Creating a vegetable garden produces productive, aesthetic and environmental benefits, but not everyone has the right spaces to host it. True? Absolutely not, because it is possible to grow ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, vegetables and even small fruits such as strawberries vertically. Agronomists Claudia Barriga and Pablo Sepúlveda explain it to us, explaining step by step how to create a vertical vegetable garden, a solution to the problem of limited spaces in cities, such as balconies, bridges, terraces, concrete courtyards or any other place where there is no land, using the plastic bottles.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Making a vegetable garden or a garden produces productive, aesthetic and environmental benefits, but not everyone has the right spaces to host it. True? Absolutely not, because it is possible to grow ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, vegetables and even small fruits such as strawberries vertically.
Agronomists are convinced of this Claudia Barriga and Pablo Sepulveda, explaining step by step how to create a vertical garden, solution to the problem of limited spaces in cities, such as balconies, bridges, terraces, concrete courtyards or any other place where there is no land, by reusing plastic bottles.
MATERIALS:
- 6 plastic bottles of 1,5 liters (the same)
- Compost (1 bag)
- 6 seedlings
- stones (gravel)
- 1 watering can
- 1 cutter
- 1 pair of scissors
REALIZATION
1) To start building the vertical vegetable garden, the first thing to do is collect plastic bottles. It is important that they are all of the same type, so that they can fit together. Then you have to decide which plants to grow, according to tastes, needs, space and time of year. Better to prefer plants with shallow roots, avoiding bulbs or tubers.
2) Once you have collected materials and ideas, with the utility knife splits a bottle in half, as shown in the picture. The two halves form the basal part of our prototype. Correct imperfections with scissors.
3) Cut the bottom of 5 bottles, which will serve to form the "backbone" of the garden.
4) Now, we will use the bottles for the central part of the structure, on which we need to open a small square window measuring 6 × 6 cm. Here the map will go. It is important that the window is not too large, so that the space inside holds enough compost.
5) Once all the bottles have been prepared, they start filling them. First you have to take the base (half bottle) e fill with 2-3cm of stones. This step is very important as it guarantees support and balance to the structure.
6) Then, for each bottle of the central structure, it is necessary completely cover the narrowest part of the bottle. This step is very important because the stones are used to ensure water drainage, otherwise the water will slide off together with the earth.
7) Once everything is prepared, compost is added, taking care not to exceed the height of the window. Make sure it is moist enough.
8) Now it's time to transplant. When doing this you need to be careful not to break the roots, in order to avoid exposure to light and prevent them from drying out.
9) Once you have finished this procedure, remember to water with a watering can.
10) Repeat the procedure until the desired height of the structure is obtained. Use the half of the bottle cut in step 1 to complete. Here is your vertical vegetable garden made with plastic bottles.
Roberta Ragni
READ also:
- How to make a DIY vertical garden
- Urban gardens: how to build a do-it-yourself vertical garden with pallets
- Windows Farm: how to build an urban garden on the window
