How To Create A Hanging Vegetable Garden

Four Steps To Creating A Hanging Vegetable Garden

When the winter cold gives way to spring warming, many people start thinking about garden fresh vegetables for the table. The seed catalogs once again have us dreaming, and drooling!

But, many of us also don't have space to dig up and plant the vegetables we crave. We may not even have much of a patio to put big containers to grow vegetables. What we may have, however, is places to hang our plants. If you hope for a plentiful harvest in a small hanging garden, we have good news - it's quite possible. Let's take a look at the basics for growing vegetables in hanging baskets.

Step 1 – Choose Pot Size

You will want to start with a very large pot; at least 12 inches, but larger is better. You won't have the depth you would in an in-ground garden, or even in a container on the ground, since to plant such a deep pot would create a very heavy monster to try to handle.

By choosing a diameter of 12 inches or more, you will give the vegetable's roots a place to go without having to try to hang an outrageous amount of soil. So, a large, somewhat shallow pot is fine for hanging.

Step 2 – Choose Pot Material

Clay pots are beautiful, but they can also be very heavy. Depending on the structure you intend to hang your pot from, choose your pot material wisely.

A large pot filled with soil, drainage material, and eventually a plant, weighs a lot. By choosing a plastic pot, you will be lightening the load. If the weight of the hanging garden concerns you, this is definitely an option. Wire baskets are also a good choice to help eliminate some of the weight, but keep in mind that you will need to adjust your thinking when it comes to planting material.

Step 3 – Choose Planting Material

Of course, your hanging vegetable garden will need good, loose soil that maintains moisture. Soil in a clay pot will dry out more quickly than soil in a plastic pot, and soil in a wire basket will need to be wrapped in peat moss, canvas, plastic, or other material to help keep it in the basket and to keep it moist, as well.
All containers, whether hanging or sitting, need plenty of drainage.

Line your basket bottom with small pebbles or broken clay pots or other organic non-porous material to keep plant roots from sitting in water that may collect in the bottom. If you are concerned about the weight of the pot, remember there are materials available to help absorb moisture specifically made for container gardening. Check your local greenhouse for ideas on lightweight drainage materials.

Step 4 – Choose Support Material

It goes without saying that you will need a very strong support system for your hanging garden. I say it goes without saying, but still somehow people every year have their hanging gardens fall.

Begin by choosing a very sturdy structure to hang your basket from. This needs to be in a sunny location, about five to six hours of sunlight a day, and have access to water. You will need a large, heavy fastener, such as an eye-bolt, to hook the basket to. The structure and the fastener must be very strong. A fully watered pot of soil is about twice as heavy as a pot with dry soil, so be sure to test your structure with the extra weight.

Now, be sure to choose a chain or wire cable that is strong enough to hold up the basket once it is full of soil and water. Don't skimp - go a few sizes bigger when in doubt. Of course, you can choose a smaller pot to begin with if you are uncertain about the support you have. If you do, you will just have to limit the total number of plants in the basket, which is fine, too.

I know there's a lot to think about when choosing the location for your hanging garden, but it will be well worth it when you pick your first crop of sun-ripened tomatoes. Enjoy!