The Vertical Gardening Guidebook Read Online Free PDF Page B

to watch out for rotted roots, which in this case would have to be plucked entirely.

    Above is a picture of brown root rot on tomato plants. If this happens it’s best to just remove the plants so the rot doesn’t spread.
    If you notice that your plants are being eaten up, this could be due to unseen pests. Try to find out what type of pest you have. Then you can research natural solutions for getting rid of them.
    How To Make Your Own Organic Spray to Get Rid of Pests and Plant Diseases
    You can make a great natural pest control spray at home. All you need is an empty plastic spray bottle (if you don’t have one, you can buy it at any home supplies store) and some tea tree oil (which you can buy at most health food stores or online).
     
1.         Combine 4 cups of water with 2 tbsp. of tea tree oil. Mix well.
2.        Place the solution in an empty plastic spray bottle.
3.        Spray the solution directly onto leaves of plants to combat fungus. You can even help prevent diseases in your plants by spraying the solution on plant roots and leaves routinely!
    You can also use the tea tree oil spray as an antiseptic or air freshener in troublesome areas that are prone to mold, mildew or fungal infections.
    Maintaining the pH Level and Nutrients of Soil
    Ensure to check the pH levels of the soil for your various plants to see if you need to acidize or alkalize it for better growth. This can be done when you check to see if more nutrients are needed in the soil. You should group alkaline and acid plants together, so that this can be maintained easily. You can also add fertilizer or compost as needed.
    Harvest
    When it comes time to harvest, you can easily do so without breaking your back. Some plants yield fruits and vegetables quickly, allowing you to pluck a little here and there throughout the summer.
    Maintaining your vertical garden is pretty simple, since you don’t have to worry about weeding and tilling the ground. You can even start seeds indoors and then plant them when it’s warm enough outside. If you have mobile gardens, you can place them indoors during the winter.
    You’ll quickly see that vertical gardening maintenance is a breeze compared to conventional gardening!

    My mom harvesting snow peas from her vertical aeroponics garden at home.
     

C HAPTER 6. H OW DO Y OU G ROW Y EAR- R OUND WITH A V ERTICAL G ARDEN?
    If you’re looking to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs or flowering plants all year round, then you’re going to need to set up your garden in a place where it can get the type of climate it needs year round.
    There are a variety of ways that you can achieve this. It’s important that you consider this before setting up your vertical garden, so that you can do so in an indoor, temperature-controlled environment. Of course, you can have both, an indoor and outdoor vertical garden setup.
    Growing a Vertical Garden in Your Home
    One of the more popular and more affordable ways of growing a year-round vertical garden is to set one up inside of your home. This can be done throughout your house, including in your kitchen, living room, dining room and any other rooms that receive lots of light throughout the day. You can set up the vertical walls or trellises right in front of the windows, so that they can get enough sunlight.
    One simple way to grow plants in your home is to build frames around your windows where you can place your plants. These allow light to come in and provide your garden with plenty of photosynthesis. Another way is to use your indoor walls as vertical gardens. These are great for decorative and edible plants.
    Below is an example of a gorgeous vertical wall garden indoors.

    Some people use their garages as a vertical garden haven, but this will need to be remodeled to have more windows and aeration, so that your plants don’t suffocate in the dark. If you can have vents installed, so that you can cool off and warm up the garage as needed, that will make