Lemon balm is excellent for making herbal teas and seasoning fish and chicken.

Chives

Chives are best when fresh, so growing them in your garden is a great way to add a garlicky flavor to any dish. In addition, chives lose most of their taste when dried, so having a fresh supply is ideal if you love cooking with them.

Mint

Mint is very easy to grow, sometimes too easy, as it’s prone to take over large spaces of gardens in a short period. However, a vertical garden is ideal for mint as it limits the space available for growth to its single planter. You can then add fresh mint to your tea or make sweet treats like spearmint.

Remember that mint is a potent herb that will grow into as much space as you give it and flavor any plant that gets too close, so if you’re going to grow mint in your vertical garden, take some time to think of which tier you want to put it and plan out what plants will be around it.

Parsley

Parsley is a widespread herb, and it thrives in sunlight. Therefore, a vertical herb garden is a great place to grow parsley since you can take advantage of where you get the most sunlight in your yard or house.

Basil

Basil is another common herb that is best when fresh. It likes humidity and requires more water than most herbs, so you’ll want to plant it near the bottom of your vertical garden. Then you’ll have fresh basil for all your soups and sauces.

Vertical Herb Garden In Action

If you want to check out a vertical herb garden in action, I recommend this video, “Garden Answer.”

Final Words

A vertical herb garden is a great way to keep fresh herbs on hand without compromising space in your kitchen or deck. It’s also a great way to control pests and animals from getting into your herbs, as they aren’t as accessible as traditional herb gardens.

You can have fresh herbs year-round with an indoor herb garden, while an outdoor herb garden can add beauty and privacy to your outside spaces. You can even try both by bringing your planter inside during colder months or having more than one vertical herb garden to get the most out of both.

The post Vertical Herb Garden – The Complete Guide first appeared on Vertical Garden Plants.

Keep reading to learn about all the benefits on offer and some tips about the best way to grow lettuce in a vertical garden so that you can grow like a pro.

Can You Grow Lettuce In A Vertical Garden?

Not only is it possible to grow lettuce in a vertical garden, whether indoors or outdoors, but it is also an easy gardening experience. Lettuce is a very versatile plant that can quickly adapt to growing vertically.

Benefits Of Growing Lettuce Vertically

Here are some of the critical benefits of having a vertical garden for your lettuce:

Vertical Gardens Take Up Less Space

Conventional gardens require a lot of yard or floor space, depending on whether they’re outdoors or indoors. Not only can vertical gardens help you get that garden you want, even if space is limited, but you can grow more than with planters.

Make Use Of Non-Traditional Spaces

Growing your lettuce vertically allows you to take advantage of spaces like walls and fences or utilize places that provide enough sunlight.

Add Privacy

A green wall with a leafy plant like lettuce creates a visually exciting garden and can create privacy or cover unsightly areas.

Easier To Maintain

A vertical garden means you don’t have to do things like weeding, pests that live on the ground, or soilborne diseases.

More Sunshine

Since you can grow your lettuce in more areas, you can pick a spot that will get the right amount of sunlight without worrying about shade cast by fences or furnishings.

Preventing Disease

Vertical gardens keep plants away from soilborne diseases and prevent the plants from rotting while left sitting in the soil.

Airflow

Growing vertically allows for better air circulation, which keeps the leaves dry to prevent diseases, fungus, and rot.

Keeps Away Pests And Animals

Ground-dwelling pests won’t be able to get at your lettuce, so they can’t munch at your lettuce leaves. It also makes it harder for animals to reach your plants, and some chicken wire or garden fencing can further protect your plants.

Bigger And Easier Harvest

Growing a vertical lettuce garden will produce larger yields because it provides more growing space than traditional gardens. In addition, growing plants at eye level makes them easier to harvest as they won’t require bending down.

Better And Prettier Vegetables

Since your lettuce can grow out and hang down easily, you won’t have to worry about spotting from lying on the ground. Plus, the lettuce leaves can grow more naturally, allowing them to grow better.

Cleaner Plants

Lettuce grown in a vertical garden is cleaner than plants on the ground because the soil won’t splash up onto it.

How To Grow Lettuce In A Vertical Garden?

Here are some easy steps to follow so you can get the most out of your vertical lettuce garden:

Step 1 – Finding The Right Amount Of Sunlight

Lettuce thrives the most when it gets about six hours of sunlight daily. Of course, direct sunlight will help it grow faster, but lettuce is sturdy enough that a bit of shade won’t inhibit its growth ability. You can also use artificial light or grow lights if you keep your garden indoors.

Step 2 – Think About Air Circulation

Having your lettuce in a vertical garden means it will get more airflow than it would on the ground because there aren’t any other plants to get in the way. Lettuce tends to grow well in cooler temperatures, so the air circulation also helps cool the plants even in the hotter months. Pick a spot where your garden is likely to get some wind.

Step 3 – Find The Right Temperature

More than just air circulation, you must consider what temperatures you expose your lettuce to. You’ll want to aim for a temperature between 60 and 65 degrees. Anything higher will result in your lettuce plants growing flowers and producing seeds. Temperature is harder to control outdoors than indoors, but considering shade and wind will help.

Step 4 – Choose The Right Soil

Lettuce grows best in fluffy, well-aired soil. Lettuce requires no soil in a hydroponic garden, so you’ll want soil that allows the roots to grow while still carrying water and nutrients freely. Consider potting soil and avoid soils with clay in them.

Step 5 – Picking A Fertilizer

Adding some high-nitrogen fertilizer will help your lettuce grow faster. You’ll want something with fish, cottonseed, or a blood meal. The first number on the fertilizer will tell you how much nitrogen it has and look something like 10-5-5 mix.

Step 6 – Setting Up A Watering System

Your vertical lettuce garden will need a watering system, whether indoors or outdoors. A drip system is a fantastic way to control how much water your lettuce gets and how many times a day. You might need to play around with the amount to find the proper settings, but an automatic drip system makes keeping your garden healthy easier.

You can also manually water manually with a squeezable watering container with a tube that bends over the planter’s edges. This system will allow you to apply the right amount of water without making a mess.

Indoor Vertical Lettuce Garden

Indoor vertical lettuce gardens allow you to grow lettuce all year round, regardless of the weather where you live. In addition, since lettuce can tolerate some shade, it can still grow in a space without sunlight all day long.

Remember that lettuce grows fastest in full sunlight, so you might want to find a space that provides the most sunlight to get the most out of your garden. Or use artificial grow lights!

Outdoor Vertical Lettuce Garden

Outdoor vertical lettuce gardens need protection from cooler temperatures and other weather changes. However, outdoor gardens can more easily get the most sunlight to grow more lettuce faster.

An outdoor garden will also have better airflow thanks to the wind, which will help keep the leaves from rotting or getting fungus.

The Best Type Of Lettuce To Grow In A Vertical Garden

The best plants for vertical gardens are low-growing and compact, so you’ll be better off with something like arugula lettuce. Romaine lettuce is also a good option since it has compact heads and is better for salads.

More Information

For even more on the subject, I recommend the following video from “Daily Life And Nature”:

Final Words

A vertical lettuce garden is a great way to utilize limited space while giving your lettuce the best conditions to grow.

Growing vertically makes it easier for you to maintain your lettuce plants, makes the harvesting process smoother as it lowers the number of damaged leaves, doesn’t require you to bend down to get to the plants, and allows you to grow more lettuce all year round.

The post Vertical Lettuce Garden – Grow Like A Pro! first appeared on Vertical Garden Plants.

Can You Grow Strawberries In A Vertical Garden?

Strawberries do very well in a vertical garden. Their shallow root systems don’t require planting in the ground with much soil. They need only enough soil to cover their roots. They’re almost designed to be grown vertically.

Aside from that, strawberries are generally very versatile and do well in many different environments, locations, and types of planters.

Heads up about strawberries, though; if you are planting them from seedlings, it will take several years to seed. However, you can buy them pre-cultivated from a gardening store or nursery and re-plant them in your vertical planter.

Benefits Of Growing Strawberries Vertically

Because you are utilizing space going up instead of space going out, you can grow more strawberries. Weeding is also less of a worry because it is harder for weeds to get in there.

Plus, growing your strawberries in a vertical garden will enable many of the berries to touch nothing but the open air, leading to fewer bacteria and fungi.

Benefits include:

• Protection against pests
• Protection against fungal diseases
• Easier to harvest
• Fits nearly anywhere
• Less chance of root rot

The strawberries not being in mounds and rows on the ground means you don’t have to bend down to harvest them, reducing the strain on you.

How To Grow Strawberries In A Vertical Garden

You can purchase a pre-made vertical planter or build one yourself. If the planter is big enough, you probably should alternate your strawberries with some herbs or salad greens because you can give yourself too many strawberries if you plant too many.

When buying or crafting a vertical planter, look for waterproof materials. This will protect the wall and floor from water damage. PVC pipe and old rain gutters are great places to start.

Plant your strawberries in early spring after the last frost. Place the strawberry plant towards the top of the soil in the planter, burying just the roots. Leave the crown out. You don’t want it to rot or dry out.

Make sure to plant your strawberries far enough away from each other to allow them room to grow. They are vine-like plants and will spread out with lots of runners.

Choose good quality soil to put them in to keep your strawberries growing for several years. Strawberries do best with ingredients like coconut coir, peat moss, perlite vermiculite, and some compost from your kitchen. The more acidic, the better.

Water your strawberries frequently, especially if it is hot out. Their shallow roots mean they go through the water quickly. But also be careful not to overwater because that will cause the roots to rot. Watering every 2-3 days is usually good.

Pick your berries once they’re red. But the longer you let them ripen, the sweeter they will be.

Here are some common types of vertical planters for your strawberries:

Hanging Planters

In hanging systems, you plant your strawberries in hanging pots or bags. Each strawberry plant gets its section, though if the pots are large enough, you might get away with two strawberry plants per pot.

The pots or bags do need drainage holes to keep instances of rotting down. So make sure that there is something underneath them to catch the water.

Barrel Or Bucket Planters

In this system, strawberries are planted in the sides of the barrel or bucket. First, you drill three-inch holes in the sides of the barrel, roughly 12-14 inches apart. Then you drill ¾ inch holes in the bottom of the bucket for drainage.

You fill the bucket with soil and put strawberries in each hole. If you want to get fancier or reduce the amount of soil in the bucket, you can put a thick PVC pipe in the center of the bucket. You can drill holes in the PVC pipe and then add water to the PVC pipe for a watering system.

You can also put strawberries at the top of the barrel or bucket, and they will take over entirely.

Stackables

Stackables come in many different shapes. You offset them by 45 degrees as you stack each one on top of another and then plant the strawberries in the available spaces.

You can also create a stackable by buying pots of different sizes and stacking them vertically. Then you put one plant in the top one, two in the next one down, three in the next one, and so on.

Either way, the bottom tier should be filled with gravel to function as your drainage.

Pipe Planters

These systems are usually made out of large PVC pipes or rain gutters. First, they can be mounted on the wall; then, strawberries are spaced out in these makeshift planters. Finally, you can mount them to the wall with the most sun if you put them outside.

Indoor Vertical Strawberry Garden

If you are planting your vertical strawberry garden indoors, ensure it is in a place where it will get as much sun as possible, preferably at least eight hours! If that’s not feasible, you can also get sunlamps for them to make up the difference.

The biggest challenge of an indoor strawberry garden after sunlight is water drainage. You don’t want to cause water damage to your floor or walls, so you need to set up some system that catches the water and allows it to evaporate, usually with rocks and gravel.

However, planting the garden inside gives you easier access to your strawberries, and you don’t have to worry about frost.

Outdoor Vertical Strawberry Garden

Vertical strawberry gardens work great in balconies and courtyards, and you can, of course, make them work in your backyard regardless of size. Strawberries naturally need a dormant season, so if you’re planting outside, know that they will do best in planting zones 3-8.

You don’t typically have to worry about water drainage outside, but you must be concerned about inclement weather. As hardy as strawberries are, they do not do well in the cold. They need a lot of sun to thrive, which is easier to attain outside. So don’t plant them in the shade.

The Best Type of Strawberry Variety to Grow in a Vertical Garden

There are two primary types of strawberry plants, ever-bearing and June-bearing.

• Ever-bearing strawberries will continually produce berries throughout the season so that you can have multiple small harvests.
• June-bearing strawberries will give one big harvest after about six weeks and then be done for the season.

Ever-bearing strawberries work best for home planters because the harvests are spread out. But you can pick whichever type best fits your needs. You can also mix and match.

Inspiration

I recommend the following video from “The Ripe Tomato Farms” for further inspiration, plus tips and tricks.

Final Words

Hopefully, you are more prepared to start your vertical strawberry garden! It is a great way to maximize your space, and your back will thank you when it is time to harvest your delicious berries.

The post Vertical Strawberry Garden – Maximize Your Berry Output! first appeared on Vertical Garden Plants.

I’ve compiled a list of all the tips and tricks you need to grow your tomatoes vertically and yield your most delicious crop yet.

Benefits Of Growing Tomatoes Vertically

Vertical tomato gardens are growing increasingly popular. So, let’s examine what all the fuss is about!

They Make For Easier Pruning

Pruning is an essential aspect of tomato farming. Tomato plants can grow unruly fast as leaves quickly branch off from the main stem. If left un-pruned, new vines will multiply over time. While this may produce more fruit than otherwise, the tomatoes will likely not be as delicious as a pruned batch because the vine’s nutrients are spread across more fruits than it can bear.

Pruning a tomato vine is an excellent way to produce tasty fruit and speed up ripening.

Horizontally grown tomato gardens are often challenging to prune as the vines become entangled and cumbersome along the ground. On the other hand, a vertically-grow tomato garden makes pruning far more manageable as the vines are attached to the trellis, and the ones that must be pruned are obvious. Thus, producing a flavourful tomato garden that ripens quickly with a vertical plant is easier.

Easier Application Of Fungicides And The Like

Vertical gardens make for more straightforward applications of fungicides, pesticides, and nutrient sprays. The vines are attached to a device so that they grow vertically. This means the vines are much easier to access than those on the ground.

You can tend to your crop without having to sift through the soil. This also means you can quickly analyze the leaves, fruits, and vines to check for early signs of disease or pests.

Better Air Circulation

Air circulation is essential when attempting to grow a problem-free, tasty crop. When tomato plants are grown too close to each other, they run the risk of forming fungi. If they are in the ground, this fungus is even more likely to appear and spread quickly as all the vines are touching one another. The same goes for other diseases and pest problems.

The space embodied in a vertical tomato plant reduces the likelihood of these issues because it allows for better air circulation. But, unfortunately, this also encourages more pollination.

Upward Direction Allows For Maximum Sunlight

Any tomato grower knows direct sunlight is vital to a plant’s survival. Traditionally grown tomato gardens may lose some sunlight depending on how full they are and how much shade taller plants produce.

The vertical nature of a vertical tomato garden allows each fruit and vine its own space to absorb sunlight. The plant’s height also makes shade less likely.

Optimizes Space

A vertical garden can optimize your space if you have a small area (either inside or outside). You can produce more fruit with the same amount of space because the vines can take up vertical space instead of horizontal.

Avoids Soil Borne Disease

Many crops fall victim to disease. Sometimes, they can be saved; other times, the entire plant must be ripped up and disposed of. As vertical tomato gardens do not rest in the soil (apart from the plant’s roots), the soil-borne disease becomes less likely.

How To Grow Tomatoes In A Vertical Garden?

Now that you know the many benefits of a vertical garden, let’s see how the growing method differs from traditional tomato gardens.

You will need to build a system to attach the plant to. This could be a trellis, a cage, or simply posts stuck into the ground. The material is not too important, though we recommend wood or metal for longevity.

Decide The Number Of Plants

The number of tomato plants you decide to plant will depend on your available space. The good news is that you can grow vertical tomato plants with limited space. However, you need a large enough pot for the plant to grow freely with enough holes to drain correctly.

A pot of around 8 inches per plant should suffice. Each plant will need a stake or trellis to attach to and should have anywhere from 2-4 feet between them so they have room to grow. Ensure you choose the number of plants with this in mind.

Determinate Or Indeterminate

Determinate tomatoes such as San Marzanos and Goliaths grow in bush-like formations. Thus, these are not ideal for vertical gardens.

Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, grow in vines and are perfect for vertical gardens. The vines can be easily attached to stakes to promote vertical growth. Cherry tomatoes are an example of this type.

Pruning And Training

As previously mentioned, pruning will allow for a better crop. Tend to your vertical crop frequently so it grows as best it can. Ensure the vines are safely secured to the stakes or trellis so the upright shape is upheld as the plants grow heavier with leaves and fruit.

Indoor Vertical Tomato Gardens

If you’ve ever worked with tomatoes, you must know they require lots of sunlight. So, if you intend to grow your vertical tomato garden indoors, you must be sure to find a spot with ample sun exposure or install growing lights to replicate this sunlight.

In addition to the proper lighting, you must ensure the room in which you’re growing your plants is at a sufficient temperature. Tomato crops typically thrive around room temperature, anywhere from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The container where you plant your tomatoes should be around 12 to 16 inches deep. You must also be sure to leave enough space between each plant so that air can still circulate when they grow larger.

Finally, you may consider a heat mat, as tomato seeds germinate most successfully when the soil is warm.

Outdoor Vertical Tomato Gardens

Growing an outdoor vertical tomato garden follows the same rules as growing regular tomatoes outdoors. Direct sun exposure is a must for nearly all tomato varieties. Soil that is well-drained and packed with nutrients will produce the best crop.

Outdoor-grown tomatoes are often superior to indoor-grown ones; however, the short harvesting season and weather (such as early frosts) can complicate a crop.

The Best Type Of Tomato Plant To Grow In A Vertical Garden

As mentioned, indeterminate tomatoes are far better to grow vertically than determinate. Their vines are ideal for attaching to stakes to train the plant to grow upwards. Names like Early Cascade, Sweet Million, and Supersonic all fall into the indeterminate tomato category.

These tomatoes also grow until they cannot grow anymore. So if the season is long or you have planted indoors, your vertical garden of indeterminate tomatoes could produce plenty of delicious fruit for many months.

Do You Still Need Inspiration?

If you are not convinced yet and would like a bit of inspiration, I recommend the following video from Next Level Gardening! Tons of tomatoes in very little space.

Final Words

Now that you know the ins and outs of growing vertical tomato gardens, why not put your knowledge to the test? Remember to plant a suitable tomato variety to ensure you have left ample space for them to increase and adequately secure the vines to stakes so they grow upright. Happy planting!

The post Vertical Tomato Gardens – All You Need To Know first appeared on Vertical Garden Plants.