Large vegetables such as cabbages can be grown in a vertical garden for home consumption. They are extremely versatile which makes them very popular.
All you need is to properly design your vertical garden and you will be able to grow your cabbages.
What is a vertical garden?
A vertical garden is a vertically suspended panel on which vegetables are grown hydroponically. The panel is either freestanding or may be attached to a wall. There are different names for a vertical garden, including living green walls, moss walls and plant walls.
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How to make a cabbage vertical garden
To make a vertical garden, use a Trellis panel. You will get one from your local suppliers or from stores that sell agricultural equipment. Secure it to a wall to support your containers from which to grow your cabbages.
Ensure it is the right size for you in terms of reach as you don’t want a size that will be difficult or challenging to manage. Paint or coat it with wood stain to protect and help it to stand out beautifully.
Advantages of vertical garden
Vertical gardens have some advantages:
- They are much easier to maintain.
- They are largely free of pests and diseases.
- They allow you to grow much within limited space.
Disadvantages of vertical garden
There are disadvantages that come with the use of vertical garden:
- Vertical garden has potential to hold moisture on the affected walls.
- It can cause your cabbages to rot if your planters are not installed properly.
Types of vertical gardens
There are three types of vertical garden. These are:
- Freestanding vertical systems
- Green walls. These comprise of plants in biodegradable containers.
- Green facades
System of vertical gardening
There is a system of vertical gardening which is known as hydroponics. In this system, plants are grown in liquid, sand or gravel that contains added nutrients but without any soil for provision of mechanical support. The nutrients come in form of a liquid fertilizer.
Can you grow cabbage vertically?
The answer to this question is yes. You can grow cabbages vertically although it is not the best method or way of growing them. This is because of their sheer size and weight.
You can grow cabbages vertically either in a vertical garden or in a tower garden. All you need is to ensure that they are at least 24 to 36 inches apart and in even spacing.
Tips to growing cabbages vertically
Start the seed-growing process indoors, then transplant the seedlings after a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Try different varieties to determine the variety that does best in your area based on the climatic conditions of your region.
Avoid growing cabbages near plants like broccoli or cauliflower as they tend to compete with each other for nutrients. They also attract the same pests and diseases.
Cabbages grow best in nitrogen rich soils, so if you decide to grow them vertically but not hydroponically, ensure the soil is rich in nitrogen. You can add vermocompost, compost, manure or nitrogen rich fertilizer before planting the cabbages.
Watering of your vertical cabbages
Keep the cabbages sufficiently moist all through the growing season. Mulch them to keep the area around the base of the cabbage plants cool. Harvest the cabbages when they feel firm to the touch.
Growing cycle of cabbages
Be sure to know the growing cycle of your cabbage variety. Know how much sunlight they need and the seasonal changes so that the timing of your cabbage planting can be as close as possible to what is ideal. This will guarantee you a bountiful harvest.
Can you grow cabbages in a tower garden?
Yes. You can grow cabbages in a tower garden. Cabbages are good for a tower garden because of their compact nature. They produce fruit close to the stems, making your tower garden extremely manageable.
Size of tower garden
A tower garden is usually 3 square feet wide. It is a farming method that does not use soil in the growing of vegetables but instead uses the aeroponic growing system. It uses water, oxygen and pure minerals to provide nutrients to plants.
Advantages of tower garden
- A tower garden allows you to grow a large variety of vegetables upward, and this saves you space, especially where the only gardening area available to you is as small as a kitchen garden. It holds approximately 20 plants.
- Tower gardens reduce the need for pesticides because every tower comes with balanced ionic minerals and plant nutrients in Tower Tonic which contribute to the production of strong and healthy plants that are resistant to pests and diseases.
Placement of tower garden
A tower garden should be strategically placed in your space to allow your vegetables ample sunlight. However, since different vegetables require different amounts of sunlight, it is advisable to grow those plants that require by approximation the same amount of sunlight and other elements for proper growth.
How to create a tower garden
Create a tower garden by fixing large towers in your gardening space. Ensure you first drill large, evenly spaced but also fairly wide holes to allow for planting of your cabbages.
They also allow for proper and adequate aeration of your cabbage crop. You can also purchase ready-made ones from agricultural stores in your area.
Planting in tower garden
Plant your cabbages in sections starting with the second section from the bottom of the tower. Avoid planting in the lowest section of the tower and in the third section as well.
The reason for this is that cabbages produce massive outer leaves which block the lower section and upper or third section of the tower.
The other reason for not planting in the lowest section of the tower is that cabbages tend to have less flavor and are also less tender as compared to those cabbages grown in the upper sections of the towers.
Planting sections of the tower garden
Depending on the height of the tower, you can have a fourth section. This would be yet another planting section just like the second section.
The third section below this fourth section together with the area above the fourth section of the tower will sufficiently allow for the growth of the outer leaves of your cabbages. Do the same with all your towers if you have more than one.
Number of cabbages to plant in a tower garden
Due to the sheer size of cabbages, it is advisable not to plant more than two cabbage plants per section. Plant your seedlings in opposite holes.
Differences between a tower garden and a garden tower
A tower garden is also known as an aeroponic tower, and it is different from a garden tower.
A tower garden contains diluted nutrient solution in the tower rather than soil as is the case with a garden tower, and whereas a tower garden is 3 square feet wide, a garden tower is usually 4 square feet wide.
Cabbage growing seasons
Generally, cabbages are cold season crops. They are also known to grow well in cold climatic regions. However, a few cabbage varieties also do well in hot weather when grown aeroponically on a tower.
Additionally, cabbages grown aeroponically on towers are extremely delicious and have great flavor. However, given the fact that they occupy much space and take a long time to grow, it may not be advisable to grow them on towers.
Maturity time of cabbages
Cabbages take a few months to mature so if you are growing them on towers, pull them out of the towers after one month. Cut the roots short, leaving them at a length of 5 inches then replant them into the towers.
Doing this allows the roots to grow again without reproducing excessively inside the towers leading to sweeter and larger cabbages.