Plant walls and transform them into green oases from which you can harvest. Plant facades and vertical gardens are a global trend! Vertical gardening is in. I’m happy to join this trend and show you my functioning, high-yield vertical bed on the wall of my narrow snack balcony from June 2018. Plus my three new vertical beds from 2021. See for yourself how pleasing it is to the eye. Let yourself be inspired. We have harvested a lot. Vertical beds offer a lot of growing space in a small area for green, flowering, living oases. It is extremely decorative thanks to the material mix of native larch wood and galvanized steel in combination with the lush greenery. It provides a healthy climate. We and the insects find food. You are spoiled for choice, whether plants for crisp, colorful salads, a hearty snack, green smoothies, fine Asian cuisine and the choice of supplier is yours. Also Build it yourself is a fine option. For me, vertical beds are the high school of vertical gardening. Of course, I also use pots hanging from the ceiling, shelves in which I layer planters, balcony boxes are attached to the balustrade in several tiers, climbing beans, Inca cucumbers and nasturtiums climb from the floor up to the ceiling. Today I’m talking about vertical beds, which for me are the best way to garden vertically. I’m going to introduce you to my great version of vertical gardening. In June 2021, I added three more vertical beds with solid wooden frames to my snack balcony, which is only 60 cm wide, and I’m absolutely delighted with the look and yields.
Here you will find the best vertical beds for balconies and terraces on the market. Mature. Tried and tested. From the pioneer of vertical beds.
Save 30 EUR with voucher Organic balcony.
Video from MDR-Garten about vertical cultivation on my balcony
The interest in this Movie of vertical beds from the beginning of August 2021 is enormous. Maxi from our Facebook groupBirgit Schattling, your balcony is unique! I’ve just watched the program “Sehnsuchtsorte, die Sie solltest kennen” on SWR. You really should know your balcony.”
Here you can read about my first experiences with the vertical bed that I bought in June 2018. Now the HerbiosGarden models are even more sophisticated, with solid wooden frames, and I’ve set up three more vertical beds because they’re brilliant.
Urban gardening: growing vegetables in the smallest of spaces in vertical beds
The great thing about vertical gardening is the Space utilization. Always an issue on the balcony due to the small area. With my 7‑day vertical bed the small footprint is increased sevenfold. The vertical bed stands solidly on “feet” and is not connected to the house wall. The house wall therefore does not need to be drilled into. The Back wall forms one from top to bottom Continuous earth body. There is space towards the house wall so that air can circulate. “Continuous earth body” means: from the upper floor to the lower floor, the rear wall forms the earth substrate. Towards the wall, it is held in place by a slab, open at the front into the seven earth trays. Water is poured into this continuous body of earth at the top in continuous pipes with small outlet openings. The roots are directed towards the continuous earth bodyfrom where they get their water. Through this orientation towards the earth’s body, they form Very strong rootsbecause the irrigation water is only available at the back of the soil body. When watering new plantings or seedlings, it is of course necessary to water directly into each soil cup. It is best not to fill the substrate smoothly, but at an angle. Pre-grown, strong young plants should be placed at an angle in this sloped substrate so that their roots grow directly towards the soil wall and the moisture. I can confirm that it works. You can probably see that from the pictures. It was already lush. Due to its design, my vertical bed needs relatively little substrate, which also means that it weighs less. A huge advantage for balconies. A huge advantage for balconies, where we should always keep an eye on the load-bearing capacity. Due to the point load, usually also towards the wall, there are No problems with the load capacity. Due to the design and the good soil substrate it also needs Less irrigation water.
Vertical bed: order is half the battle
I have surprises popping up everywhere, which I love. All the planters are planted in mixed cultivation. Because I don’t replace the soil in spring, there are seeds everywhere in the soil or still flying in with the air. My order on the balconies is practically a mess. I’m sure you can well imagine that. So I was all the more pleased with the tidiness of the vertical bed. It looked neat and tidy until the lushness took over. I think this vertical bed brings order and I enjoyed the look.
Home-grown plants became strong, robust, healthy and vigorous plants.
It all depends on the right soil mixture
I hope I have mixed as good a soil mixture as Dr. Jürgen Herler, who developed the vertical beds. In an interview for the Online Organic Balcony Congress 2020 about his test series, where he compares standard commercial soil with a mixture of A+ compost from the composting company with loamy garden soil and agricultural perlite. His mixture with Agricultural perlite brings significantly more growth compared to commercial raised bed soil. Agricultural Perlite can be found today as an additive in many potting soils and growing media. They are primarily used for efficient water storage, improved soil aeration and better soil drainage. When used properly, Agrar-Perlite can help to Optimize soil structure sustainably and to stimulate plant growth. Perlite refers to so-called volcanic glasses that have changed into loose rock structures as a result of numerous weathering and transformation processes. Expanded perlite is used when exposed to high temperatures. When discussing perlite, please be aware that agricultural perlite should not be confused with insulating perlite. The latter have no place in the soil.
Year-round cultivation — winter cultivation is also on the rise
I currently have (still) Asian lettuce, rocket, celery, lamb’s lettuce, chard, kale, dandelion and chives growing in my vertical bed. It’s great to see something growing even in winter. The green simply looks beautiful. Harvesting fresh lettuce and fresh greens in winter is great. Jürgen Herler is also self-sufficient in leafy vegetables over the winter. He doesn’t have to buy any more. And the healthy and delicious winter lettuces are not available in stores anyway… From February, you can sow the first winter lettuces (Asian lettuce, lamb’s lettuce) and radishes, for example. One advantage of my vertical bed is its proximity to the house wall, which radiates heat. I might hang a protective fleece in front of it in the event of heavy frost, as I can’t offer the vertical bed a roof in my location.
This article is probably a promotional item. Dr. Jürgen Herler from HerbiosGarden simply gave me a vertical bed. No strings attached. I’m so grateful and thrilled, I wouldn’t want to be without it.
Vertical beds are great
They make you want to have them. But they are also expensive. They are worth it. They are made of good material, designed to last, well thought out, tried and tested in practice, can be used all year round and can be harvested. Made in Austria. It might be worth considering getting a decent product that will last a long time instead of a short-lived clunker. Assembly was easy with the help of a friend. We had only underestimated the tightness. At first, the door was too narrow and we couldn’t turn it around the corner to put it on my long balcony. I underestimated the tightness again because the lettuce was simply growing far too abundantly. Luckily I’m slim, but it’s terribly cramped on my balcony. Health-conscious people who value fresh, nutrient-rich, living, regional, green food and sustainability could well look into vertical gardening and winter growing. It is worth it.
The best books for Winter cultivation wrote Wolfgang Palme (expert at the Bio-Balkon congresses 2017 and 2020), who has been researching this for many years. In the meantime, I have already organized two online organic balcony congresses on winter cultivation: Gardening and harvesting in winter 2020 and Winter vegetables instead of fir branches. Using tubs and balcony boxes in winter 2021. As a rediscoverer of winter vegetables Wolfgang Palme always with you. There is even more information about winter vegetables here.
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There is a book by Dr. Jürgen Herler on the subject of vertical gardening for year-round cultivation Hands in the ground! Click here to go to his page HerbiosGarden. Jürgen Herler has prepared a voucher for EUR 30 for vertical beds and climate terraces for the organic balcony movement, which is a huge support for his vision of edible cities: Organic balcony.
Review of the book “Hands in the ground”
My vision is for more people to use their balconies. For self-sufficiency, close to nature, as oases of well-being. Dr. Jürgen Herler has a vision of edible cities. Through vertical gardening. Our visions come together. Garden vertically on the balcony! Use the existing walls (without having to drill into them)! Use the outside railings! The vertical beds developed by the author stand on their own weight. They have no contact with the outside wall. As this is a point load, especially on the wall, the permissible load-bearing capacity of the balconies is not exceeded. The author describes how space can be better utilized with the help of vertical gardening. In the case of a vertical bed with a continuous soil wall, the base area/standing area of the vertical bed is increased sevenfold. Sevenfold cultivation. All year round. He doesn’t write much about summer cultivation, which we can imagine doing. He describes in detail the Growing 30 types of winter vegetablesthat he has tested. Salads and herbs can withstand more frost than is commonly known. Wolfgang Palme from the Cityfarm Vienna Augarden and wrote an important book about it Harvesting fresh vegetables in winter. That’s what it’s all about. Harvesting herbs, a variety of lettuces, chard, kale, celery, kohlrabi, radishes, broccoli … until after Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Then the frost puts the brakes on. Re-plant or the plants sprout from the end of February/March. The author and his family of three are self-sufficient in growing culinary herbs and salads all year round. He has learned to appreciate the winter salads staghorn plantain, barbara cress, Asian lettuce mizuna and leaf mustard, pak choi, tatsoi, winter postelein, lamb’s lettuce and chrysanthemum, which are still unknown and well described in the book, with their often spicier, pungent flavors. He has consistently increased the amount of lettuce he eats every day. He has thus increased his proportion of raw, uncooked healthy food. The winter salads are tastier and richer in vital nutrients than the usual iceberg, romaine and lettuce. Especially fresh on the table. Eat with pleasure immediately after harvesting — organic, seasonal, regional and healthy. Without the plastic packaging usually found in supermarkets. Without having to travel from the producer to the supermarket, to the consumer. What’s more, wild vegetables not only have a higher nutrient content, they also have an ecological impact.
As a person who is conscious of nutrition, health and the environment, I like the fact that the author explains the current situation in organic farming. The clear positioning: “If we want to save the world, as is often demanded in the social media, we have to change our diet! Less meat, less waste. Buy from regional retailers and grow as much as possible ourselves, because in our own garden the waste is zero. The decision is up to us. We choose every day how we want to live and what our world should look like. On the shelf.”
Conclusion: “What are the benefits of such a small area for self-sufficiency? Quite clearly: it brings additional variety to the table, fresh herbs, vegetables and rarities, i.e. food that you can’t buy in this quality. If these products are available at all, they are usually packaged in plastic and never freshly harvested. It is difficult to describe the true value and the great joy that can be found in a small, self-sufficient garden. You simply have to experience it for yourself. We can only appreciate what we know and understand. If we learn to experience and appreciate diversity again ourselves, we will also understand what we are currently losing in nature — to an unprecedented extent. We cannot understand this without contact with nature.”
Two full pages of the book are dedicated to my organic balcony. Because I come close to his vision of edible cities.
I see the opportunities of vertical gardening for healthy eating in healthier edible cities. Thank you for introducing me to vertical gardening, winter growing and this book: Hands in the ground!
Jürgen Herler is happy to talk about his vision of edible cities, vertical gardening and year-round self-sufficiency with winter cultivation. You can invite him to readings, bookshops, seminars and workshops, and he will be happy to put you in touch with architects so that vertical beds can be planned and installed right from the start. He likes to give workshops with plant tastings. He comes to plant markets and brings young plants with him.
Jürgen Herler was so great and entered a new field of communication. We held a live workshop on “Vertical gardening — year-round self-sufficiency”. You can watch the webinar afterwards here.
Another demonstration of the lush growth from the vertical bed. At the same time, another demonstration of the lack of space on my balcony.
So it shone down from the street looking up to the 6th floor. You can probably feel the cramped conditions here too. That’s why vertical gardening is the way to go. If you want to grow a lot, you should make the most of your space — vertical gardening.
Cheers to vertical gardening with a green smoothie and year-round self-sufficiency with herbs, fruit and vegetables in organic quality!
Here is a video with Assembly instructions and planting tips.
Would vertical gardening be something for you? This vertical bed has its price and is worth a lot: sustainable, fresh, regional, space-utilizing, brings healthy vegetables and herbs …
Jürgen Herler has prepared a voucher for EUR 30 for the organic balcony movement, which is a huge support for his vision of edible cities: Organic balcony.
Dr. Jürgen Herler HerbiosGarden presented its vision of edible cities and its vertical beds at three organic balcony congresses, which are constantly being developed further and adapted even more to customer requirements. New and very popular are the Climate terracesfor overheated attics, among other things. Inquiries about special dimensions that are not in the store should be sent directly to Jürgen Herler info@herbios.at.
Inexpensive vertical gardening — DIY inexpensive vertical bed
You can find inspiration for replicas of this classic and experience reports here. The conclusion of replicator Heike Maresch: “Developing the design, sourcing, cutting, glazing and assembling was a huge time commitment and an eternal mess in the apartment — and it definitely didn’t turn out as nice as the originals from Herbios. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to have it made to measure and am now glad I tried. It’s incredible how much better the plants thrive with this continuous soil column for their roots. The raised bed concept with a continuous soil column at the back is highly recommended. If you don’t want to skimp, order the original — it’s nicer, better thought out, definitely more durable (stainless steel elements) and you’ll save yourself a lot of time.„
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26 Responses
oh dearest Birgit,
it looks beautiful! unfortunately I don’t know where to put it either… Now the Christmas tree is outside on the balcony… and I can’t get to my red beds any more…
There’s no more room for the Christmas tree in the apartment either, especially as my dad was with us this year.
Not so easy… but who am I telling? You take such loving care of your parents. hug you*****
And where do you drink your coffee on the balcony? Is there any room at all?
I’m already looking forward to the balcony congress! the last one was really great! I bought the package there too.…
come well into the new year you dear, God’s blessing and see you soon
Cordially Heike alias Gloria : )
Dear Heike! Thank you for this lovely nourishing comment. I am so glad that we met in the Facebook group for the Organic Balcony Congress. We both know how nature and gardening help us to relax, to find balance, to be with ourselves.
We have a very nice corner bench made of reddish-brown wood on the balcony. We like to sit there and enjoy the balcony with its microclimate and the many animal visitors. A place to sit is essential and is an essential part of enjoying the oasis of well-being. In the first year, we still had enough space to put a small electric barbecue on the floor. This no longer works because of the many large planters, but it doesn’t matter.
A wonderful season for all of us with many beautiful moments, good encounters, peace, relaxation and successful harvests. God’s blessing, dear Heike
Hello Birgit,
I’m really interested in how you can achieve such great harvests in such a small space. I hope I’ve come to the right place to enter the prize draw for the book. I’ve been following you and the squirrels for a while now and I think it’s great what you manage to fit into such a small space.
Kind regards
Tina
Dear Tina, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. Kind regards Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
well then I would also like to add my two cents dearest Birgit… 🙂 I have both books but only in Kindl format… one in real paper would be great though! 😀 Maybe I’ll be lucky and Söhnchen will pull me… 🙂 Your webinars were great! simply great what you put together! 🙂 Yes, such a great vertical bed but really very expensive! manoman.… but maybe it will work out one day. but a thousand is not without… slowly it’s getting on my balcony.… slowly but steadily. this year was not mine… I don’t know why? But now everything is coming up and just before vacation. But I have a watering aid… 🙂 Best wishes from Bergfelde, Heike/Gloria 🙂
Dear Heike, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for year-round vertical gardening. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. I think you will remain loyal to the Organic Balcony Congresses and will also take a look at edition 4.0. Kind regards Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Dear Birgit,
As I unfortunately have to give up my allotment again, I have now decided to devote more time to my balcony and am building my own vertical bed this week — maybe even two! I’m excited about this method of space-saving cultivation and am delighted that you provide such great information and tips here! I’m going to follow your model a bit, but I’d like to install a drip irrigation system instead of the watering pipes. Then all I have to do is press a switch and watering starts! As I still want to plant in August/September, I’ll start directly with winter vegetables. Can you say from experience how things are going here on the balcony? Due to the warm walls (and, in my case, a roof on top), I could imagine that frost might only occur later or that you might be able to grow more vegetables in winter than in a “normal” garden bed. If you have any tips, I would be very grateful! Then we can get started with vertical gardening next week — I’m looking forward to it!
Best regards, Theresa from Leipzig
Dear Theresa, yes, drip irrigation makes more sense than pipes. You have recognized that correctly. Technical development is always moving forward. We are gaining experience. Cultivation times in cities are longer due to the heat over the city, the climate change, the walls of the house radiate, and in your case the roofing also provides protection. Go ahead, build your vertical bed and sow winter vegetables. If you register for the Winter Vegetable Online Congress https://bio-balkon.de/winter you’ll receive the cultivation plan for immediate use and lots of tips on growing and harvesting frost-hardy vegetables and herbs. You can use the cultivation plan as a guide. I have the best experience. Have fun! Your success is pre-programmed. Kind regards Birgit
Huiiiiiii! I’m just back from vacation. Luckily you’re also on Hiddensee, or rather on the www. and I was able to watch the recording “Harvest abundance through vertical gardening — year-round space-saving cultivation”. Wonderful webinar! Thank you very much!
I rushed straight out onto the balcony and everyone is doing well. The plants are bursting with health, nectar and pollen and I’ve been looking for a spot for the vertical bed. Hmmmm, maybe over there… We don’t have any house walls, just glass… But we also need lots of lettuce & herbs for green smoothies.
First of all, keep reading, maybe the book will work out…
Dear Lilli, Söhnchen actually drew you. He liked your name so much. Please send your postal address to news@Bio-Balkon.de. Congratulations! It’s a great book. Best wishes Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Hello Birgit, first of all, thank you for your great work in raising awareness of gardening in the city and on balconies. I see my balcony more and more as an oasis for wild plants and animals. I would be very happy to receive the book. Lg Karin
Dear Karin, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. I’m delighted to read that you, too, are increasingly seeing your balcony as an organic balcony — an oasis for wild plants and wildlife. Best wishes Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Great suggestions! I’m fighting with my partner for every inch of balcony space. He wants space for the hammock and I want space for my plants. ?
Dear Petra, I know your space problem. I used to be able to set up a barbecue. That’s no longer possible. Instead, there are two columnar apple trees where the barbecue used to be. Söhnchen has chosen two other names. So this great book is not coming to you yet. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. Kind regards Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Mega interesting. I’m just about to introduce it to a friend — I can well imagine it on the balcony there.
And even in my garden it would be a great idea.
🙂
Dear Stefi, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. So this great book won’t be coming to you yet. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. Please pass this on to your friend. Registration is already possible at http://www.bio-balkon.de/natur. Best regards Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Dear Birgit,
Thank you very much for your great work. I would be delighted to receive lots more inspiration. I have a few books on balcony gardening, but only one or two pages on vertical gardening. And I still have some free space 😉
Best regards Angela
Dear Angela, Söhnchen has indeed drawn you. Please send your postal address to news@Bio-Balkon.de. Congratulations! It’s a great book. May it inspire you to grow in winter and perhaps also to garden vertically! Best wishes Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Hello
I’ve been interested and excited about creating vertical beds for a while now. Next year, my husband and I would like to finally put it into practice. The book would certainly be a blessing for planning the best implementation, which we want to start in the winter months.
Lg
Annika
Dear Annika, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. So this great book won’t be coming to you yet. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. I love reading that you want to start in the winter months. Have lots of fun with it. Best wishes Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Oh, how great, we would mainly plant herbs and flowers and hope that lots of beers and bugs would fly by.
All the best and greetings to you!
Bea
Dear Beatrice, Söhnchen has drawn two other names. So this great book is not coming to you yet. I can reveal that I have recorded an interview with Jürgen Herler for the next Organic Balcony Congress in spring 2020. This also whets my appetite for growing winter vegetables and for vertical gardening all year round. He shows his planted beds and explains things wonderfully. Maybe you’ll be there at the next congress. You can already register at http://www.bio-balkon.de/natur. Best regards Birgit and the lottery fairy Paul
Wow, great idea to save space in the garden 🙂 I’ll tell my friend who recently bought a new cordless screwdriver. He can use it straight away… 🙂
Dear Sihl90, tell him. The inventor Dr. Jürgen Herler was with me yesterday and I’m even more in vertical bed fever. The beds are so good. I got a water trough and pump straight away and now it’s even easier. Plus his great plants and the super vertical bed soil, which is rich in nutrients and retains water really well. I am totally thrilled. Kind regards Birgit
Hello
I think this system with the triangular boxes in the plug-in rail is great
What materials were used here?
Is there a shopping list?
Dear Carolyn, can you please explain your question a little. I don’t understand it, I’m sorry. I have one model of triangular box, the PAUL POTATO https://www.gustagarden.com/produkt-kategorie/paul-potato/but this is not shown in the pictures above. I also like working with it, but it is not at all comparable in terms of efficiency to the vertical beds from HerbiosGarden. The Herbios vertical beds https://bio-balkon.de/empfehlungen/vertikalbeet/ allow the plants to grow much larger and therefore produce more crops, as the roots have much, much, much more space to grow due to the continuous soil back wall. The vertical beds are visually impressive thanks to the use of local larch wood and can therefore withstand all weathers, whether summer or winter. Thanks to the continuous soil body, lettuce, herbs and vegetables have optimum root space and produce a bountiful harvest all year round. The 7 larch plant trays are suspended in stainless steel suspension brackets. They are self-standing thanks to stainless steel legs. I can confirm the excellent quality, as I purchased three more vertical beds last summer and am amazed at how well they grow. What’s more, I now have automatic watering for the first time, which I love. If you would like to know more, please write. Kind regards Birgit