We have been really excited to share our gardening projects on the blog and the growth we have seen over the past month.  Unfortunately, many readers have expressed various restrictions and reasons why they couldn’t have a garden.  Some had space issues or living restrictions such as apartment etc.

We have been asked time and time again what we suggest when these restrictions arise, and how to get around the dilemma.  We now have a wonderful alternative for you that our Amazing Pippa from England came up with.  We have included Pippa’s step by step guide to how she made this happen.

The problem has been solved by our Darling Pippa of Somerset, England, with this vertical garden using a cotton shoe pocket hanger organizer. Pippa’s passions are practicality and creativity which she has certainly shown on this one.   Pippa has a real love for problem solving by way of using and reusing recycled materials which she incorporates into all of her projects.

Thank you Pippa we really appreciate you and you sharing your genius with all of us.

If you have a small area that you can hang something this may be your answer.  You ask and we will always try to find a way for our readers.  Enjoy the article and see how creative and inventive Pippa is with this wonderful idea.  The hanger also provides a nice living piece for your home or patio, adding to the decor and certainly creating a nice conversation piece. Pippa has been so kind enough to provide us with step by step instructions on how to make this vertical garden possible.

Step 1 Materials needed

- Hanging pocket shoe organizer /store.
- Pole and attachments ( curtain pole or pipe fittings, screws).
- Strong metal saucepan or utensil hanging hooks
- Compost of a good quality moisture holding type.
- Selection of plants or seeds… e.g. mixed leaf salad, herbs,sorrel, peas, mini tomatoes.
- Piece of wood 2″x2″ as long as the width of the pocket store to keep the
base of pockets away from the wall.
- Trough planter to catch drips.

Step 2 Attach pole to shed or wall

Attach pole to shed or wall
I attached a strong chrome pole with metal fittings to the shed.
You could use a curtain pole.
Make sure it is at the correct height especially if you want to grow plants in a
trough below ( see step 7). This uses the surplus water from the pockets above.

Step 3 Attach hanging shoe storage organizer

Attach hanging shoe store

Use strong hooks or wire to attach the shoe store. They must be strong enough to support
the weight of the compost, plants and water.

Step 4 Test drainage

Test drainage

Pour water into the pockets to check the drainage, if they don’t drain then make a few small holes in each of the pockets.

Step 5 Fill each pocket with compost

Fill each pocket with compost

Add a good moisture retaining compost, fill to 1″ below the rim so that water
does not pour out over the rim.

Step 6 Add plants or seeds

Add plants or seeds

Sow seeds or add seedlings I suggest….
- herbsthyme, sorrel, chives- salad mixed leaf, mustard, cut and come again, or spinach- minibel tomatoes

- ‘petit pois peas you can eat the young leaflets and tendrils

Step 7 “Drip Aid”

\"Drip Aid\"

Use a piece of wood to make sure the excess water drips into the trough below.

Step 8 Maintaining a healthy hanging veg plot

- Water slowly with a gentle flow, or you may wash soil and plants out of the pocket
and it will dirty the crop below.- Add water retaining crystals to the compost. HINT… add water to some crystals in a container and allow them to swell then add that to the compost and fill your containers, otherwise when the crystals swell they can grow so much that they push the compost, seeds and plants out!! - Plants like tomatoes will need regular Tomato fertilizer (and use slow release granules)

as the fertility of the compost will soon get exhausted.- Do not over pick salad leaves, so the plant regrows.- It is important to keep a look out for aphids, slugs, caterpillars and other pests.

- Remove diseased , infected or damaged leaves… compost them.

- Remove unproductive plants and compost them

- When reusing pockets add some fresh compost.

Step 9 Development & The Idea

Develop the idea

- NEXT I would like…
-to hang up more shoe hangers and pocket organizers, to increase the harvest.

Could it become addictive???

will I end up covering every available wall?
- try out different vegetables and herbs
- add an automatic drip watering system.