Alright, let’s yak about this stand-up gardenin’, you know, the kind where you don’t gotta bend your old back all day. I seen them city folks doin’ it, and I reckon it ain’t a bad idea, even for us country bumpkins.
First off, what is this stand up gardening thing? Well, it’s like this, instead of plantin’ stuff on the ground, you’re plantin’ it up high. Think of it like puttin’ your tomatoes in a tall box or hangin’ ’em from a rope. It’s all about growin’ up, not out. They call it “vertical gardenin’” sometimes, sounds fancy, but it ain’t nothin’ complicated.
Now, why would you wanna do that? Well, for starters, my back ain’t what it used to be. Bendin’ over all day to pull weeds and pick beans, it’ll wear you down. With stand-up gardenin’, you can do most of the work standin’ up straight, or maybe sittin’ on a stool. That’s a godsend for an old gal like me.
- Less back pain.
- Easier to reach.
- Fewer weeds (sometimes!).
Another good thing is, critters can’t get to your plants so easy. Rabbits and such, they like to nibble on everything. But if your veggies are up high, them varmints gotta work a lot harder. And sometimes, they just give up. That means more food for you and less for them, which is always a good trade, I tell ya.
But it ain’t all sunshine and roses, mind you. Stand-up gardenin’, it can be a bit more work to set up. You gotta build them boxes or hang them pots. And you gotta make sure they’re sturdy, or they’ll come tumblin’ down, and then you got a real mess. Plus, you gotta water ’em more often, ’cause the soil dries out faster up in the air. It takes more waterin’, so be prepared. That can be a pain, especially in the hot summer months.
Now, let’s talk about what kinda things you can grow in a stand-up garden. Well, pretty much anything, I reckon. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, even strawberries. I seen folks growin’ all sorts of stuff. You just gotta make sure you got the right kind of container and the right kind of soil. And you gotta make sure the plants get enough sun. That’s important, no matter how you’re gardenin’.
There’s different ways to do this stand-up gardenin’ thing too. You can use raised beds, them boxes I was talkin’ about. Or you can use hangin’ baskets, or even them fancy tower gardens. I seen them in a magazine once, all stacked up high with plants growin’ out of every little hole. Looked like somethin’ from outer space, but I guess it works.
So, is stand-up gardenin’ better than regular gardenin’? Well, it depends. If you got lots of space and a strong back, then maybe the old way is just fine. But if you’re like me, a little bit older and a little bit creaky, then stand-up gardenin’ might be just the ticket. It’s worth a try, anyhow. You might just find you like it. And if you don’t, well, you can always go back to bendin’ over. But I ain’t gonna tell ya that’s a good idea!
One more thing, if you are gonna try it, start small. Don’t go buildin’ some giant contraption the first time out. Just get a few pots or a small raised bed and see how it goes. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s always someone around who knows more than you do, even if they don’t look like it. And that’s the truth about stand up gardening, plain and simple.
Tags: stand up gardening, vertical gardening, raised beds, gardening tips, easy gardening, container gardening, back pain relief, senior gardening, small space gardening, accessible gardening
