Gutter Gardens Grow Produce Without Taking Up Space

[TNHermit]

Gutter Gardens Grow Produce Without Taking Up Space
By Adam Pash, 2:00 PM on Mon Apr 27 2009, 816 views (Edit post, Set to draft, Slurp)

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/lifehacker/2009/04/Gutter_gardens.png
If you'd love to do a little at-home gardening but don't have much space to do your planting, a simple gutter garden might be the perfect option.

Alaskan news site Juneau Empire features a smart, simple idea for planting a small vegetable garden with very little space: A windowbox garden built from gutters. In Alaska, this idea solves a few problems for the author:

We live near the glacier, so the soil is cold and has very little organic matter, there are lots of big trees shading it, and we have all the slugs and root maggots anyone could want, with porcupines, cats, bears and ravens meandering to boot.

There is only one side of our house that gets much sunshine, and, of course, that side of the house has the smallest yard.

Even if your garden doesn't face the same problems, the idea behind the gutter garden could be perfect if you're low on space but would kill for some homegrown veggies.http://lifehacker.com/5229896/gutter-gardens-grow-produce-without-taking-up-space

[Navajo]

Very cool...

[TNHermit]

I got some gutter laying around. Maybe I will cut a couple pieces and hang them outside the kitchen sink window for herbs. How cool would that be to have your fresh herbs right there. :mrgreen:

[Martinhouse]

I just cleaned out my gutters a couple of days ago. Last fall's leaves were so nicely composted that I could have just dropped in some seeds!

Carol

[jazzy]

Thanks! that is a terrific idea, im gonna do that! no more bending and stooping over--my back thanks you for posting this. :mrgreen:

[LONER]

Thanks TN HERMIT!! What a cool idea!!:mrgreen:

[roamal]

I think it was over at Frugals that someone posted the same thing but done between fence posts. Looked great!

[TNHermit]

I think it was over at Frugals that someone posted the same thing but done between fence posts. Looked great!

If you used fence post or something like it you could just nail two boards together and put them up in a V shape. Be good for us old people to garden vertically when we can't bend over. Look like a vineyard. :mrgreen:

[hunybee]

awesome!!!

[Darrin]

That's pretty cool.

[Indigo]

What an awesome idea! And to think they are out of reach of the bunnies!

[hunybee]

that's exactly what i thought indigo!

i told fezzik about this, and he agreed. we are so doing this. if they can do it in alaska, we can do it here, eh?

[2dollarbill]

that's exactly wargeninghat i thought indigo!

i told fezzik about this, and he agreed. we are so doing this. if they can do it in alaska, we can do it here, eh?


It is a great idea, however, plants require a certain amount of nutrition and moisture. This almost borders on hydroponic gardening. So, with that in mind, brush up on the nutritional requirements and care that goes with this, and you could have a great source of food at a modern (2009)form of gardening. I have tried this late 1980's, and it does work, it requires work, lots of it, but it does work very well.

2DB

[Indigo]

Hunybee, methinks we could! :)

I think I would be sure to use some water crystals in the mix. I love them for potted things!!! Sure does cut down on the over/under watering issue!

Indigo

[ChemicalGal]

about the rain, (we've been getting a lot) wouldn't the gutter fill & the soil/plants would
be pushed/raised out of the gutter. Downspouts could be a problem with soil running down
them.

It looks like a great idea on the surface, but I think it's going to need a little more thought.
YMMV
CG

[Indigo]

I've been sleuthing about that a bit as well. Success certainly may depend on climate and conditions.

I talked to a friend who has a greenhouse and she told me they are doing a lot of business with raised angular "trough" type planters. Imagine an A frame sort of thing about 4-8 feet long. There is one rather V shaped troughs on the top and two on each side. Some she sells are even on casters. They are made of cedar. The trick to make them work (because there really isn't that much room in the trough) is that the dirt is in a porous bag...kind of reminds me of landscape cloth that lets water and air through. She even sells a little drip irrigation system to go with them. Cut a slit in the top, transplant whatever and away you go.

Now, there really isn't any reason why an enterprising gardener couldn't make some sort of a porous sock to hold the dirt in the gutter. I'm thinking of the over flow that could wash dirt away, not the drains or ends. Obviously you'd have those capped off.

I would probably use water crystals in a gutter garden.

Indigo

[Buttercup]

Now, there really isn't any reason why an enterprising gardener couldn't make some sort of a porous sock to hold the dirt in the gutter.

Would nylon stockings work I wonder?

[Indigo]

Buttercup, if you try it let me know how it works!

Indigo

[labellavita]

very creative! Love it!

[Patches]

That is an excellent idea. I might try it. Do they drill holes in the bottom for drainage?

Something else I did in my garden to save space. I used a couple of stair stringers and put three of those self watering window boxes on them. I put a board across the back and leaned it up against a wall. I am growing onions in them, and it really freed up valuable space in my small garden. It looks good too.

[packyderms_wife]

I've been telling a lot of friends that have small children about this as one could hang this right a child height. Would be a great learning experience for the little ones.

[poppy]

I will work if you have time to water it a few times a day. I made one out of an old trough type metal chicken feeder a few years ago and hung it from an old swingset to save bending over. I was surprised at how fast the soil dried out.

[Nicole]

That is a great idea! Thanks so much for posting it.