I created a vertical kitchen garden using the GreenStalk vertical planter system, and today, I share everything I’ve learned, both my successes and failures. I also give you tips and tricks so you can succeed when creating your vertical planter system.

Watch the What Happened With My GreenStalk Vertical Planter? video

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Table of Contents

My First Vertical Kitchen Garden

Last August, I took you with me when I put together two GreenStalk vertical planters: their regular-sized original version with deep pockets and their leaf version with shorter planting pockets. Then I planted some seeds and said, “Let me see if I can have a lovely fall garden in central Texas with these vertical planters.”

Showing the assembled GreenStalk Leaf and Original versions side by side.

Well, I’ve heard from many of you that you’ve had challenges with vertical planting, and I understand completely. That’s why I wanted to update you on what I learned from my fall garden, which will hopefully make your spring and summer gardens more successful.

Note: My GreenStalk videos and posts are not sponsored. I purchased these GreenStalks myself, and I love using them. (If you’re interested in getting a GreenStalk vertical planter too, be sure to use my discount coupon code for an extra savings.)

Success: Spinning Platform and Wheels

When I bought the GreenStalk vertical planters, I also purchased spinner bases and wheels. I attached the wheels to the bases and rested the planters on the movable bases. Being able to move the planters around to avoid the lingering hot Central Texas sun played a key role in my success with them.

What kind of surface are you going to place your vertical planters on? The spinner bases and wheels work well if you put your planters on a flat surface, such as your patio or balcony. You can use the wheeled bases to move your planters towards the sun in the morning or to the shade during the hottest part of the day.

However, if you’re planning on using your GreenStalks on dirt or grass, the wheels won’t work well on broken ground and are liable to get stuck or jammed up. So, if all you need to do is rotate your GreenStalk to expose your plants to sunlight, and you have a relatively flat surface, then all you really need is the spinning base.

Moving My GreenStalks to Save Water

With our Central Texas heat (did I mention that we get into the triple digits during the summer?), being able to move my GreenStalks around on their wheeled bases helps me save water since I can keep my plants from getting full sun during the hottest part of the day.

For example, I might move my planters to part of the patio that gets more shade than the sun in the afternoon or an area that provides dappled sun from the sunlight shining through tree leaves on branches above the planters.

If you live in Texas or other parts of the Southwestern United States, you know that a little shade goes a long way. When I place my planters in the right location, I only have to fill up the water reservoir at the top of my GreenStalks once every three days. That’s a significant savings, especially when we’re in a drought.

Unfortunately, the El Nino climate pattern we were in over the winter didn’t bring us as much rain as we had hoped, and now, meteorologists are talking about the onset of La Nina soon, which typically means drier weather for Central Texas.

Failure: Too Many Seeds

In my first GreenStalk video, I showed you the different pieces I ordered before putting them together to create my GreenStalks vertical planters. Next, I filled my planters with dirt and planted my seeds. With the right amount of watering, I was able to get my seeds growing quickly, which saved me money from having to buy more mature plants.

However, I learned you need to be careful when planting seeds into the GreenStalk pockets. Don’t be generous. Don’t overseed. Keep in mind that your planter pockets have a relatively small growing area, and you don’t want to overseed plants that need room to grow, especially those that grow underground.

What Happened to My Thumbelina Carrots?

For example, I planted Thumbelina Carrots (also known as Parisian Carrots) in the top pockets of my GreenStalk, and I was too generous with the seeds. As they grew, I was so happy to see the green shoots rising above the dirt that I became hesitant to thin them out. (I always have trouble thinning since I feel like I’m losing plants.)

But what happened was that I put too many seeds in one pocket, and I didn’t get the Thumbelina carrots I expected. (If you’re familiar with that type of carrot, they look like little golf balls.) I wound up with a lot of little “peas.” The carrots grew way too small because I didn’t thin them.

So, remember that if you’re going to direct sow seeds into these pockets, recognize how much area you have to work with, pay attention to how far apart you should plant the seeds, and then just plant that amount of seed. Don’t overdo it.

This failure was on my part, not GreenStalks’. If you overplant your seeds, you’re unlikely to have a successful crop if you don’t thin your plants when you see the sprouts.

More Successes and Failures with GreenStalk

To learn more about my successes and failures when planting my vertical Kitchen Garden, be sure to watch my latest video, “What Happened With My GreenStalk Vertical Planter?“

In the video, I also discuss the olive tree I found at my local grocery store and introduced to you in my previous newsletter edition. (In my newsletters, I often discuss what’s going on in my life and introduce you to the new videos and content on my YouTube channel and website to help you in your traditional foods kitchen. If you’re not already a subscriber, I encourage you to subscribe to my free Mary’s Nest newsletter.)

GreenStalk Discount Code

If you want to create your own vertical kitchen garden, you’ll love having a GreenStalk. Be sure to use my coupon code to get a discount on your GreenStalk order. (I go over all the accessories in my GreenStalk introductory video below.)

Survival Garden Seeds

In my research into the best vegetable seeds, I discovered Survival Garden Seeds and their extensive collection of heirloom seeds. If you’re looking for high-quality, open-pollinated, non-GMO, and non-hybrid garden seeds to plant in your kitchen garden or GreenStalk, be sure to use my special MARYSNEST discount code to be able to get 10% off any of the following products:

The Book You Need for Your Traditional Foods Journey

If you’re looking for a printed book full of my traditional foods recipes that shows you how to create a traditional foods kitchen, be sure to order your copy of my new bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.

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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

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Looking for a Summer Activity for You and Your Children?

If you want to create your own at-home summer camp program, why not teach your children how to make traditional foods? These are skills that will last them a lifetime.

I have made this job easy for you with a FREE 250+ page curriculum for grades K-12. You can use this curriculum in conjunction with my cookbook, and it’s chock-full of hands-on learning activities that will excite your children about learning.

Your children will learn how to make traditional foods and topics related to their recipes, including geography, history, math, science, and much more!

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

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