Hedgetable gardens?

I seem to remember seeing somewhere the last couple of day something about growing crops to form a hedge, either that or I saw it in a dream. Pretty sure it not that the latter but now I can't find anything about it.

Was thinking I could build 2x4 boxes with climbing frames on both sides and grow crops to create a nice livable edible barrier and put it wherever I wanted.

If I did see it online it was most likely on here so if anyone knows what I'm talking about please let me know where it might have been, otherwise I wouldn't mind some feedback on the idea.

I REALLY like this idea! If it can be tall enough to provide privacy, that is even better!

Runner beans are a good one, just plant them thickly. Same with cucumbers. Also you can use a Florida weave trellis system to contain tomatoes in a vertical space.

I can't visualize what you're describing, don't know if you meant an arbour or corner trellis or something like PB's
trellis

Acara's


Or more similar to what camprn posted... could still give privacy is the boxes were a little closer

but I love the idea too... (food source + vertical space + privacy )this one makes me drool with envy.

I don't want to how how MUCH it would cost to fill that wall with MM.

http://www.lushe.com.au/2009/12/08/how-to-build-a-vertical-garden-2/
Cheers

I recommend getting the book Vertical Gardening by Derek Fell. You can use MM/Sfg to do it but they have additional suggestions for growing up. Also there are several books on edible landscapes you might be interested in that are along the same theme but many are not compatible with sfg (You can still do both though).

Don't forget Josh's Wall O' Flowers!



homemade self watering containers
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t2552-wall-of-flowers

I have two 4x4 boxes on the road edge of my property and they both have trellises on the road side and are filled with runner beans.

They work great, except that one of the boxes was invaded by voles who ate the bottom out of one box, but the box that was not invaded has a lovely mass of green vines, beans planted eight to a square and are looking good. I am also getting a great harvest from them, more than I can eat every day so I am able to freeze some for later.

I will do this again next year, after making sure I have vole protection.

What I'm picturing in my head is a collection of 2x4 containers (so that I can move them later on if needed, you know what local planning regulations can be like) with a support frame attached to each side or maybe the middle running lengthways.

As the plants grow they would climb the supports but essentially it would be the plants that provided the screen, a lot of the examples shown have a screen that have plants attached that would do just as good a job of screening if the plants weren't there.

I'm not sure I would go too much more than 4ft high for the sake of stability, although you could always stake out some guide ropes to be sure.

The boxes could then be laid end to end to for a hedge wherever you wanted, if it was to form a nice little shaded corner to relax in, or an entire boundary for your yard.

I'll get some boxes made up ready for next year and post some pics when they're done but I kinda like the idea of a living edible wall rather than a wooden fence.

If my cukes this year are any indication, cukes would make a GREAT edible hedgetable garden! Next year I may put up the trellises on the SOUTH side of some boxes with cukes, and plant lettuce, carrots, broccoli, etc. in the shade of them so that I can have them in more of the heat of the summer (we did actually get 2 weeks of it this year!)

GG

Tbites wrote:

I saw something like this at New Orleans City Park and it blew my mind. I've seen vertical gardening before, but the simplicity of this hardscape is, well, awesome!

I've been thinking a lot about that particular design lately, especially for the front yard. I'm not sure how well some veggies would grow in something like that, but I bet herbs would love it. Drip irrigation or wicking beds would be easy to set up for something like that. I was also thinking that if you used some sort of liner inside the "boxes", you could grow new stuff in a greenhouse(or cold frame) and have it ready to go when old plantings start to die off(since you lose any form of privacy when the plants are not growing).

I wonder how my neighbors would feel about redoing the back yard fence...