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Vertical Gardening

Susan Holewa

Sedgwick County EMG

Gardening in the Third DimensionUP!!

• Typical Garden Layout

• Vertical Garden

Plant Plant Plant Plant

Plant Plant Plant Plant

Plant Plant Plant Plant

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Why Do It?

• Produce more from the same garden footprint

Why do It?

• Easier harvesting

• Keep fruits off the ground

• Better air circulation

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Types of Vertical Gardens

• Hanging Container

Types of Vertical Gardens

• Arbor

• Fence

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Types of Vertical Gardens

• Trellis

Cattle Panel ???

• No!

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Cattle Panel

• Metal fencing

• 4 feet x 16 feet

• Available at farm supply retailers

• Cost ≈ $20

Space Gained per Panel

• Demo Garden raised beds 4’ x 25’– (100 Sq Ft)

• Add one cattle panel = additional 64 Sq Ft

• Actual additional approximately 48 Sq Ft(Take out cattle panel foot print 4’x4’)

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Construction

• With bolt cutters, cut panel in half

• Secure two halves at top with strong cable ties

• Set up vertically

Construction

• Measure width at second rung

• Using table saw, cut PVC pipe to match width, saw 1 ½” notch at each end

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Panel Installation

• Place bottom sections (4-6 feet apart)

• Poke bottom wires of panels into soil

• If using side-by-side panels, secure together with cable ties

Adaptable Plants

• Pole Beans

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Adaptable Plants

• Cucumbers

Adaptable Plants

• Squash

• Melons

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Adaptable Plants

• Malabar “Spinach”

Adaptable Plants

• Melons/Cantaloupe

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Plant Selection Criteria

• Right plant/right place

• Vining habit

• Produce size/weight

Maybe Not!

Growing Tips

• Support maturing fruits with nylons or netting secured to panel wire

• Tie (or thread) growing vines through holes in panels

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Demonstration Garden Experience

• Pole Bean:

• Summer Squash:

• Winter Squash:

• Cantaloupe:

‘Emerite’ & ‘Red Noodle’

‘Park’s Straightneck’

‘Sweet Dumpling’ & ‘Waltham Butternut’

‘Tasty Bites’ & ‘Edonis’

Demonstration Garden Experience

• Malabar/Ceylon Spinach:

• Cucumber:

Species

‘Suhyo Cross’ & ‘Garden Sweet’ & ‘Sassy’

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Why do it?