Container Gardening for Small Spaces

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This is wonderful. I am really excited about the gardens in gutters. I live in the desert and would only be able to do this in the winter, but that is perfect for lettuces and green onions, etc. In the summer, the roots would cook even in full shade. Otherwise anything I plant attracts birds and bunnies. I don't blame them; food and moisture is scarce. We dare not feed or water them because it sets up a food chain for larger and larger animals! Those animals would just as soon snack on your dog or cat. Love your site and what you are doing.

Posted by Margaret G. on July 02, 2009 10:57 AM

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I LOVE this idea, you don't have to bend over to weed either!!!

Posted by anonymous on July 02, 2009 11:28 AM

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You can't grow cukes though!, or melons or things of the like.

I guess you could still grow peas though, and have them hang off the sides.

It is still a wonderful idea though. What a concept!

Posted by anonymous on July 02, 2009 12:57 PM

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I would worry about drawing insects and wood rot to my house using this method. Looks pretty though.

Posted by anonymous on July 02, 2009 2:21 PM

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wouldnt you get soil streaks from the water draining down the walls?

Posted by anonymous on July 02, 2009 3:10 PM

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Very cool. Might do this in my back yard, which only gets ample sun in odd spots. Maybe on my fence.
Wonder if there's a barrier you could put between the siding of the house and the soil to protect the wood on the house from rot. Hmmm.

Posted by anonymous on July 03, 2009 10:10 AM

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yes would think you could use heavy plastic or even tar paper behind the gutter for a barrier, but really don't think it will be a problem. figure that the gutters on teh top of my house have some sediment in them too.

Posted by sandyhooper on July 03, 2009 12:29 PM

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I love this idea. How would it work for brick houses?

Posted by anonymous on July 03, 2009 2:54 PM

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Rot is what scares me with this idea. And what about if you want to sell your house in a few years and the potential buyers don't want the "gutter garden" nailed to their future home? Other than that, it's a brilliant idea. It's something that should be do-able with the fence or even an old privacy screen maybe?

Posted by anonymous on July 03, 2009 5:42 PM

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Great idea! And wouldn't this be gorgeous with flowers as well?!

Posted by MaryC on July 04, 2009 10:37 AM

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And just think...... rabbits can't reach your lettuce!!!! Awesome idea!!!!

Posted by anonymous on July 06, 2009 2:50 PM

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This is a brillant idea! If you don't want to attach it to your home, attach the rain gutters to a fence. I'm going to attach them to a chain link fence using zip ties (after I drill some holes along the top of the gutters).

I especially like the idea of flowers and peas allowed to hang off the side. Green onions and the short Nante carrots should be a good choice to plant.

Posted by anonymous on July 06, 2009 3:10 PM

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I love to grow tomatoes, but we RV. I saw the "Topsy Turvy" on TV, liked the idea, but they wanted $20.00!!! I saw in another newsletter, that you can accomplish the same thing if you do the following:
green soda bottle
*cut the bottom off, I cut at the mold mark on the bottle.
punch 4 holes, so you can hang it at the level you want.
put the tomato plant through the neck add soil.

*Save the bottom of bottle:
Use the bottom of the bottle as a saucer for an existing plant. I understand that if you use a clear soda bottle, that the roots will burn.

Not only is this a "Green" project, but you can get the soda bottle cheap. This is recyclable.
I have 2 Tomato plants this way, and will take them when we RV.

Editor's Note: For more on this topic, go to http://www.tiphero.com/tips_1732_

Posted by Kathy D. on July 09, 2009 3:27 PM

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Is anyone else old enough to remember those macrame plant hangers. I wonder if that would work with the soda bottle tomato planter idea. I love the idea of using gutters on the side of a building. I have been trying to devise a shelf on the side of a garage using some wood that is already bolted onto the side as a base. Thank you both for the ideas.

Posted by anonymous on July 11, 2009 6:56 PM

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I can remember those macrame plant hangers, and they would probably work very well with the green soda bottle. I think it would be lovely to boot. I will start some mint as well tomorrow, I have the perfect place to hang it.

Posted by Kathy D. on July 13, 2009 6:15 PM

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I can answer a few of these:

For attaching to a brick wall, use anchors. You must first drill a whole in the brick with a masonry bit and then place the plastic sleeve into the whole. The screw then goes into the plastic sleeve and makes a tight fit by making it swell. They can hold a surprising amount of weight.

As for the dirt streaks on the side of the house--make the drain holes along the bottom front of the gutter only so that drainage water will be directed away from the wall.

You may wish to have the planter stand off slightly from the wall. To do this you will need some metal sleeves. They sell them in lengths of about 4 inches at the same place that you buy your gutters. They are used for anchoring the gutter with long nails. Using a tubing cutter, cut it into lengths of about 1 inch. Use this with longer screws and anchor the gutter in several places along both the top and bottom.

Don't forget to water them if you use this method. It will be under the overhang of the roof and will only get rain when the wind is blowing in the right direction. I'm a firm believer in drip irrigation with a timer.

Posted by anonymous on July 19, 2009 4:03 PM

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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Margaret

http://howtomakecompost.info

Posted by Margaret on July 22, 2009 8:42 AM

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My �Growing Up� garden will be hard to describe, but I believe it will achieve better results because the containers are larger and is free standing.

I use 5 gallon buckets and conduit. The top 10 inches of each bucket is cut off. The bottom ½ of the bucket left makes an almost indestructible planting pot equal to several gallons. I drill 4 equally spaced one inch holes in the bottom of the pots. I pound 4 pieces of conduit into the ground 2 feet to fit the pattern of holes in the bottom of the pot.

The first pot goes over all 4 pieces of conduit. The pot 2 is slid on only 2 conduits on the left resting on the edge of the first pot. The pot 3 goes over the remaining 2 pieces of conduit resting on the other side of the first pot. The 4th goes over all 4 pieces of conduit resting on pots 2 and 3 and so forth.

On 4 pieces of conduit will be stacked 16 three gallon pots going up 6 feet or so. It is free standing. The staggered arrangement of pots allows each plant to receive light. The water drains easily through the holes because the conduit does not seal the holes.

Using more conduit and pots, a person could make a planting wall miles long.

I have pictures of it somewhere. I used it for ornamental plants. My wife thought it looked nasty, so I took it down.

Posted by james77777 on July 23, 2009 11:48 PM

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Jsmes77777..

I would love to see the pics if you have it. Sounds very practical but a picture would help a great deal.

Thanks
Marie

Posted by Marie on July 27, 2009 8:05 PM

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The Wall garden made using rain gutters is quite a nice idea. I think it would work more efficiently on brick or erect Three freestanding posts and attach the gutters to that on one or both sides. It could be used as a divider also if you needed something to give you a little additional privacy. The one attached to the house would be less likely to get over watered in a rain storm if there is an eve.

Posted by Cher B on July 31, 2009 12:26 AM

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Excellent idea!! Thanks.

Posted by anonymous on September 02, 2009 9:55 PM

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