kitchen garden plants for a vertical garden

In the last write up we discussed about the various types of vertical gardens and why should we practice vertical gardening in the first place. We see how these vertical gardens are slotted in different types according to the purposes they serve. Some are meant for aesthetic purposes while some are carried out for providing fresh produce (vegetables, fruits and herbs).

Below we discuss the top-10 kitchen garden plants befitting a vertical garden, in no particular order:

NOTE: Have you checked our portable vertical gardens – they are easy to install, low maintenance, and suitable for both outdoor and indoor. Delivery anywhere in India.

Vegetables:

  • Garden lettuce:
  • Botanical name: Lactuca sativa
  • Light and temperature: low to bright light; 60-65 degrees F, provided the nights are cool
  • Soil: pH should be around 6.0-6.7
  • Water: lettuce has a relatively high water requirement, regular watering must be done to avoid crop failure
  • Usage: it is the most important salad vegetable. Pick lettuce in the morning to preserve the crispness it acquires overnight.

 

  • Spinach:
  • Botanical name: Spinacia oleracea
  • Light and temperature: Full sun ; 55-75 degrees F
  • Soil: well-drained loamy or sandy soil with neutral or alkaline pH
  • Water: Average watering needed
  • Height: 6- 12 inches
  • Usage: the lovely dark green leaves are eaten either cooked or raw; known for its high nutritional value.
healthy-spinach-plant
healthy-spinach-plant
  • Garden onion:
  • Botanical name: Allium cepa
  • Light and temperature: Full to partial sun ; 55-75 degrees F
  • Soil: soil with neutral pH is best suited
  • Water: have high water requirement, usually around 3 inches of water per week
  • Height: 4-12 inches
  • Use: the most basic vegetable used in every household, every dish finds its use in some way or the other.
onions
onions
  • Garlic:
  • Botanical name: Allium sativum
  • Light and temperature: Full sun ; 45-50 degrees F
  • Soil: neutral, well-drained loamy soil is the best fit
  • Water: Average watering is sufficient for its growth
  • Height: 18-24 inches
  • Use: garlic holds an essential culinary role in the kitchen. It is used for flavouring in cooking.
garlic
garlic

 

  • Green beans:
  • Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris
  • Light and temperature: 6-8 hours of sunlight daily, 70-85 degrees F
  • Soil: soil should be fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic to neutral
  • Water: soil must be kept consistently moist, but watering must be done only in the morning hours.
  • Use: one of the most popular plants grown in a kitchen garden, nowadays. Grown for their delicious pods and beans which are used in a variety of dishes.
greenbean
greenbean

Herbs:

  • Coriander/Cilantro:
  • Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
  • Light and temperature: requires full sun if grown outdoors, and if grown indoors it can grow quite well under fluorescent lamps
  • Soil: grows in a relatively wide pH range of 6.1(mildly acidic) -7.8(mildly alkaline), deep, fertile soil
  • Water: water regularly, being careful not to overwater. The soil must be allowed to go dry before watering again
  • Height: 18-24 inches
  • Use: grown for its aromatic seeds and leaves, used for flavouring purposes
oregano and coriander
oregano and coriander

 

  • Parsley:
  • Botanical name: Petroselinum crispum
  • Light and temperature: Full sun-partial sun ; 50-70 degrees F
  • Soil: well-drained, fertile, loamy or sandy soil with neutral to alkaline pH
  • Water: average watering is required
  • Height: 1-4 inches
  • Use: this herb is a must for a vegetable garden, used to season salads, soups and pasta dishes.

 

  • Oregano:
  • Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
  • Light and temperature: thrives under bright light; 45-70 degrees F
  • Soil: sandy to clay, pH range 5.5 to 7.5
  • Water: Average watering needed; doesn’t need quite as much water as most herbs
  • Height: plants can grow upto 1-2 feet tall if allowed to grow; pinch them lightly once they are around 4 inches tall to encourage a bushy plant
  • Use: Taste is zesty and strong, commonly used in Italian dishes; it also makes a good ground cover

 

  • Mint:
  • Botanical name: Mentha sp
  • Light and temperature: partial sun, can also be grown in places receiving no direct sunlight; 60-70 degrees F
  • Soil: semi-fertile soil
  • Water: try not to let the soil dry out while growing mint; however, overwatering must be avoided too.
  • Height: 12-18 inches
  • Use: used for culinary, medicinal and aromatic purposes.
mint
mint

 

  • Thyme:
  • Botanical name: Thymus vulgaris
  • Light and temperature: Full sun ; 60-70 degrees F
  • Soil: well-drained loamy soil
  • Water: drought tolerant: no watering need on a regular basis
  • Height: 6- 12 inches
  • Usage: known for its ornamental value, culinary uses and natural pest repelling abilities. These characteristics makes thyme a must have for the vertical kitchen garden
thyme
mint

 

NOTE: Have you checked our portable vertical gardens – they are easy to install, low maintenance, and suitable for both outdoor and indoor. Delivery anywhere in India.

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