Growing Vegetables with Vertical Farming – Affordable, Fast, and Effective

Growing Vegetables with Vertical Farming – Affordable, Fast, and Effective

Many people hesitate to grow their own plants due to limited space. However, this issue can be solved with another method: using a vertical farming system. This system allows you to grow or farm vertically using specific media. Interesting, right?

Moreover, the vertical farming system is easy to apply. This model adds an aesthetic touch, making it look like ornamental plants. If you enjoy gardening, you can utilize this method.

What are the Advantages of Growing Plants with the Vertical Farming System?

The vertical farming system allows you to grow plants upwards. You can use soil, water tanks, or hydroponic methods. This farming model is seen as a future solution, especially with shrinking agricultural land and inevitable population growth. You can save energy on tasks like plowing or digging. The plants are also practical and easy to relocate.

Another advantage of this technique is that it conserves fertilizer and water. The maintenance is simple and often cleaner.

What Plants Can You Grow Using Vertical Farming?

You can cultivate many types of plants, especially vegetables, with this method. Some examples include pak choi, water spinach, celery, and even root vegetables.

How about the harvest time? Don’t worry; it’s almost the same as conventional farming. For instance, chili peppers take 90 days, while mustard greens and lettuce take about 40 days.

You can also turn this vertical farming method into a business. For example, Suhadi from Pasuruan developed a 10×10 meter plot to grow shallots. He earns up to 18 million rupiah per harvest by using 300 PVC pipes, each 2 meters tall.

What Containers Can Be Used for Vertical Farming?

You can use PVC pipes, usually 2 meters long, for vertical farming. The application varies depending on the plant type and size. Medium-sized pipes are suitable for growing Chinese mustard, water spinach, pak choi, celery, and parsley due to their small roots.

Typically, the distance between plants is set at 20-25 cm. For chili peppers, you should space them further apart and use spiral pipes to prevent the plants from touching each other.

You can make holes in the pipes using a hot saw. Create 10 cm lines and space the plants 20-25 cm apart, alternating the lines and after drawing the lines, sawing along them. Then, heat the cut edges until soft and bend them with glass. Apply a cement mixture to the pipe base, using a large basin for support.

If you don’t have pipes, you can use old bottles, jerry cans, boxes, egg cartons, or rain gutters.

For more details, you can find more information in “Vertical Farming: Growing Vegetables in Limited Spaces.” This book is ideal for anyone looking to explore vertical farming techniques.

There are many techniques you can learn. This farming method is unique. You must consider plant nutrition, as it differs from conventional farming. Hydroponics enthusiasts often discuss how to meet nutritional needs. You can join several forums focused on this field, both online and offline.

So, with this vertical farming technique, do you still think growing vegetables is complicated?