Edible Walls: Creating a Living Food Source in Your Backyard

UrbanGreeneries
Sep 29, 2024

 

Edible walls, also known as living walls or vertical gardens, are a new way to grow food in a small space. They let you turn your backyard into a place where you can get fresh produce easily. By using space wisely, you can grow many types of plants, like vegetables, fruits, herbs, and even medicinal plants. This makes your garden a living, edible space that helps you eat better and live more sustainably.



Key Takeaways

  • Edible walls maximize limited backyard space by growing food vertically
  • They provide a sustainable source of fresh produce right at your fingertips
  • Vertical gardening systems allow for a diverse array of edible plants, including vegetables, fruits, and herbs
  • Edible walls contribute to a self-reliant lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint
  • Proper planning and plant selection are crucial for a successful edible wall

What is an Edible Wall?

An edible wall is a way to grow plants in a small, efficient space. It uses a special structure that hangs on a wall or stands alone. This setup helps plants grow well and makes the most of little space.

It's better than traditional gardening in many ways. For one, it saves space. It also makes plants easier to reach and adds beauty to your yard or outdoor area.

Understanding Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening, or living walls, uses walls to grow plants. This method lets you grow more plants in a small area. It turns unused walls or fences into beautiful gardens full of food.

Benefits of Edible Walls

Edible walls are great for gardeners and homeowners. They let you grow your own food, making your life more sustainable. Plus, they look beautiful, adding life to your outdoor space.

Plant Type Percentage in the Edible Wall
Strawberry plants (multiple varieties) 20%
Spinach 15%
Radish 12%
Rocket 10%
Sugar Snap Pea 8%
Dill 7%
Nasturtium 5%
"Edible walls are a game-changer for urban gardeners and homeowners who want to increase their food production in a limited space. They're not only functional but also visually stunning, adding a touch of lush greenery to any outdoor area."

How to create an edible wall in your backyard

Creating an edible wall in your backyard is a great way to add urban agriculture and food production to your landscape. This method lets you grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs vertically. It makes the most of limited space and adds beauty to your outdoor area. Let's look at how to turn your backyard into a lush, self-sustaining edible garden.

First, pick the best spot for your edible wall. Choose a place that gets lots of sunlight, as most plants love the sun. Think about what's already in your backyard, like fences or trellises, which can be great for your garden.

  1. Gather the necessary materials: 2 large bags of sphagnum moss, 1 bag of potting soil, 1 bag of Osmacote fertilizer, gardening tools like dykes, wire cutters, floral wire, and heavy-gauge wire or chicken wire.
  2. Build the frame for your edible wall, using what you have or making something new. You might use an old bed frame or build a wall system.
  3. Put sphagnum moss in the frame, making pockets for your plants. This keeps the soil moist and healthy.
  4. Fill the pockets with potting soil, making sure it drains well and has air for the roots.
  5. Pick a mix of edible plants like leafy greens, herbs, and small fruits that fit your climate. Talk to a local gardener for advice.
  6. Plant your chosen plants, leaving enough space for them to grow and breathe.
  7. Feed your edible wall with Osmacote fertilizer, as the package says, after about 6 months.

With careful planning, the right materials, and the best plants, your edible wall will flourish. It will give you a lot of fresh, homegrown food. Think about water, sunlight, and which plants work well together when picking for your wall. Enjoy the benefits of urban gardening and make your outdoor space sustainable and self-sufficient.



 

"Edible landscaping is one of the oldest forms of landscaping, and its popularity has been steadily increasing in recent years."

Choosing the Right Plants

Choosing the right plants is key for a successful edible wall. Look for compact or cascading vegetables that fit well in a vertical garden. Great choices include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, and leafy greens like kale, spinach, and lettuce. These vegetables for edible walls do great in vertical gardens, offering a lot of urban farming and kitchen garden produce.

Vegetables for Edible Walls

  • Compact or trailing tomato varieties
  • Miniature bell peppers or chili peppers
  • Dwarf cucumber cultivars
  • Space-saving eggplant selections
  • Nutrient-dense leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and lettuce

Edible walls can also host fruits and herbs for edible walls. You can grow compact strawberries, blueberries, and even dwarf citrus trees. Herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and mint do well in vertical gardens. They add flavor and fragrance to your garden.

Fruits and Herbs for Edible Walls

  1. Strawberry cultivars with a cascading growth habit
  2. Blueberry bushes suitable for container or vertical gardening
  3. Dwarf citrus trees, such as Meyer lemon or calamansi
  4. Fragrant herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender, and mint

By picking a variety of edible plants, you can make a beautiful and productive kitchen garden. It will meet your family's food needs and turn your backyard into a lush urban farming spot.

Design and Planning Considerations

Creating an edible wall requires careful design and planning for success. Start by thinking about the spacing and lighting needs of your plants. Make sure to leave enough space between them so they can grow well. You might use modular or tiered systems to make the most of vertical space.

Also, check how much sunlight your wall gets. Most edible plants need several hours of direct sunlight each day. Planning the layout and orientation of your wall can create perfect growing conditions for a great harvest.

Spacing and Lighting Requirements

It's also key to design your edible wall with accessibility and maintenance in mind. Add features like adjustable shelves or movable planters to make caring for your plants easy. Think about the weight and drainage needs of your system to make upkeep simpler.

This way, your edible wall can be easy to maintain and still produce a lot of food. By focusing on accessibility and a good maintenance plan, you can enjoy your edible wall for many years.

Accessibility and Maintenance

The secret to a great edible wall is finding a balance between plant needs and space practicality. Plan your design and maintenance well. This way, your backyard can become a sustainable, urban garden that looks good and feeds you well.




Edible Landscaping Ideas

Creating a backyard that's both beautiful and a food source is possible with edible landscaping. This method mixes edible plants like fruit trees and berry bushes with your garden. It turns your yard into a urban farming or kitchen garden that looks great and is productive.

Adding edible landscaping can cut your grocery bills and give you better food quality. It also makes your backyard look better. More people in cities are now growing their own food in places like rooftops and yards. This way, you use less water and create less pollution from food transport.

When designing your edible landscaping, think about adding paths, different plant heights, and using natural materials. You can use containers like raised beds or old wine barrels to grow your food. This makes your urban agriculture space look unique.

  1. Popular crops for edible landscaping include fruit trees (e.g., fig, apple), salad greens, berries, tomatoes, beans, peppers, and herbs.
  2. Planting herbs, crops, and flowers together can attract pollinators and wildlife, enhancing the garden's ecosystem.
  3. Using native plants reduces environmental impact, decreases the need for chemical pesticides, and improves soil health.
  4. Companion planting with herbs like mint, lavender, garlic, borage, and marigolds can deter pests and enhance the growth of nearby plants.

With careful planning, you can turn your backyard into a sustainable and beautiful kitchen garden. It will give you a steady supply of fresh, homegrown food.

Conclusion

Adding edible walls to your backyard can change how you live and garden. It makes you more self-sufficient and supports sustainable gardening. With vertical gardening, you can grow many types of fresh, healthy food easily. This also makes your outdoor area look better and work better.

Creating a dedicated edible wall or adding edible plants to your edible landscaping has many benefits. You get more food security and feel closer to nature. It's a great way to live more sustainably.

Starting with edible walls opens up new ways to grow and enjoy your own food at home. This method of urban farming or backyard farming lets you control your food, lessen your environmental impact, and connect with nature deeply.

When you start making an edible wall or adding edible plants to your garden, be ready for both challenges and rewards. With good planning, hard work, and a love for sustainable gardening, you can turn your backyard into a lush, self-sustaining garden. This garden will feed your body and soothe your soul.

FAQ

What is an edible wall?

An edible wall, also known as a living wall or vertical garden, is a new way to grow food in a small space. It lets you turn your backyard into a place that gives you fresh produce. These systems are great for making the most of limited space.

What are the benefits of an edible wall?

Edible walls have many advantages. They help you use space well, make food easy to get to, and look great in your yard. They also help you live more sustainably by letting you grow some of your own food at home.

What types of plants can I grow on an edible wall?

You can grow many types of vegetables, fruits, and herbs on an edible wall. Great choices include small tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, leafy greens, strawberries, blueberries, and herbs like basil, thyme, and oregano.

How do I design and plan an edible wall?

Think about how plants will fit together, how much sunlight they need, and how easy they'll be to take care of. Make sure plants have enough space, check how much sunlight they get, and use features like adjustable shelves or moveable planters for success.

Can I integrate edible plants throughout my backyard landscape?

Yes, you can mix edible plants into your yard's design. Add fruit trees, berry bushes, and perennial veggies to make your garden both beautiful and productive. This approach combines food production with beauty for a great outdoor space.

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