AlternativeVegetableGardening

SydneyParkBrownUFExtensionSpecialist,ConsumerHorticulture
GulfCoastResearchandEducationCenterPlantCityspbrown@ufl.edu

SmallScaleContainerGardensBags,Boxes,VerticalSystems,etc.

1. LayflatBags
Plasticorclothmeshbagsarefilledwith
perlite,soilmix,orcompost.

PerliteGrowBagSystem
CropKing,Inc.(Cost:.74/each)
http://www.cropking.com/

GardenSoxx
TM
http://www.gardensoxx.com

(Cost:$100for100ofunfilledmesh;
$25for3filledwithcompost)

2. Earthbox
http://www.earthbox.com/
(Cost:$50each)

3. HomemadeSelfContainedWateringSystem
http://www.wisefarmer.com/growbox/(Cost:~$20plasticstoragebin(s)+soil,fertilizerand
alargegarbagebag.)

4. GrowBags:Plastic,meshorfeltbags.Manytypes.Somehavehandles;somecome
prefilledwithmedia.

5. HangingGarden
HomemadeCost:5gallonplasticpaintbucketormetalbucket+soil.
Commerciallysoldplanters(Cost:~$10+soil)

6. VerticalGrowingSystemsNumerouscommercialproductsavailable.

VertiGroSystemhttp://vertigro.com/
Cost:VGK16=$319.00delivered(otherkitsalsoavailable)

Additionalverticalgrowingsystems:http://www.hydrostacker.com/,
http://www.futuregrowing.com/andothers.

HomemadeVerticalSystem
Averticalsystemconstructedwithone84x4and
recycled2litersodabottles.
See:BuildingaLowCostVerticalSoillessSystemfor
ProductionofSmallVegetableandFruitCrops
1

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186

Seealso:Minigardening(GrowingVegetablesinContainers)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH032

LargeScaleContainers
1. RaisedWoodenBed
http://www.ahta.org/documents/AHTA_Raised_Bed_Instructions.pdf
(Cost:~$55.00

2. EasyGardenBox:Steelandvinylconstruction;Assembles
inminuteswithnotools.(Cost:4x4=$199;4x8=$299).
http://www.easygardenbox.com/

3. CornerBrackets:Foreasyraisedbedconstruction.
Manytypes/manysources.Forexample:
http://www.gardeners.com/
612($19$25/pair)

4. Straw/HayBaleGarden
http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/strawbales.htm
Haybalesareusedto
formtheoutsidewalls
oftheraisedbedand
thenfilledwithsoil.
(Cost:$6/bale+potting
soil)

HydroponicSystems

1. PotatoBoxThisrequiresastoragecontaineratleast10deep,
perlite,liquidfertilizer,andcertifiedseedpotatoesorgrocery
potatoes.Othertypesofvegetablescanbegrownaswell.See
websitebelowfordetailsonhowtosetupapotatobox.
(Cost:~$15;bin+perlite)
http://duval.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/nleafmarchapril.09.pdf

2. FloatingGardens.Asheetof12Styrofoamisfloatedona
nutrientsolutionofliquidfertilizerandmagnesiumsulfate(Epsom
salts).HolesaredrilledintotheStyrofoamtoholdcups.Vegetables
likelettuce,basilandothersaregrowninthecupswiththeirroots
partiallysubmergedinthenutrients.(Cost:Varieswithcontainerused.
4x8woodframeversion=~$50).

See:BuildingaFloatingHydroponicGardenhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS18400.pdf
Howtovideo:
http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/suwanneevalley/hydroponicgreenhouse/building_a_floating_hydroponic_garden.shtml

Seealso:GrowYourOwnVegetablesWithoutSoil http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH030

DISCLAIMER:Manyotherproductsexist.Mentionofacompany'snameand/or/productisnot
intendedtobeanendorsementorapreferenceoverotherproducts.