Vertical farming - cultivate vertically and save space

In Singapore, the world's largest vertical farming can be found in a university building. This gigantic farming structure is about 35 meters tall and 5000 square meters in size. The hope is that vertical farming methods and vertical agriculture will eventually be able to meet a third of the country's vegetable needs - and perhaps it is also fully possible for home growers, as vertical farming works just as well in the kitchen as in the garden.

Vertical gardening at home can be done in regular soil or in nutrient-enriched water, known as hydroponic farming (which is water-saving since the water is recycled). The cultivation can take place in different farming systems as long as it is done vertically, for example in a plant wall, in a hydroponic system, or in a simple bookshelf rigged with plant lighting. The advantage is the same - floor and ground space! To save even more space, you can also grow climbing plants from the ground or from pots and let them climb upwards. In the garden, for example, fruit trees can be espaliered to take up less space.

Vertical farming allows you to grow wherever you want, indoors, outdoors, in a garage, in the attic, in the bathroom, on the terrace, or in the conservatory. All you need to be self-sufficient with, for example, salad and herbs all year round is enough light, nutrients, and water. Light is for many the biggest concern, as we already have quite little of it here in the north - and even less if you are going to grow in a garage with few and small windows, for example. The solution is plant lighting, which comes in many different types.

It is easy to think that it is only possible to grow leafy greens and herbs in vertical cultivation systems, but most things that don't take up too much space work well, such as potted tomatoes and strawberries. You can also grow beautiful indoor plants, or why not transform a boring wall on the balcony into a blooming buffet for butterflies?

When indoor vertical farming, plant lighting is necessary, especially in the dark period. Light from windows is rarely sufficient. Also, be careful with nutrition, plants in a plant wall or in a hydroponic system cannot receive more nutrition than what you provide, or get rid of excess in the same way as plants planted directly in the ground.

Do you want a green wall at home or in the office? Maybe something really beautiful? Green plants also work great in a plant wall, for example lady's mantle, ferns, and ornamental grass. A positive side effect is that the green walls reduce noise and improve air quality.

Vertical farming at home has little environmental impact, and you avoid buying vegetables in the store that are often transported long distances from other countries. In a larger perspective, vertical farming is also beneficial. If we can create green walls on dull buildings in cities, such as factories, garages, and stores, it can provide more habitats for pollinators, endangered insect species, and small birds. If vertical farming is scaled up, it can also reduce the need for deforestation to create new agricultural areas.