Garden Success with GreenStalk Planters (2024) #21

[@celticfiddle7605]

Very smart Susan. Thanks for walking us through the set up of one of these planters.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marilynm8812]

Everybody needs a "DUH" moment now and then. Glad you shared yours.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

True!

[@sydneygreenstalkgarden]

This was so helpful, Susan! 💚

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you, Sydney!

[@lispottable]

I love your videos. You are a great teacher! I’m impressed with how you keep your patio so clean filling the planter. When I do mine there is soil everywhere! Lol

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you for your nice compliment! And I have to admit that I swept the area a couple of times while making the video, LOL.

[@carolyn9525]

I love your videos. Very informative and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you so much, Carolyn. That's so nice to hear.

[@lindag4484]

❤ my Greenstalk! I am in Zone 5b (NH) I move my Greenstalk from our shed to the garden around the end of March and seed it with cold tolerant varieties of lettuce and two varieties of spinach. I am usually able to start harvesting around mid-May - through June. I also seed two rows of 'summer' lettuce in my raised beds after the last frost, in May. Around the first week of July, as we're starting to get lettuce from the raised beds, I pull the old plants out of the Greenstalk and re-seed with summer varieties of lettuce which gives us additional lettuce in late August through most of September. When that bunch is done, I clear the Greenstalk again and repeat with cold tolerant varieties. We have lettuce until Thanksgiving! Occasionally I add a little more potting soil to my Greenstalk by tossing a handful in each planting pocket when I re-seed, if needed. I use water soluble organic fertilizers.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Wow, that sounds terrific. You've come up with a great routine to get the most out of your GreenStalk.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Susan, you made me laugh when you mentioned your "Duh" moment. I had one of those moments earlier this spring while planting my GreenStock vertical planters, and like you, I started filling them after placing them one at a time in the vertical position. I put a loose PVC cap over the watering spout before filling and planting each tier. It was so much easier than trying to lift those heavy full tiers. Last year I purchased 2 of the original GreenStock vertical planters but only planted one with strawberries. Earlier this year I bought 3 automatic watering systems, plus extra parts and bases, so I could make them 4 tiers high since 5 high was too tall for this short person to check the top water reservoir without a stepstool. I planted the third 4-tier planter this afternoon between rainstorms and tornado warnings. A tornado was spotted on the ground about 7 miles south of our little town. Yikes! Blessings to you and Bill. ~Margie🤗💐🦋🐝

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Margie! I'm glad I made you laugh. I like your idea of making shorter planters so accommodate your height. As you can see, I'm reasonably tall (5'7") so haven't had to do that but it's a great tip.

[@LittleRoseMouse]

I really enjoyed your video about these planters and am considering buying one, eventually. Take care of yourselves 🙂

[@kimtaylor7544]

Thank you for the video! I just got my first Greenstalk yesterday, so perfect timing!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Wow, that's great. I'm very excited for you.

[@annierosales5806]

Susan, thanks for your great video! I always love your detail and easy to understand method of explaining things. I’ve been thinking of growing strawberries vertically, and this may be the best bet. Thanks again, Annie.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Annie. Thanks so much for your kind comments. They mean a lot to me.

[@texgal4928]

I absolutely love the Fantastico tomato. If I could only plant 1 cherry this would be it. Plenty of water will make it sweet, sweet. I hope you enjoy it!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That's so great to hear you say that. We think it's terrific, too.

[@stephaniegee227]

We have two Greenstalks. The small one is close to the door and houses an herb garden. (Very handy for cooking!) The second one isn't that much farther away, and I'm still learning how to use it to its best advantage.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That is awesome, Stephanie.

[@NitaP1569]

Very well done video. I considered buying a green stalk but hesitated due to price and wondering how the plants will really do over the season as the plants mature with concerns for over crowding. I look forward to updates throughout the season to see how massive the plants become and harvest results to gauge if the price is worth this tower for me. Thank you for your videos.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I intend to show them throughout the season. I typically shoot a monthly update for this KZbin channel, showing both the vegetable garden and the GreenStalk progress. Thanks so much for your kind words.

[@CraftsandGardening]

Thanks Susan! I had one GS and after my first growing season, planted with a mix of herbs, veggies and flowers, I ordered a second one which will be dedicated to all strawberries. I just love them. ,

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I agree that the planters are awesome.

[@ClickinChicken]

never had one of these shown in this detail. I like it! Seems like it might get pretty full of leaves! Just seen them with 'strawberries' Thanks!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Do you mean full of leaves at the top? That's what the lid prevents from happening, so it shouldn't be a problem. Cheers.

[@caroleferreira2846]

Another awesome video. Do you need to plant miniature varieties or regular size plants? I like banana peppers and jalapeño peppers? How do you stop the stocks from breaking? I can see a nice birthday present coming my way.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Carole. I tend to plant some of the smaller varieties although I know a lot of folks plant full-sized ones. I save pruned tree branches and if I feel something might need a little extra support, I insert 2 into a pocket in the shape of an "X". GreenStalk also has a plant support system you can buy but I haven't tried it yet. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Nanaslegacy]

Oh, I love the automatic watering system! What kind of fertilizer would you suggest that you could put in the reservoir when you want to fertilize?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

You could try using Alaska Fish Fertilizer. Be sure to dilute it with water at the rate indicated on the label while the plants are young. (I would mix it up in a bucket and then pour it in the top) But depending on the types of plants you're growing, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, you'd want to also give them some fertilizer that is high in phosphorus (that's the middle # on the container) because that promotes flowering and fruit-setting. You might want to take a look at my fertilizer video if you haven't seen it yet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHLRh5xuiZ56i9U.

[@dustyflats3832]

I’ve been watching the use of these planters for a while now. I can understand if you have no place to garden they would be a space saving way to grow. They would be a great herb garden. What I don’t think I like is how much soil they take which I just heard was 1.5cf of soil per layer. Those layers are heavy and need to be replenished annually. For me it’s too much work for production. I don’t have use for a plant tower and many I see are planted with too large of plants. I think the baby sized vegetables would work best.

[@crittergirl3647]

Also live here in Spokane and am wondering, do you have a favorite brand of potting soil and where you purchase it?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Nice to meet you! I've used Gardner & Bloome organic potting soil and Miracle Gro organic potting soil, with good luck. I buy the G&B at NW Seed & Pet and MG at Costco in early spring.

[@crittergirl3647]

@@SusansInTheGarden - thanks!

[@DeesBotanicalBliss]

Do they have drainage holes?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Oh yes!