There isn't any reason you couldn't get it to work - unless there might be something phytotoxic in the organizer itself. With a good soil, you can have good success. The point at which you can be sure the plant will start to decline is when the root and soil mass have become unitized. IOW, when they've reached the point where the roots/soil can be lifted from their holder intact. Even so, the decline from that limitation would be gradual, and if you timed your plantings so you were restarting as old crops petered out you should be golden. I wouldn't try tomatoes and squash, but herbs, pretty stuff, succulents, lettuce, all sorts of possibilities.

To the degree you're successful in keeping conventional container plantings happy, you should have about the same potential in your newest endeavor. It's always a little more difficult growing in small containers, but you'll get it.

You might find this interesting. It will help you avoid all the most common reasons growers journey to the forums seeking help.

Good luck!!

Al

Thanks for the link! I'm planning on mainly lettuce and strawberries, possibly some Tom Thumb peas. In this type of set up, I'm assuming transplants would work best?

Hi

Where are you located ?? I grow strawberries in a similar way but for me they are an intense winter crop only due to the summer heat. Be sure to pick the cultivar suitable for you're method . The main catagories are june bearing and everbearing. They hate warm weather particularly nights really tough this year as the nights are still in the upper 70's and dry to boot lol

They are actually quite ornamental when grown this way allow me to adjust the amount of sunlight even frost protection if necessary good luck gary

I'd do seeds for the lettuce & peas - almost foolproof. I'd mix a package of lettuce seeds with a cup of completely dry sand, then shake very well. To sow, I'd scoop about 1/2 tsp of sand and sprinkle on moist soil and cover with about 1/8-1/4" of dry peat. I'd plant each cell a few days apart, then once you start harvesting the greens, start planting in the cell you just harvested.

For the SBs, I'd probably go with a bigger container - maybe even a strawberry pot.

Al

The short answer is, yes it works. it uses the idea that practically almost anything which can hold or contain soil and offer drainage can be used to grow some kind of plant. An example of taking this idea to a funny but interesting level is that why get another container when you can grow plants right out of the bag that the soil came in after you punch some drainage holes into the bag.

Many pictures you see are early in the season or just right after planting plants in the shoe organizer. The organizer still looks strong and sturdy. However, given the material that the organizer is made up, and being exposed to sun and rain, it may last just 1 season, maybe 2.

For a longer lasting option, but also more expensive, you could try a rain gutter growing system. It can still be used in a vertical fashion.

If you are able to find rain gutters for free, then that is even better. Or alternatively, gradually add more rain gutters but for starting out, have some shoe organizers.

Because the rain gutters are sturdier, you can also grow more variety of plants there. But the shoe organizer is also good and definitely can add to the ornamental look of your garden.

I'm in Zone 4b, and am planning to start SBs from seed early under lights to get a jump start. Any recommendations for varieties that will bear the first year?

Jillian,

This discussion may be of interest, where some gardenweb members shares their successful use of shoe organizers (with pictures) for vertical growing: click here

Daniel