(Amazon affiliate link below.)
Gardening is such a highlight of the summer! Even better if your garden produces both beauty and edible produce.
I’ve moved a lot through the years and not every location has adequate sunlight or soil conditions for in-ground gardens. Soil can be improved, but sunlight has to be there or you simply can’t produce fruit.
After a recent move, our new house had a bonus, a pre-existing raised bed! Alas, it is in a location with significant shade. We planted it this year, but are rapidly realizing that only plants that can tolerate cool or partial-shade conditions will thrive, like lettuce, leafy greens, some bush beans, etc.
But, in the sunlight department, our part of eastern South Dakota has plenty in the summer, so on our deck, which is 12 feet off the ground, we get more than enough sun, perfect for growing in containers. However, container gardens can be tricky. They dry out easily and require daily attention or they will die very quickly.
A friend (who is a talented gardener) presented me with the gift of a GreenStalk planter several years ago and this summer was my second year to use it, more extensively even than last summer. For those unfamiliar, a GreenStalk is a multilevel vertical planter with a central system of watering reservoirs in each level, filled from the top. Each layer has six pockets in which you can plant various vegetables and flowers.
I’ve really been impressed with the GreenStalk company which is based out of Tennessee. They are very helpful and have an active Facebook forum on which members can share ideas and ask questions. They often run sales, as well. You can purchase from their website, or on Amazon, such as this offering (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/43kfMJP
The planter itself is very sturdily built, made in America. From images on the Facebook forum they can take a spill and still bounce back, some have even survived hail and strong windstorms, but you do have to be strategic where you set them up. The tiers come in large (original) and smaller (leaf) size pockets and can stack up to 5 and 7 layers, respectively. I mix my tiers and keep them at 3 or 4 layers since I have a windy deck.
The GreenStalk company offers a variety of bases, I happen to have the roller bases and like them a lot. They continue to develop growing tools like supports, shades, and watering systems for automation (if that’s your thing) that work with the planters.
This year’s harvest has included kale, lettuce, arugula, beans, strawberries, and various herbs. I’ve very pleased with the productivity so far and highly recommend the GreenStalk to anyone who is looking for a convenient, but productive container garden, especially with space limitations!
Happy Gardening!
The Prudent Consumer 