Seems like my #VerticalGardening is working... spinach, cabbages, lettuce and 2 tomatoes (just to experiment). The fertility is replenish by #composting kitchen scraps from an increasing amount of neighbors, which I plan to repay in food.
That's just a test, if it works properly I expect my yard walls to be covered by fall =D
@absolutus Do you have any vertical garden yourself?
This one has been a smooth ride so far.
Plants are protected from the weather (they have been grown by seed and there was a storm 2 days ago, no damage), they are watered from top without wasting time, and are draining one into the other.
Only problem is the fertility replenishment really, which I'm trying to turn into a bonding excuse =D
I'm building extra composting bins, I'll share the design once it's done.
@arteteco Good to hear! I never had a vertical garden but something I remember reading about years ago, specifically the aesthetic type of vertical gardens they grow in commercial settings like hospitals and airports.
@arteteco
Ooh I have thought about building a vertical garden and this looks good, good luck!
I was curious what are you using for substrate in here?
@Kamiten Hi, thanks!
I'm using a mix of home-made, garden soil and - shame on me I know - some bought soil. My garden soil was too clayish, and I have the idea that here is very important to have it light, water has to be able to easily flow down by gravity and up and down by capillarity.
Stagnant water is the main issue I can see here.
It is my first time though, so take it as an impression
@arteteco
Your first time is one more time than me! I've spent too long reading and not enough time doing. Going to follow because I'm interested in how this garden progresses. 😳😁
@Kamiten Thanks for motivating me, I'll post a picture once it's blowing with edibles (hopefully =D )
@arteteco Impressive and intriguing. Can you share a description of what you did? It looks like used water bottles filled with potting soil -- and there must be holes cut in the side. Where do you compost the scraps, and how do you add them?
TL;DR: remove bottom and cap and tower them; compost done in any way possible
@DecaturNature Hi,
well, maybe couple of things aren't clear from the pictures.
Basically you cut the bottom of the bottle and remove the cap, you fill the bottle with soil and you tower them. They are individually tied so they don't put much compression on the one underneath.
The soil of each one is touching the one underneath (the bottom one is in the soil), so that water is allowed to get down.
On the side holes were cut to put the seeds and plants in.
If you are really interested in it, once I have the technique right next time I do it I can take pictures of the process, maybe even make a video (I feel I'm too lazy for that, but I can try) =)
Well the composting is a whole different story, I have couple of worm composting bins, a small garden with a composting hole, and a compost tumbler. Once the compost is done, there are no scraps anymore, only rich dark soil =D
TL;DR: remove bottom and cap and tower them; compost done in any way possible
@arteteco Thanks!
@DecaturNature If there is anything I can explain further just let me know, I'm more than happy to share
@arteteco Very interesting. Is it your own design or you took it from somebody? If so, would hoy share the source?
@ferorus Hi,
the idea is not mine, you can find a good tutorial here: https://containergardening.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/bottle-tower-gardening-how-to-start-willem-van-cotthem/
My two modifications are:
* I don't cap the bottom bottle, I just put it in the soil (so I don't make a drainage hole neither;
* I tied each bottle separately because the weight was bending all the plastic (I have worst bottle than the guy I guess)
@arteteco sweet, I'm a fan of vertical gardens. Hopefully everything sets and flowers as expected!