Gardening is a great way to get back in touch with nature and simultaneously help your mind, body, and environment. One of the most convenient ways of gardening for those without access to yards or gardens is tower gardens. Tower gardens provide a space-saving option that fits into almost any area by utilizing vertical space available, making it an especially great choice for small urban apartments.
With this convenience comes one more thing—choosing what herbs work best in a tower garden setting. Plenty of herbs can be grown safely inside a tower garden, from basil to sage. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best herbs you can grow outdoors and indoors in your tower garden setup!
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What Is A Tower Garden
A tower garden is an innovative gardening method, utilizing a tower and vertical setup to efficiently grow plants in a small space compared to traditional gardening. This method makes it possible to produce high yields in a limited area, making it ideal for urban environments or those without enough space for sprawling plots.
Vertical tower gardens can yield higher yields than traditional methods, as tower planting uses less water, pesticides, and soil but still generates larger growth. In tower gardening, plants are stacked on top of each other based on requirements for sun and water; tower-based gardening also reduces compression of the roots and improves drainage. Due to its convenience and efficiency, tower gardens have become increasingly popular with farmers who want to maximize their crop yield with minimal effort.
Why Grow Herbs In Tower Garden?
Many gardeners are now turning to tower gardens, vertical planters that maximize the limited space of balconies, terraces, and patios to grow herbs and vegetables. Growing herbs in a tower garden offer numerous advantages to both large and small-scale growers. Here are some reasons why you should consider growing herbs in a tower garden:
1. Maximum Space
Tower gardens effectively make the most out of limited space. They allow optimal crop density without sacrificing yield quality or size. Tower gardens also make it easier to access plants since they are placed at eye level. This reduces labor and makes harvesting easier.
2. Cost Savings
Growing herbs in a tower garden require minimal resources such as water and soil amendments, making it an economical option for home gardeners who want to save money while still producing fresh produce. Moreover, since you don’t need to worry about weeds or soil erosion, less maintenance is needed over time compared to traditional gardening methods.
3. Versatility
Tower gardens are becoming increasingly popular due to their versatility – they can be used indoors or outdoors. They can easily accommodate plants like leafy greens, flowers, and herbs. You can give your plants more space by utilizing different levels in one structure without purchasing multiple planters.
4. Eco-friendly
The vertical structure of the tower garden allows for efficient use of water, which helps conserve this precious resource by reducing water wastage through evaporation and runoff from traditional ground-level gardening methods. Additionally, since the vertical planter design enables faster plant growth cycles with fewer chemicals for fertilizing crops like fruits and vegetables – it is an eco-friendly option!
In summary, growing herbs in a tower garden have many benefits, including maximum space utilization, cost savings, and eco-friendliness while still providing versatility when planting different types of veggies or herbs! Moreover, its easy assembly and minimal monitoring requirements make it suitable even for those with no experience in gardening!
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Best Herbs For Tower Garden
When growing herbs in a tower garden, choosing varieties well-suited for the environment is important. Here’s a list of some of the best herbs you can grow in your vertical planter:
Basil
For tower gardens, basil is an excellent choice with its glossy green leaves and a wide variety of inch-long flowers. Due to its fragrant oils, notably methyl chavicol and d-linalool, basil is often used to add unique flavors to cooking.
Despite its frost sensitivity, it thrives in warm climates and can make a great addition to a home’s garden. However, caution should be exercised as the herb is vulnerable to certain diseases such as Fusarium wilt, blight, or downy mildew that could develop if there are too many humid conditions around it.
Chamomile
Growing chamomile in a Tower Garden is convenient since the plant doesn’t require tall stalks to support its slender height. Additionally, it’s an easy perennial herb that can yield cheerful and delicate blooms throughout the season when provided with enough sunlight and water.
Chamomile has small white petals tipped with bright yellow centers, forming a flower smaller than an inch. It also grows easily and abundantly in almost any type of space, from urban yards to suburban fields. With good soil preparation and a regular pruning regimen for stronger stems. The same directions for growing any plant in a Tower Garden—you can look forward to your chamomile flourishing in no time!
Chives
Chives are versatile herbs with various culinary and medicinal purposes, making them an ideal plant for Tower Garden. They have long been cultivated worldwide for their onion and garlic-flavored leaves, Which can be used fresh or gently cooked in soups, dips, and dressings. They are often employed as a garnish but can also be finely chopped to add a subtle flavor to casseroles, quiches, and frittatas.
These delicate hollow stems have a mild yet distinctive taste that adds an attractive color. These subtle flavor kick to many egg and potato dishes. This is just one of the herbs which in conjunction with your Tower Garden, will provide you with all the culinary delight you need to bring color, texture, and flavor to your meals!
Cilantro
Cilantro offers a zesty herbal addition to your Tower Garden, giving it an unmistakable flavor you’ll surely enjoy. With its bright green leaves, the cilantro plant is an aesthetic delight with flavor to match. Some people love the spicy green flavor of cilantro, while others may find it off-putting and have a soapy or metallic taste afterward. Nevertheless, you should try adding this unique herb to your offerings, as it can make for a truly wonderful garnish or colorful side dish!
Dill
Dill is an incredibly versatile herb, boasting a warm and slightly sharp flavor. It can add depth and flavor to various dishes, including soups, salads, sauces, fish, sandwich fillings, and pickles. Dill’s unique aroma makes it especially great for pickling use. Furthermore, all parts of the plant are used for flavoring – leaves, small stems, and even immature flower umbels. Whether fresh or dried in seasonal dishes or fermentation projects like pickling, dill is a must-have herb for the Tower Garden!
Lavender
This versatile and aromatic herb grows in many gardens, including Tower Gardens. Lavender has a unique look with its broad rootstock and woody silver branches, each adorned with narrow green leaves. These leaves are curled spirally and covered in a soft, silvery down. The flowers of lavender add a sweet aroma, as they contain essential oil.
Lavender’s versatility makes it an ideal choice for the Tower Garden — its clusters of small blue-violet flowers can be dried out and used to scent rooms and clothing. At the same time, essential oil provides various therapeutic benefits. When in bloom, lavender can bring gardens alive and transform yards into fragrant sanctuaries that uplift the spirit.
Lemongrass
Growing your lemongrass at home in a Tower Garden is a smart choice for those looking for great flavor and scent, as well as the positive effects of aromatherapy. Not only does lemongrass boast a fresh and zesty aroma, with its citrus-like taste, but it also stands out among herbs as one of few that provides repellent effects against pesky pests.
Thus, the essential oil derived from lemongrass is an ideal addition to any garden setting or outdoor living space where you want to stave off bothersome bugs while enjoying a pleasant smell. Additionally, the calming influence of lemongrass is a bonus to help reduce stress and create a tranquil atmosphere inside your home.
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Marjoram
For gardeners looking to bring unique and flavorful dishes to dinner tables, marjoram is an excellent plant for adding flavor without too much heat. Marjoram has a mild, delicate flavor that pairs well with foods like tomatoes, eggs, cheese, and fish. It goes especially well in salads or egg dishes such as frittatas. Unlike many herbs, it can be used fresh or dried, giving cooked dishes a light and slightly sweet yet savory aroma.
Marjoram is hardy and easy to grow inside or out for those interested in growing their own Tower Garden herbs. It favors sunny areas with well-drained soil but can tolerate other growing conditions as long as its roots are not overwatered. With very little maintenance after it’s established in its spot, marjoram is an excellent addition to any Tower Garden.
FAQs
Tower Garden plants require regular fertilization, typically once a week. You can use liquid or granular fertilizer and natural sources such as compost tea and seaweed extract. When adding nutrients to your Tower Garden, it’s important to follow the directions on the product packaging for application rates and timing.
Yes! You can grow vegetables in your Tower Garden, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and greens. Check the Plant Guide for specific planting instructions for each type of vegetable.
Additionally, you can supplement your Tower Garden with additional soil-based containers for larger vegetables such as squash and potatoes.
Conclusion
Herbs can take your home cooking to a new level, and with the Tower Garden, you can conveniently grow a variety of these flavorful plants right in your backyard or kitchen. From cilantro’s pungent aroma to lemongrass’s citrus notes to marjoram’s slightly sweet flavor, there’s something for every taste and cook. So go ahead and whip up something special with the help of these best herbs for your Tower Garden!
