Gardening in Small Spaces with Vertical Gardens

Thanks to the pandemic and finding ourselves stuck in our homes for months on end, many people discovered a love of gardening. You may think this growing trend can only apply to those with ample outdoor space, but you'd be wrong!

People around the world have learned how easy gardening in small spaces like apartment balconies is, and they haven't looked back. There are so many benefits to bringing a piece of nature to your home that it's no wonder many of us discovered our green thumbs over the last few years.

If you've thought about trying to grow your own vegetables or want to brighten up your boring balcony with colorful flowers, there's never been a better time to give it a go!

What is a Vertical Garden?

Space-saving gardens are growing in popularity as a way to make the most of small areas and limited floor space. A vertical garden is a garden that is grown vertically, often on a wall or fence. This type of garden can be used to grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Vertical gardens take up less space than traditional gardening methods. This is perfect for those who have limited outdoor space, such as apartment dwellers or city residents. Vertical gardens can also be attached to walls or fences, making them a great option for those who don't have a yard or garden bed.

There are a variety of vertical gardening methods, such as stacking pots, hanging baskets, pocket gardens, or creating garden towers. You can also use trellises or other structures to support your plants in a vertical space.

If you're interested in starting your own vertical garden, here are a few tips:

• Choose plants that will thrive in your climate and growing conditions.
• Match the plants you choose to the amount of sunlight available.
• Use containers that are appropriate for the size and type of plant you are growing.
• Provide adequate drainage for your plants.
• Water your plants regularly, especially during hot weather spells.

Type of Vertical Gardens

Stacking Pots

Stacking pots is a great way to garden vertically. You can use a variety of pots, including clay pots or recycled containers. You can either stack pots directly on top of each other or use a pot stand to create vertical pockets. This type of vertical gardening is perfect for those who want to grow vegetables, flowers, or herbs.

One of the benefits of stacking pots is that it is a very easy way to garden vertically. All you need are a few pots, some soil, and your plants. You can also use a variety of plants in your vertical garden, including vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

If you're interested in stacking pots for your vertical garden, here are a few tips:

• Use soil that is appropriate for your plants.
• Make sure the pots have adequate drainage.
• Water your plants regularly.
• Place taller plants in the back and shorter plants in the front.

Hanging Baskets

Vertical gardens can also be grown using hanging baskets. This type of vertical garden is perfect for those who want to grow vegetables, flowers, or herbs. You can hang baskets from a fence or wall, or suspend them from a tree or other structure. You can also use different types of baskets, including wire baskets, plastic baskets, or fabric baskets.

If you're interested in growing a vertical garden using hanging baskets, here are a few tips:

• Make sure the baskets have adequate drainage.
• Water your plants regularly.
• Place taller plants in the back and shorter plants in the front.

Pocket Gardens and Living Wall Gardens

Pocket gardens and Living Wall gardens are perfect for those who want to have a vertical garden on a patio or balcony.

If you're interested in starting your own pocket garden, here are a few tips:

• Choose plants that will thrive in your climate and growing conditions.
• Match the plants you choose to the amount of sunlight available.
• Use containers that are appropriate for the size and type of plant you are growing.
• Provide adequate drainage for your plants.
• Water your plants regularly, especially during hot weather spells.

Garden Towers

Vertical gardens can also be grown using garden towers. Garden towers are vertical planters that can be used to grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, flowers, and herbs. There are a variety of garden tower structures available including metal towers, plastic towers, and fabric towers.

If you're interested in growing a vertical garden using garden towers, here are a few tips:

• Choose a tower that is appropriate for the size and type of plant you are growing.
• Make sure the tower has adequate drainage.
• Water your plants regularly.
• Place taller plants in the back and shorter plants in the front.

If you are looking for some DIY vertical garden ideas I suggest this article from Bob Villa.

Benefits of Vertical Gardening

Having a vertical garden on your apartment balcony can provide many benefits, including:

Grow Your Own Food

One of the benefits of having a vertical vegetable garden is that you can grow your own fruits and vegetables. This will help save money. It can also be healthier since you'll know exactly what went into your food. There's no doubt that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables goes a long way in making your body function correctly.

Increasing these healthy foods and limiting your intake of processed and high-fat options can make you feel and look your best. Imagine growing your own vertical salad garden? Buying organic fruits and vegetables from the store can be pricey and often end up going to waste. When you grow your own food in your garden, you always have a delicious option available, and you don't have to worry about overbuying and throwing out uneaten produce.

Another bonus from vertical gardening is knowing your food's exact growing conditions, so you don't have to worry about cancer-causing pesticides lurking inside your foods. When you have delicious and fresh options available, you're more likely to make positive choices, which promote health and make your body happy.

Peace and Relaxation

Your vertical garden can provide a sense of peace and relaxation and can be a great way to connect with nature. Do you find yourself stressed all the time and unable to relax? That's not a surprise since surveys show nearly 46% of adults struggle to unwind even on their days off. Turning our brains off is challenging between work, family, friends, and household responsibilities; it can quickly become overwhelming.

Vertical gardening is an excellent way to reduce stress and clear your mind. When you spend time in your vertical garden, you are receiving a healthy dose of vitamin D, which helps promote cell rejuvenation and proper immune function. The fresh air can make you feel less restricted, which promotes a feeling of calm and serenity. The act of gardening itself can allow your mind and body to decompress and let go of the thoughts that play on repeat throughout the day.

Improved Brain Function

Your brain is a muscle, and it needs daily exercise to stay at the top of its game. Gardening is proven to help improve brain function and memory retention. A study performed by a team of Korean researchers found that men and women with dementia who spent 20 minutes a day gardening had more significant factors of nerve growth within their brains than those who didn't participate. These results show that having a vertical garden promotes brain cell growth which can help with memory and reduce the risk of lessening cognitive skills.

Plants That Grow Well in Small Spaces

Vegetables

There are many vegetables that thrive in a vertical space, producing a high yield year after year. Many only require a few inches of dirt to cover their roots and stay well confined, so you don't have to worry that your balcony will be overrun. I recommend a vertical herb garden most of all. Herbs are practical and easy to grow.

The best small garden vegetables include:

• Green onions
• Parsley
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Eggplant
• Beans
• Peppers
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Rosemary

Fruit

Often people assume they can't plant fruit if they only have a small gardening space, but that's not true. There are many fruits that work perfectly in smaller areas, needing only a container to produce sweet and delicious results.

The best small garden fruits include:

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Figs
• Cherries
• Pineapple
• Cantaloupe

Flowers and Foilage

Vertical gardens are not just for edible plants; flowers and foliage make an excellent and beautiful addition. Planting flowers can brighten the area and make it smell fantastic. They also attract bees and butterflies, which help pollinate the surrounding region, which is excellent for the environment.

Unlike fruits and vegetables, there are hundreds of small garden options when considering planting flowers, so choose your favorite and make your balcony into your own private secret garden!

Some of the best flowers for small gardens include:

• Pansies
• Geraniums
• Lobelia
• Dwarf Zinnia
• Dianthus
• Johny-jump-ups
• Angelonia
• Mums

Vertical gardens are a great space-saving option for those with small spaces like apartment balconies.

At Jute Gardens, we know the challenge a small area creates for gardeners, which is why we're so proud to introduce our Jute Gardens' Vertical Gardens which come in a variety of sizes! They can be used indoors and outdoors. These vertical hanging gardens are perfect for those living in urban areas or apartments with minimal gardening space available. Made from eco-friendly, biodegradable materials, they feature generous pockets that are perfect for growing delicious fruit, vegetables, flowers, vines, succulents, herbs, and more.