If you’ve been looking for a solution to growing your own vegetables in the city, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, I’ll provide you with information on the Garden Tower Project and their solution to gardening in the middle of a concrete jungle. I’ll also explain how this product works, working through its pros and cons, as well as give Garden Tower reviews on how the newest release compares to the original.
This article contains affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Gardening in the Big City
Living in a city is fun and convenient. You have access to vibrant restaurants, clubs, and other amenities. You probably also live close to work, which makes your daily commute nice and quick. It is, therefore, safe to say that living in a large city has many benefits.
However, there is one downside to living in this vibrant environment. This is that one often does not have a garden, or if you have one, it’s probably small. This makes conventional gardening almost impossible or at least, extremely challenging.
While this might not be a problem for many, it could be discouraging if you love nature. Making the dream of starting a vegetable garden from which you could nourish yourself, a distant dream.
Luckily, a solution to this problem has been created by the Garden Tower Project.
In 9 months of use, a Garden Tower 2 can recycle >50 gallons of organic kitchen scraps!
Their first solution to this problem was the original Garden Tower. They have since made alterations to its design to improve the results and functionality of the tower. This led to the release of the Garden Tower 2.
If you have heard of these vertical tower garden solutions, then you’ve probably already been combing through various Garden Tower reviews and Garden Tower 2 planting guides! Let me share my thoughts.
What is the Garden Tower Project?
The Garden Tower Project tackled the task of making organic vegetable gardening in a small space possible and easy so that anyone can do it.
Luckily for us, they succeeded by creating the ultimate vertical tower garden system!
No matter your skill level (absolute beginner or expert), you’ll be able to grow your own organic and nutrient-dense vegetables with ease.
What the Garden Tower Project has done is design a tower to create its own compost, recycling kitchen scraps so they don’t end up in landfill!
This is done by making use of organic waste (such as kitchen scraps) and vermiculture (earthworms that turn organic matter into fertilizer). From this newly created compost, you are then able to grow your own vegetables.
The best part is that the entire process is sustainable and takes place within the growing tower!
The project started as a personal endeavour, designed and created within the creator’s home environment. Once the creators achieved success with the prototype, they decided that this solution could be utilised by many.
The next step urged them to release a Kickstarter fund. They reached their goal in record time, at which point the Tower Garden 1.1 was launched!
This launch initiated a fresh food revolution and made the Garden Tower a must-have city gardening item!
After the huge success, the creators started to make tweaks to their design, This allowed them to perfect the process, which led to the release of the Garden Tower 2.
How Does the Garden Tower 2 Work?
So, how is it possible that one can turn kitchen scraps into compost and grow vegetables from it? The design is simple, yet genius!
Here’s how it works:
Composting Tube:
The compost tube is located in the centre of the tower. All that’s needed is to fill the tube with organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps.
In this tube, you also need to add red earthworms who become your personal composters! The earthworms work through the organic material and help break these materials down into organic fertilizer.
Planting Pods:
There are 50 planting pods that surround the central composting tube and are able to rotate around the tube. This provides easy access to each individual plant.
Each pod is filled with soil, then your chosen vegetables and herbs are planted into these pods.
The soil in the pods offers a protective layer around the tube which provides the perfect environment for worms. Each pod also has small holes at the bottom to ensure excess water can drain through them. Therefore, your plants will not get root rot.
As the pods sit right next to the composting tube, the plant roots are able to reach through to the fertilizer. This allows them to pull the necessary nutrients from the central column.
Watering System:
The Garden Tower 2 vertical tower garden makes use of gravity to distribute water to all of the plants.
All you have to do is add water to the top of the composting tube. The water will then flow through the column and disperse the water evenly throughout the system.
This ultimately provides moisture to both the plants and the organic material that is decomposing to become compost. Adjustments can be made to control the flow of the water if desired.
All you have to do is fill your compost column, plant your vegetables in the pods with some soil, and water your plants 2-3 times per week. A truly easy, nourishing, and enriching experience.
Features of the Garden Tower 2
There are many features of the Garden Tower 2 that make it a fantastic way to grow your own produce. It also allows for this process to be sustainable, environmentally friendly, and space conscious. Some of the most popular features are:
- Space: The tower is only 4 Sq. Feet in diameter and can grow an astonishing 50 plants!
- Portability: The tower does have wheels, so you can easily move it around when required.
- Low Maintenance: There is no weeding required in this system and there is no upkeep of the tower itself. This makes it perfect for the busy bee in the city.
- Accessibility: As the outer pods of the tower rotate an entire 360 degrees around the central tube, you can easily access all of your plants. Therefore, if you only get sun from one angle you can rotate them. This will allow each plant to get some sun time throughout the day.
- Dual Purpose: Not only does it make compost, but you can grow your plants in the same space. This allows for you to make use of your kitchen scraps and garden waste in a practical way to become something nourishing and new.
Tower Garden Reviews: Pros and Cons
As with all things in life, there are both pros and cons to the Tower Garden 2. However, you can be sure that the pros far outweigh the cons in this case.
Pros of the Garden Tower 2
- Quality: The material utilised to construct the tower is a food-grade high-purity HDPE plastic. Therefore, it is extremely durable and 100% UV stable.
- Reusability: All of the water and nutrients can be reused making it an entirely sustainable solution.
- Organic: The compost is made from your kitchen scraps and decomposes with the help of red earthworms. This means that you are left with a product and plants that are completely organic as long as you don’t spray your veggies with pesticides.
Cons of the Garden Tower 2
There is only really one con. This is that, while the watering system is very effective, not all plants should be watered in the same way. Some plants need more water, while others will require less.
However, this will not cause your plants to die, some might not just yield the best results ever.
Difference Between the Garden Tower and Garden Tower 2
While the original Garden Tower and the Garden Tower 2 are very similar, the Garden Tower Project has made some changes. These changes were made in order to improve its design and functionality.
- More Holes: There are now more holes in the tower core, which allows plants to access a greater amount of nutrients.
- Stackable Nesting Planting Rings: The design of the planting pods has been changed to be more accommodating towards plant growth. This new design ensures that all of the soil does not stack and compact.
- Rotation: I mentioned the rotation feature earlier in this article. This is actually one of the new features they have added to the new Garden Tower 2 design.
- Compost Tea Drawer: At the bottom of the tower, there is now a drawer that collects compost tea. This drawer can be removed easily to either store the compost tea or dispose of it. It is advisable to reuse the compost tea collected as it is a fantastic fertiliser for indoor and outdoor plants.
- High-Quality Plastic: The first-generation tower used materials consisting of a variety of plastics that weren’t as durable and not food-grade. Therefore, the use of HDPE and polypropylene plastics is an upgrade. This new material does make the tower UV resistant.
- Stable Feet: The feet have also been improved. With a wider and studier design, the entire tower is now more secure.
Garden Tower Reviews vs Garden Tower 2 Reviews
You might have combed through many tower garden reviews by now. This has probably left you wondering whether you should opt for the original or the new model.
We have taken all of the improvements that have been made to the new model into consideration. This has lead us to believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Garden Tower 2 is definitely superior.
However, if you are on a budget, then the original is definitely not a bad option. If you are struggling to decide between the two, you can also contact the Garden Tower Project directly for advice. They are known for their great customer service and have amazing customer reviews.
What You Will Receive When You Purchase the Tower Garden 2
When purchasing the Garden Tower 2 from the Garden Tower Project there are three packages to choose from. The three packages consist of:
- Move and Grow Bundle: In the move and grow bundle you will receive a Garden Tower 2 and a Garden Tower® 2 premium caster wheel kit after purchase.
- Starter Bundle: When you purchase the Garden Tower Project’s starter bundle you can expect to receive a Garden Tower 2, Dr. Earth Plant Food, 50 plant labels, $20 Baker Creek seed gift certificate, Save-a-Drop hose meter, and a premium seedling heat mat.
- Deluxe Bundle: When you purchase the deluxe bundle, you will receive a Garden Tower 2, Garden Tower® 2 premium caster wheel kit, Dr. Earth Plant Food, 50 plant labels, greenhouse seed starting kit, expanding nutrient rich soil for seed starting, $20 Baker Creek seed gift certificate, and a Save-a-Drop hose meter.
All bundles receive a special discounted shipping rate.
Note that earthworms are not included in the bundles but can easily be purchased from Amazon or your local garden center. To choose which earthworms to buy, take a look at my guide to discover the best worms for composting.
FAQS
Just in case our tower garden review hasn’t covered everything; here are a few frequently asked questions. This is just to ensure that you have all the information you need to start your gardening project.
Is the Garden Tower 2 worth it?
If we take our own and many other Garden Tower 2 reviews into consideration, then yes! The new and improved Garden Tower 2 is definitely worth the investment for fresh, home grown, organic vegetables.
Can you use the Garden Tower 2 indoors?
Yes! You can use the Garden Tower 2 indoors and still grow your own fresh produce. However, you will need to ensure that your plants receive enough light and might have to invest in LED lighting.
What can I grow in the Garden Tower 2?
You can grow a multitude of vegetables, herbs, and even some fruits (like strawberries) in your tower. The seed starter kits on The Garden Project website are a great place to start
How much soil to fill Garden Tower 2?
To fill the entire tower, you will need about 8 cubic feet of high-quality potting soil and mix with a fertilizer like Dr Earth Premium Gold which The Garden Project recommend.
How often should I water my Garden Tower 2?
Your Garden Tower 2 will only need to be watered about 2-3 times per week. When you water, you will use between 4 and 8 gallons of water.
How many worms do you need for Garden Tower 2?
To start your new composting journey with your Garden Tower 2 you will require between 250 and 500 red wriggler worms. When you purchase a Garden Tower 2 the earthworms are not included. You will, therefore, have to buy them separately from Amazon or a local supplier.
Final Thoughts: Garden Tower Reviews
Now that you know everything about the Garden Tower Project and their amazing garden towers, you are ready to embark on your city gardening project.
Go forth and have fun growing your own organic produce in your vertical vegetable patch!
About the Author
Elle Reed is a passionate gardener and advocate for teaching beginner gardeners how to grow their own food. Elle’s mission is to inspire and empower people to get back to basics, grow their own produce, and embrace a sustainable lifestyle. “Whether it’s a few herb pots in an apartment, a potager or a full garden plot, we can all ‘start somewhere’ to grow our own food, and in doing so, provide healthier food for ourselves and those we love”.
