schedule. Benefits of Aeroponic Systems Here is an overview list of all the great benefits that are associated with growing aeroponic vertical gardens: The most cost-effective method of gardening Yields more seeds, since the plants grow pathogen-free Easy to use, even for first-time gardeners Harvests are fast and easy Plants receive lots of nutrients Eco-friendly because less water is used and no harmful chemicals are needed Less nutrient solution throughput is required
Growing Your Own Aeroponics Garden If this all interests you, then you will find that getting an aeroponic garden started is quite simple. All you need is a vertical aeroponics system, which can be purchased online or at a local gardening supply store. There are different types of systems available, big and small. You can also try making the system yourself. These systems pretty much resemble a tower. Some people use nothing more than a sealable storage bin, fittings and PVC pipes (just be warned that PVC will leach phthalates and other toxic chemicals into the plants – which is why I never use it for gardening). A pump is also needed to recycle and deliver the water for your irrigation system. If you wish, you can even transplant your aeroponic plants to the soil without worrying about it going into shock. Personally, I use the Tower Garden for much of my food gardening. I love aeroponics systems because they are very low maintenance. They come with everything you need to setup and manage your vertical garden. The kit includes the Vertical Aeroponics Tower which holds 20 plants, the water basin, water pump, a pH testing solution, pH adjusting solutions, nutrient solutions and easy to follow instructions and customer support.
This chef in New York City grows all his produce fresh on the rooftop of his restaurant with about 30 Tower Garden units. The Tower Garden is also one of the most technologically advanced units on the market and it comes with all the supplies included for just $499 + shipping. Currently, the Tower Garden is only available in the United States and Canada. You can learn more about Tower Gardens at www.TowerGarden.com
A FTER Y OU S ET UP AN A EROPONICS G ARDEN Once you have set up your aeroponics system, place the mesh holders over the growing chambers and begin planting your seeds inside of them. You can usually place between two and three seeds in most kits – but for bigger plants like cucumbers, tomatoes and watermelon, it’s best to just plant one seed as they will grow 3 to 4 times faster than normal in an aeroponics environment. Place the growing chambers in the slots of the system, then ensure that the vapor cover is set over it correctly, so that it will receive the mist spray as needed. Make sure to read the directions of the aeroponics kit to see how much nutrient solution you need to place inside of the system. You will then need to check to see what settings you need to place for your water valves. The kit will come with a hydro controller. After a couple of days have passed, you will know which seeds did not sprout. This will be determined by the type of plant that you are growing. As the seedlings begin to mature, you will see the roots exposed through the tray. You will need to lift the container to trim the roots using pruning shears and then remove the plant from the chamber.
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C HAPTER 12. T HE J OYS OF V ERTICAL G ARDENING Well, it’s been an amazing journey for me to be able to share my experiences of vertical gardening with you. And I want to thank you for spending the time with me to learn more about this wonderful new way of gardening! I hope you learned a lot about vertical gardening and all the joys that it can bring. Give vertical gardening a try and you will see how easy and productive it can