Greenstalk Planter Review [Vertical Garden Planter]

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Vertical gardening is quickly becoming one of my favorite gardening hacks to not only grow more plants in small spaces, but also make gardening more accessible if you have chronic pain.

What is vertical gardening?

Vertical gardening is a way to grow plants in a vertical space, such as on a wall or fence. It can be used to grow a variety of plants, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, and even trees. Vertical gardens are a great way to save space, add beauty to your home, and grow your own food.

What are the benefits of vertical gardening?

Increased yield: Vertical gardens can produce more fruits, vegetables, and herbs in a smaller footprint.

Improved plant health: Vertical gardens can reduce the risk of pests and diseases by providing better airflow and drainage. They also minimize or eliminate weeding.

Reduced water usage: Vertical gardens can use up to 90% less water than traditional gardens.

Increased accessibility: Vertical gardens can be used by people with limited mobility or chronic pain.

Improved air quality: Vertical gardens can help to improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

Are vertical gardens high maintenance?

No, most vertical gardens like the planter I use are very low maintenance. With the addition of automated timers for your grow lights and self watering trays you’ll really only have to maintain your garden once or twice a week.

How long do vertical gardens last?

My Greenstalk Planter is super durable - I’ve even heard stories of people having them fall off their decks and they were totally fine! My Greenstalk planter should last for many years, especially if they are properly cared for. You’ll be continually refreshing the plants in your garden as they reach the end of their lifecycle, which can be anywhere from a month for lettuce to six months for larger plants like squash.

How do you start a vertical garden?

To start a vertical garden, you will need to choose a location and purchase the necessary supplies. You can then choose the plants you want to grow and plant them in your vertical garden. The entire process is much faster than planting a traditional garden in the ground. I recommend choosing a spot that is easily accessible from your kitchen, so you can easily grab what you need before you start cooking dinner and have the freshest harvest possible. You’ll also want a spot in full sun if you’re using your vertical garden outdoors. I have this vertical garden outside on my deck to increase my available growing space and yield.

Greenstalk Planter Review

If you had told me I could grow 30 veggie plants, flowers and herbs in 2 square feet of space, I would have thought you were crazy. But the Greenstalk has grow pockets that are a full ten inches deep so my plants can grow as big as they want (and I can grow everything from carrots to peppers, tomatoes, herbs and squash!). It's by far the best way to maximize your garden space and make gardening more accessible if you have chronic pain like me.

The Greenstalk was a breeze to set up. I just filled each individual tier with soil and then my plant starts/seeds. The high-quality, food-grade, UV-resistant, BPA, BPS & PVC-free plastic tiers snap together with built in clips so there's no fiddling with tools or tiny parts trying to line everything up. I also got the spinner base with wheels which allows me to rotate the planter to get the most sun during the day and roll it around if it's ever in my way. Next I attached the self watering kit which is basically a long custom tube that clips to the side of the planter and connects directly to your hose to fill the top reservoir automatically. 

How does the Greenstalk planter work?

What makes this outdoor vertical garden unique is the patented top water reservoir for easier watering with 4 watering disks to easily distribute water. GreenStalk’s patented watering system delivers fresh water to every tier at the same time so you don’t have to water each pocket by hand. All you do is add water to the top tray up to the fill line and the Greenstalk does the rest utilizing a gravity-fed system to slowly and evenly drip irrigate your planter, which means no need to worry about thirsty plants OR root rot!

After using my Greenstalk all summer, fall AND winter with the optional frost cover, I can't imagine my garden without it. In fact, I'm trying to resist buying a bunch more! If I had a choice, all my garden beds would be at least three feet off the ground, but this setup combined with the self watering bluetooth timer in summer is a GAME CHANGER. Talk about hands off (and weed-free) gardening.

Does Greenstalk have a warranty?

Yes, they include a 5-year warranty on color and functionality of the planter. 

What can I grow in the GreenStalk Planter?

There are many different plants that can be grown in the Greenstalk planter, thanks to the super deep 10' pockets. I can grow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, lettuce and other greens, herbs and even root crops like potatoes and carrots. strawberries are a really popular choice to grow in a Greenstalk planter as well. And of course I had to add some flowers like petunias, marigolds, and pansies. But these are just some of the many plants you can grow in your Greenstalk! Greenstalk  recommends growing larger plants in the GreenStalk Original and smaller plants in the GreenStalk Leaf.

Can I use the GreenStalk Planter indoors?

These Greenstalk planters are basically all-weather outdoor champs. Some folks get creative and bring them indoors, tweaking the lighting and drainage. But with the addition of a frost cover and some careful planning to grow cold loving crops you can continue the outdoor harvesting well into the winter months.

How to store a GreenStalk Planter during the winter months?

Greenstalk planters are made for all climates. They can stay outdoors all year long (yes, really!) or they can be cleaned, stacked, and stored away.  

How much does each tier weigh?

One Original Greenstalk with all its green glory and watering action hits the scale at around 30 lbs. If you're eyeing the Leaf Greenstalk, each tier throws down a weight of about 23 lbs.

How much soil do I need for the Greenstalk?

Each Original Tier holds 1 cubic foot of potting mix (about 8 gallons). Each Leaf Tier holds 0.75 cubic feet of potting mix (about 6 gallons).

Do I need special soil to use a GreenStalk?

Any high-quality, lightweight potting mix would work well. Avoid using topsoil, raised bed soil, or garden soil.

How often should I water my Greenstalk?

Watering is all about the season, weather, and the plants you've got growing. When you kick off the planter setup, my tip is to drench the soil using the water reservoir and each little pocket. If you're starting from seeds, give 'em a gentle mist until the plants are holding their own, so you don't go tossing those seeds around. And don't forget to sneak a peek and make sure the soil is staying moist below the top layer.

How long does the water sit in the reservoir?

GreenStalk's patented slow drip watering system allows water to drain through the system within approximately 5 minutes. If used correctly, there will be no sitting water anywhere in the system. The bottom of the GreenStalk includes little “feet” that allow water to drain out and away from the planter.

How do I fertilize my GreenStalk Garden?

You can add granular fertilizers, compost or worm castings when filling the tiers with soil, but the best hack is to add water soluble fertilizer as needed through the GreenStalk’s internal watering system when filling the top water reservoir.

tap here to CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS AND COLOR COMBINATIONS

USE CODE ‘DAGNY’ TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL $10 OFF!

Want more vertical gardening ideas?

I love vertical gardening so much, I literally wrote a book on it. This ebook has everything you need to know to get started with indoor gardening, including DIY vertical gardens you can make, to-do lists so you don’t miss a thing and more. Just click here to grab your copy.