Growing in a Gutter-Planting Flowers or Food
How to plant a Gutter Garden™
Once the Gutter Garden™ is securely attached, you can begin to plant! Most annuals, many herbs and greens (lettuces, kale, and spinach) are successful in the depth of this 6 inch wide planter. Not recommended for planting bulbs. Consider filling up to within ¼ inch of the bottom of the back holes (remember, the soil will compact when water is added). Once the plants are in and the potting mix has settled to the maximum height, you may want to add mulch between the plantings to reduce watering needs.
Each foot of length for a (6” inch wide) gutter garden requires about 3.5 dry quarts of potting mix. (for example, if you purchase a 36” long Gutter Garden™, you will use almost 11 dry quarts of potting mix. Be mindful that each brand has unique characteristics so fill amounts may vary). Be certain to use a soil medium that is designed for containers. Do not be tempted to use top soil or garden soil. Feel free to use organic potting mix or potting mix that contains moisture amendments.
Fill the bottom with about two or three inches of potting mix and water completely (until water drains from the bottom holes). Then gently add your plants and fill in with potting mix. Consider ‘spillers’ such as sweet potato vines or ‘creeping jennies’ between the flowers. Be mindful of the sun requirements for your plants. Many Gutter Gardeners have seen success by placing plants in a staggered way as opposed to in a straight line. If you are planting seeds, fill to near the bottom of the back holes and follow directions on the seed packets.
Planting Tips:
- If the planter has problems draining, poke a straight pin up through the bottom holes. This sometimes occurs when small potting mix particles clog the bottom filter.
- Gutter Gardens™ are hand made with riveted end-caps and a food grade caulk…so safely grow your own herbs and veggies…be as organic as you wish.
- Some plants are aggressive so cut them back hard to allow other plants to thrive and get sunlight.
Don’t you have to add a filter at the bottom such as gravel so that the roots don’t stand in water? If they are in the rain, the plants will die from rootrot
There is adequate drainage and no gravel is necessary. I do recommend Soil Moist or other water retention media to be mixed in the bottom 2 inches of the planter.
I’m considering using a euramax vinyl gutter for growing herbs and strawberries but I can’t find any information about harmful chemical leaching into the soil and causing toxins to effect the edibles. I have used these gutters for plant towers only. So I’m just wondering if you have any information that you could direct me toward. Living in Florida and with the Summer time approaching the vinyl does soften up during the July August September months. Thank you for your response if there is one. Enjoy
I just googled: “do vinyl gutters have harmful chemicals” and it was informative. Keep in mind that gutters are not made to grow things in…so they can’t be held responsible for the toxins that may leech into the root system. Also, be sure to consider the sealing materials (caulk,etc).
Friday July 19th 2019 Test