“You can easily
grow 10 times
more
food
in your space just by
growing vertically
instead of horizontally.”
Commercial Vertical Farms
Although vertical farming is seen
as a relatively new idea, it goes as
far back in history as the hanging
gardens of Babylon (600 BCE). Today,
entrepreneurial gardeners and
farmers are using this method to try
and feed a growing global population
with less available water and fertile
land. Commercial vertical farming is
a growing industry in urban centers.
These farms can grow year round, use
less water, and reduce carbon emis-
sions by distributing their pro duce
locally. However, as with any indoor
garden, the energy costs can be steep.
IKEA is experimenting with vertical
farms in their restaurants. They would
like to grow their own greens on-site so
their customers can eat freshly picked
salads. Their prototype is a shelving
unit outfitted with light emitting diode
(LED) lights. It is enclosed in a climate-
controlled glass room that is on display
for their customers in the restaurant.
If you have ever passed through
Chicago’s O’Hare airport, you may have
seen their display of Tower Gardens.
These vertical gardens use aeroponics to
grow lettuce, chard, basil, dill, parsley,
oregano, and flowers. Each tower takes
up about 2.5x2.5 feet of space, can reach
up to 8.1 feet tall, and can grow up to
44 plants each. That’s an epic harvest
for such a small footprint.
Choosing the Best Vertical
Garden Plants and Structures
While there are pros and cons to
commercial production, hobby growers
can maximize their space by vertical
gardening at home, both indoors
and out. Anyone can start a vertical
garden, whether you live in an apart-
ment, have a small yard, or want to
expand your existing garden. You
can easily grow 10 times more food in
your space just by growing vertically
instead of horizontally.
Vining, rambling, and sprawling
plants generally work best for upward
growth. These include tomatoes,
grapes, hops, wild roses, morning
glories, beans, peas, cucumbers,
and nasturtiums. Herbs, lettuces,
strawberries, and microgreens tend to
work best in indoor operations and on
towers. Certain varieties fare better
than others when growing up. Cherry
tomatoes such as Sungolds, Gardener’s
Delight, and Black Cherry work well;
for cucumbers, try County Fair 83 and
Saladin; for peas, try Garden Sweet,
Sugar Snap, and Maestro; for melons,
try Tigger, Yellow Doll, and White
Wonder; for green beans, try Romano
Italian and Gold of Bacau.
Maximum Yield
51