VerticalGardening4 EveryoneWorkshop

Grow upAlready!

Sponsored by:by:

Presented by:Monika Meulman& Dawn Allaby your local gardenersmembers of Legsetobicoke.ca

Vertical GardensWorkshop Outline

Part 1 - StructureBasics

Part 2 - Growing Up

Part 3 - SpecialtyStructures& Unique Designs

Questions & Evaluation

Any toolOr structureWill do…

Structure basics

Structure basics

selecting plants

Structure basics

selecting plantsselecting space

Structure basics

selecting plantsselecting spaceselecting time

Selecting Plants

• Size?• Sun loving?• Edibles?• Care free?

• How much room do youhave?

• Sun lovers need lots ofwater

• Edibles need replenishing

• High need plants need dailymaintenance

Size

vs

Sun or shade

PORTULACA GRANDIFLORA‘Sun plant’ - flowers bloom only when sun is shining

Begonias & coleusGreat shade lovers

To eat or not to eat

Nasturtium Is it a flower or a salad? Sedums can become succulent walls

Edible FlowersCommon use of flowers is in salads.You can incorporate them into sauces, tarts, preserves, pickles, fritters and salads.Small delicate flowers can be eaten whole, or you can separate the petals from larger varieties.Remove all the green parts, stems and leaves, and any white 'heels' on petals.

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) : A common annual, in various shades of yellow to orange, with a quite definite flavour.Brightens up a salad.Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) : Striking yellow, orange and red flowers on an annual plant which grows rampant and easilyself-seeds. Leaves and seeds can be eaten in salads along with the flowers, and the seeds can be pickled as a substitute forcapers.

Borage (Borago officinalis) : Beautiful blue flowers with a sweet flavour. Pull on the central part to pick the flower whole, andsprinkle on a salad or in Pimms.Daisy (Bellis perennis) : The smaller variety is common in the wild and on lawns,larger cultivated varieties are available. Pickjust before they are to be used, to prevent flowers from closing up, and use small flowers whole or separate larger petals.

Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) : A common perennial, coming in a variety of colours. As well as the flowers, the scented leavesof some varieties can be used in salads.Rose (Rosa spp.) : All rose varieties can be used in salads. Some varieties could be too heavily scented.

Pansy (Viola wittrockiana) : A common perennial garden flower, can be used in salads.Lavender (Lavandula spp.) : There are many varieties of lavender, and most are strongly flavoured – use sparingly, finelychopped, in salads.

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) : Primroses are becoming rare in the wild, and so cultivated plants should be used. Use the flowerswhole in salads. Use liberally to impart a delicate flavour to apple pies.Cowslip (Primula veris) : Treat as Primroses.

Violet (Viola odorata) : Delicately flavoured small flowers can be used whole in salads.

http://www.ibiblio.org/permaculture-online/artedibl.html

Everywhere!Balconies, Terraces & PatiosIndoors & OutdoorsFences & PostsWalls, Houses, Furniture

Where can you plant up?

How Much Space Do They Need?Some vegetable plants are vines (and will sprawl). Othersgrow underground.Each plant needs a certain amount of space.

Shallow Rooters:BrassicasCeleryCabbageCornEndiveGarlicLeeksLettuce (5 inches only!)OnionsPotatoesRadishes

Medium Rooters:Beans, snapBeetsCarrotsChardCucumbersEggplantPeasPeppersSquash (summer)Turnips

Deep RootersAsparagusBeans, limaParsnipsPumpkinsSquash (winter)Sweet potatoesTomatoes

What is soil?- majority of food comes from soil- complex mix of minerals, organic matter, & lifeTypes of soil we can grow up in:

- Clay- Silt- Sand- Loam

One cubic centimeter of soil can be the home to more than

1,000,000 bacteria.

Did you know?

Soil type: clay- Very fine particles- Holds water very well- Binds together- Locks out oxygen & water- Low rate of percolation- Cause runoff

Plants that love clay are…

AlchemillaDianthusLamiums

RosesSpiderwortEverlastingPeas

PhloxShastaDaisies

Irises

DayliliesAstilbesHostas

Soil type: Silt

- Larger particles than clay, irregular shape- Still Holds water- Usually where rivers used to flow- Good base soil for mix- Hold nutrients well - fertile- Allows more water & oxygen in than clay

Plants that love silt are…

LettuceCucumberCabbage

BroccoliHoneysuckleLilacs

RosesForsythiaJuniper

SpireaCreepingbuttercups

Irises

Soil type: Sand

- Very large particle size- Percolates water quickly- Lose nutrients easily- Allow for great oxygen circulation

Plants that love sand are…

SedumSageMint

IrisEchinaceaCoreopsis

GaillaridaColumbineHyssop

YarrowLavenderRudbeckia

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/Garden/07231.html

Soil type: Loam

- Highest concentration of organic matter- Very fertile- Crumble easily when squeezed- Black to dark brown in color- Smells (rich musty odor)- Contain humus

Most Plants love loam!Pick your choice…

That’s why compost is so important.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/Garden/07231.html

Part 2Growing

Up

Use vertical gardening to:-Provide shade or act as privacy screens from neighbors

-Conceal unattractive surfaces, such as the exterior wall ofan old garage or chain link fence

-Reduce disease, pests, mildew, and fungus growth on plants

- Reduce spoiled crops from vegetables touching the ground

Basic tools for:Flower/lettuce gutter garden

http://www.shelterness.com/diy-outdoor-vertical-garden/

Basic tools for:Flower/lettuce gutter garden

http://greenupgrader.com/16857/3-gorgeous-vertical-gardens/

Basic tools for:Flower/lettuce gutter garden

http://gardenhacker.com/get-your-mind-out-of-the-gutter-and-put-your-garden-there-instead/

Basic tools for:Flower Garden Pillar

$27 http://verticalgardeningsystems.com/products_new.html

Basic tools for:House Plant Garden Pillar

http://www.uzplanters.com/Green-Wall-Planter-Kit.html

Basic tools for:Outdoor Plant Garden Pillar

http://nelsonnbarnardslandscaping.blogspot.ca/2011/12/what-do-you-mean-by-vertical-garden.html

Basic tools for:House Plant Garden Pillar

http://decorationideas.wordpress.com/author/michaeltulley/page/3/

Common supports used for vertical vegetables

Wire cages (common with tomatoes)Tripods (pole beans, pumpkins, melons)Trellises (cucumbers, melons, squash)Arbors (green beans, peas, lima beans)Hanging Baskets (tomatoes, herbs, )Shelves or shelving units (potatoes, lettuce,radishes)

Repurposed:Furniture/Bicycles (peppers, eggplant)Old sheds/Walls/Stone (beans, peas)Tires/Cinder Blocks (potatoes, herbs, onions)Metal/Wood Fencing/Crates (lettuce, tomatoes)

Basic repurposed structures:

Basic repurposedstructures:

(note this arrangement supportstap roots)

http://pocketgrow.com/blog/hydroponic-how-tos/diy-cinder-block-focal-point-vertical-planter/http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-diy-modern-outdoor-succule-94477

http://www.verticalgardensolutions.com/mobilevegegardens.htm

Challenges or Opportunities?

• Wind-increased

• Sun/Heat-increased & decreased

• Nutrient leaching- increased

• Water loss- increased

Part 3 - Unique StructuresHow large can we grow?

You can plant small…

http://www.modishblog.com/modish/diy/

You can plant large…

http://www.jetsongreen.com/2010/11/green-cube-ivy-garden-shed-studio.html

http://inhabitat.com/hanging-gardens-kept-alive-via-iv-drips/

http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2011/08/mason-jar-wall-planter.html

http://pietsy.blogspot.ca/2010_07_01_archive.html

http://verticalgardeninstitute.org/ http://gossipinthegarden.com/

http://plastolux.com/category/modern-landscaping/page/2

Sage garden advice…Start out small

http://www.busyboo.com/2011/11/02/garden-shed-green-roof/

…then grow up to be large!

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/06/vertical-grass-art.html

Then become HUGE

Thank you for wanting to grow up already!

Please fill out the evaluation form, to help us with future workshops.

Questions?

Additional Image & Info Sources:

• http://remodelista.com/posts/diy-hanging-kitchen-herb-garden• http://thesweetsurvival.blogspot.ca/2011/05/diy-2-tier-planter.html• http://gardenhomeandparty.com/2011/05/27/the-joy-of-spring/• http://mybayareagarden.blogspot.ca/2006/05/garden-desktop-

nasturtiums_21.html• http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-

living.com/images/soil_types_diagram3.jpg• http://www.thetinylife.com/• http://greenupgrader.com/16857/3-gorgeous-vertical-gardens/• http://www.theverticalgardener.com/diy-vertical-garden/

Additional Image & Info Sources:

• http://www.survivalguidance.com/vertical-gardens-systems-supplies/• http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/vertical-gardening-supplies-fr-73555• http://www.homedepot.ca/know-how/projects/build-a-vertical-garden-wall• http://www.gardensupplyinc.com/prod_selfwatering.asp• http://www.theverticalgardener.com/vertical-garden-supplies/• http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/114300079/Biowall_Flexible_Vertical_Garden_Sy

stem.jpghttp://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2058317.htm• http://www.gardenguides.com/120094-vertical-gardening-ideas.html• http://realestate.msn.com/4-vertical-gardening-ideas• http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/vegetable/intensive_veg_

gardening.html• http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aeroponic-garden