Vertical Gardening Made Easy: Your Guide to GreenStalk Planters
If you’ve always dreamed of having a garden but thought you didn’t have the space, think again! Vertical gardening is an incredible solution, and using a GreenStalk planter, can transform your gardening experience. This innovative, tiered planter allows you to grow a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers without taking up a lot of space. Let’s explore how to set up and care for your very own GreenStalk garden. Honestly with this awesome planter, anyone can enjoy a homegrown garden!
What is a GreenStalk Planter?
First, let’s clarify what a GreenStalk planter is. This vertical gardening system consists of stacked tiers designed to maximize your growing space. It’s perfect for patios, balconies, or small yards, making it an ideal choice for urban gardeners or anyone with limited space.
Even though I live on 5 acres, my GreenStalk is one of my favorite ways to garden! Let me start by telling you that I live in the Sonoran Desert and it can be very challenging to grow a garden successfully here. We have it all: excessive heat, too much sun, freezing winter nights, very little rain, high winds, rodents and rabbits that will eat ANYTHING (including habanero peppers), and birds that feel completely entitled to any and all garden plants and trees.
Even with an electric fence around my raised beds (inside another fence), I cannot keep the critters out of my raised bed garden in the summer! I was starting to lose hope that I could grow a garden at all.
My GreenStalk helped change the game for me though! I keep it inside a dog kennel I bought for the specific purpose of housing my container garden. Then, I buried 1/4 mesh wire about 8 inches down, and covered the sides and top of my fencing with that same 1/4 inch wire mesh. Finally, I added some 50% shade cloth to the top and one side (the side that gets the afternoon sun), to keep the sun at a reasonable level for my garden. It might seem a little extreme but this is literally what it takes to have gardening success in my part of the desert.
Constructed from durable, food-safe materials, the GreenStalk planter ensures that you can grow your favorite herbs and vegetables without worrying about harmful chemicals. Its tiered design not only saves space but also adds a visually appealing element to your garden area.
Benefits of Vertical Gardening
You might be wondering, “Why should I choose vertical gardening?” Allow me to answer that excellent question:
- Space Efficiency: Vertical gardening is perfect for small areas. A GreenStalk planter allows you to grow a variety of plants without needing a large garden space.
- Accessibility: No more bending over or kneeling in the dirt! With a vertical planter, you can easily reach your plants, making it simpler to care for them and harvest your produce.
- Aesthetic Appeal: A GreenStalk planter adds a beautiful green touch to your space, enhancing its overall look while being oh so functional.
- Versatility: You can grow a wide range of plants in a GreenStalk planter, from herbs and vegetables to flowers and strawberries. The options are endless!
Setting Up Your GreenStalk Planter
Now that you’re excited about vertical gardening, let’s dive into setting up your GreenStalk planter.
1. Choose the Right Location
Finding the perfect spot for your GreenStalk planter is crucial. Look for an area that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. If you’re growing herbs or vegetables, they’ll thrive with plenty of sunlight. If sunlight is limited, consider growing shade-tolerant plants like lettuce or certain herbs. Make sure the spot you choose is level as that will be crucial for proper watering.
Keep it in an area as protected as possible from high winds. If, like me, you have critters around that will eat anything, consider how you can protect your GreenStalk garden and keep them out.
2. Assemble Your Planter
Assembling your GreenStalk planter is straightforward. Follow the provided instructions, and you’ll have it ready in no time. Pay particular attention to making sure each tier is locked onto the lower tier properly.
3. Select Quality Soil
Using the right soil is essential for your vertical garden’s success. Opt for a high-quality, possibly organic, potting mix that offers good drainage and aeration. A mix designed specifically for container gardening works best, as garden soil can become compacted and hinder root growth.
4. Choose Your Plants Wisely
Now comes the fun part—selecting your plants! Consider what you’d like to grow based on your cooking preferences, climate, time of year, and available sunlight. Try to choose container varieties of the plants you’re interested in growing. Here are some great options for a GreenStalk planter:
- Herbs: Basil, parsley, cilantro, chives and mint are fantastic choices. They thrive in containers and can be used fresh in your cooking.
- Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, radishes, and cherry tomatoes do well in vertical planters. Just remember to choose smaller varieties that won’t outgrow their space.
- Flowers: Consider adding colorful flowers like petunias, marigolds, or nasturtiums for a pop of color and to attract pollinators.
- Strawberries: These sweet treats are perfect for vertical gardening and will cascade beautifully over the edges of your planter.
What I Grow:
- Cucumbers
- Cucamelon
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Mini Pumpkins
- Butternut Squash
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Flowers
- Swiss Chard
- Kale
- Tiny Tim Tomatoes
- Strawberries
My GreenStalk is an unruly jungle most of the time and I absolutely love it! I harvest so many vegetables in such a small space. It’s fun, beautiful and delicious!
5. Planting Your Garden
Once you’ve chosen your plants, it’s time to get planting! Begin planting from the top tier and work your way down. This method helps keep any soil that might spill over from landing on the lower plants. You can plant many things directly from seed although I usually start my seeds indoors and then transplant into my GreenStalk. Once everything is planted, I give it a really good watering.
Caring for Your Vertical Garden
Now that your GreenStalk planter is planted, it’s essential to provide proper care to ensure your plants thrive.
1. Watering
The GreenStalk planter features a self-watering system, but it’s crucial to check moisture levels regularly. This vertical garden is watered from the top by watering directly into the basin at the top and then the water automatically travels to each tier and each pocket. Check each tier when you water to make sure all pockets are getting watered properly. Some people will need to water once a week and others, like me, will need to water daily during the hotter times of the year.
2. Fertilizing
To keep your plants healthy and productive, you’ll need to fertilize them regularly. You can use a natural balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks, like fish emulsion. I have a lot of success with adding compost and worm castings to each pocket every few weeks. This will provide the necessary nutrients for your plants to grow strong and produce a bountiful harvest.
3. Pest Control
Keep an eye out for pests! Regularly inspect your plants for any signs of trouble, such as discolored leaves or visible pests. If you notice any issues, you’ll need to address them immediately. I can’t afford to let pests get out of control, because just like the critters around here, the pests are also next level!
It’s best to remove dead or yellow leaves, as well as any leaves that have insect eggs on them. Ocassionally, I have used neem oil on my garden but you can’t spray neem oil on the vegetables themselves. If your garden is already producing young veggies or fruits, when pests appear, you may need to do a more hands on pest control by removing a lot of leaves or even entire plants if they’re infested with insects.
4. Pruning and Harvesting
As your plants grow, don’t forget to prune them as needed. This encourages bushier growth and prevents overcrowding. I usually keep my pepper plants trimmed by cutting off the top when they reach the top of the tier above them. They still produce a lot of peppers but stay at a much more manageable size. I plant the really large sprawling plants on the bottom tier like pumpkins, squash and cucumbers.
When it comes to harvesting, pick your herbs and vegetables regularly to promote new growth. There’s nothing quite like enjoying fresh produce from your own vertical garden!
Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
One of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is reaping the benefits of your hard work. With a GreenStalk planter, you can enjoy fresh herbs, vegetables, and beautiful flowers right at your fingertips. Whether you’re whipping up a delicious pesto with your homegrown basil or enjoying a colorful display of flowers on your patio, the satisfaction of growing your own garden is unmatched.
Get to Gardening!
Growing a vertical garden in a GreenStalk planter is an excellent way to maximize your gardening potential, even in small spaces. With a little planning, care, and creativity, you can create a thriving oasis of greenery that provides fresh produce and enhances your outdoor space. So, why not give it a try? Your future self will thank you when you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor, all while basking in the beauty of your vertical garden. Happy gardening!
