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We have a screened porch with a sloping low asphalt roof off the back of our house. I have limited garden space in our small yard. I was wondering if I could place perforated bags of garden/potting soil along the edge of the roof and plant vining vegetables like cukes or tomatoes in them to form a curtain of vegetables that would hang down off roof, kind of like the upside down planters, or like the pioneers who planted gardens on the roof of their sod houses. I could water with hose and perhaps place the perforated bags on skids for better drainage against roof. Is this doable?
It is ABSOLUTELY do-able as long as you've got the hardware to secure your containers sturdily enough. Remember that the bags get HEAVY, especially after watering, so you want them secured really well, so-as not to come crashing down and tearing off bits of your home's structure. Using a non-soil growing medium (like lots of peat and perlite) will help BIG TIME in weight reduction, just be sure to keep up on the watering regularly. Peat is a pain to get to retain water well in the beginning, but once you've got it moistened the first time, then it will retain that water well IF you keep up on it, and it (along with perlite) will weigh a lot less than soils. Oh, and don't forget to feed feed feed! =) You can make a "tea", from compost or organic fertilizers, and use that to water once a week or so; that will do a 2-for-1 job in watering AND feeding at the same time! =)
That's a wonderful idea. I am fortunate enough to have lots of space, but it's far from the house. How great to just reach out the window and harvest a cuke?? Okay, maybe not that easy, but I will be looking at my roof differently...
I do believe I am going to try this. I will have to take step by step photos to share results with you all. I'm getting excited! Suggest some veggies for me! I don't think pumpkins will work!
Tromboncino!! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56773/
they are far and away my favorites, anyway :)
And, little pumpkins should work fine. How about pole beans in red and varicolored pods? Some have really pretty flower colors, as well.
I love this whole idea. Who's gonna invent the first Gutter Garden Growing kit??
Maybe this will be a new craze. Would that I would actually follow through with developing something...
Sounds wonderful to me!
