I have both kinds. The dollar store version is nothing like the greenstalk. They are very small and each pocket is individual so you have to water every single pocket. It also doesn't take much to blow them over and I live in an area that gets a lot of high winds. It's very hot here in the summer and they dry out super fast. Even the original green stalks dry out pretty quickly here in late summer, but they have never blown over. I have a hard time moving them, the casters don't roll very well. They are too tiny for the size and weight of the structure.
The plastic on Dollar Tree’s version is also very thin along with the fact as you mentioned, the pockets are very small. I decided after looking at them, they weren’t worth the $1.25 asking price.
@@culdesacgrocerygarden Which base do you have? They have two types - the ones that have the rolling casters only (less expensive) and the casters with base that can turn (more expensive). *btw, love your page name!
Yeah...I have the dollar store version. They dry out *super fast* but they still work. We're windy here, too, so I've only stacked them 4 high. No issues in that regard.
I’m really liking my GreenStalk! For our weather - MN, zone 4b - I was told (by a local garden center) not to plant perennials in them, unless I could bring the GS inside an insulated garage in the winter, since the soil in the pockets will freeze and kill the plants. 🤷🏻♀️ So, I planted lettuces and other annuals in it.
I have 1 greenstalk and 2 leaf stalks I am so happy with them because I am older and shorter than a greenstalk. I have been able to redesign them so I can reach all my plants and since I only have a patio to garden on they work great. They also provide a little bit of privacy.
I have two of them and I LOVE them. I roll them back in the summer so they only get morning sun. SE TX a sun is brutal. I’ve grown lots of different veggies in them, my favorite is greens. No slug pressure, easy to care for. This fall will be 4 years so it’s time to refresh the soil. They are one of the best investments I’ve made into growing my own food. Blessings!
I see my reply was deleted, this has been happening over and over today. I was only trying to say that I would have been there months ago if I was not be throttled back by certain entities. Before this happened I was gaming twice the amount than I have been for the past 5-6 months now
Zone 5 - I love the GreenStalk for keeping slugs/bugs off. Works great for our peas, beans, lettuces/greens, & beets. I have one tower with only strawberries (successful) and kept them in a greenhouse for our winters, which meant having fresh strawberries before the outdoors ones were ready. Thanks for all you do!
Absolutely love the three I have. Zone 5b. I have the frost covers so it’s easy to extend my growing season a few weeks on each side as it protects from light frost. I plan to get a couple more. I have one dedicated to salad/herb and the others are mainly veggies. Want to get a dedicated tea/medicinal one next. And then probably one dedicated to strawberries. 🌱
I made myself a setup with the dollar store version last summer just as a trial to see if I even wanted to mess with needing to fight our dry, hot weather and small growing pockets. Used it for Red Russian Kale and it was just ok. This year, I'm still not sure I want to invest in a Green Stalk so I'm just growing cut flowers in the cheapo and may decide to get the real thing for next summer. My growing space is very limited and I like the idea of being able to control bug-magnet plants easily with netting in this format versus managing a long row cover. I'm in Eastern Washington so containers often have to be watered twice a day...the Green Stalk's water reservoir would make this so much easier. Thank you for your ongoing product reviews, Heidi...you are very thoughtful.
Dear Heidi I'm glad for this video as I was contemplating on making a request for a new series. I was wondering if you could do a series on growing foods. Maybe one video for one type of plant and explaining the beginning growing process, maintaince and other info. Maybe start with perennials and then seasonal foods. It would be great for people like me who sometimes feel overwhelmed when thinking about how to start and what to begin with when growing your own food. There is so much information about different soils and pots and whether to grow in shade or sunlight 🤯 Just an idea I know your busy ❤ many thanks for this planter feedback. God bless
I do have videos on growing some specific things such as tomatoes: ua-cam.com/video/i1TiMdfUg2E/v-deo.html The reason I do not do a lot of these is because climate, location, and so much more will all have a big say in how and what will work best for each individual
@RainCountryHomestead Yes. There is no one size fits all. Drives me bonkers when people insist it's their way or the highway. I appreciate that you understand not everyone and everywhere is the same.
It probably depends on where you live, and what you want to use the Greenstalk for that informs how you feel about it. I do not have one. I do have a three-tiered planter that I bought 10-12 years ago from Kmart! It has nice, big pots, and a big saucer at the bottom. I used to always use it for impatiens that I would put on the porch (north side), and they would go to town! One year I moved it out onto the garden and planted herbs in it, and they did fantastic! In fact, the basil plants put roots down that went all the way through the drainage holes and into the ground!!! I had a tough time pulling it out of the ground and un-stacking the pots to put it away! I'm definitely no expert on Greenstalk, but, all things considered, I won't be buying one. I have plenty of ground to plant in anyway.
I never bought a Greenstalk because the only place I can place it would be my front porch which gets no sun. I have a small concrete slab off the back of the house that has a cafe table and 2 chairs. That pretty much takes up the slab. They are pretty and if I lived in an apartment, they would be perfect for that. I would revisit the idea if we ever put a deck on the back. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Shalom.
I agree with other comments. I have the cheap ones, but they are to shallow for most of the plants and require often watering. This spring I bought a greenstalk planter and I am very happy with it. I grow strawberry plants in it and have small pots with flowers on the top. I love that the greenstalk planter has deep pockets which helps with a root development and each level has six pockets for plants. I was excited when they had a Mother Day's sale and got the second one! Now I can grow more plants in a limited space.
I have both... love my greenstalks (I have several) they suit my needs very well in my limited space. The cheeper ones didn't last and were not user friendly at all. Just like in the raised beds I do "refresh" the soil each year and change the soil out completely every few (3-4) years. Very worth it for my circumstances. Great video Heidi... thank you! Blessings Kiddo!🌻🐛🌿💚🙏💕
I've heard that the Greenstalk's watering system is what makes people like it better than the inexpensive ones, but for those of us on a budget the extra watering in exchange for cost savings is certainly a consideration.
Glad I didn't miss this video. Slugs can be the bane of vegetable existence!! I thought about getting a GS so I can grow herbs up on my deck. I think slugs are afraid of heights greater than 8 feet! At least I have never seen any even attempting to slime up my deck. I live near Bremerton so our weather and slug problems are similar! Love your videos and your spirit! 🙏🇺🇲
Your deck is gorgeous! Thank you for being honest about your experience with the Greenstalk. So many people who "review" them just say how perfect and wonderful they are and I am always skeptical..no product is perfect:) Also, great information about growing strawberries. I have never successfully grown them ,but a container garden on my deck sounds like a good way to start!
I like my Greenstalk planter w/the built-in watering system. Going on about 4 years now, it's currently holding my squash, zucchini, peppers, lettuces, & 2 melon plants. It's great for small places like a porch. Only downside is the castors, they can be finicky.🌸
How does your melon not shade out other plants? First year I had a hot pepper and a marigold and they got so huge that other plants close by just disappeared.
@@kleineroteHex I put the melons & squash on the bottom rows, so far so good...I use the extensions too & just rotate the GardenStalk daily. Maybe I just got lucky...lol.
@kaykayrn1747 I have to think of my 4 feet plus melon , what are they called? Runners? Anyway, I can't see how they can be herded 😀 sure hope it works for you!!!
@kleineroteHex I planted melon seeds in the GS last year. The extensions help but I ended up having to provide addl support for each of the fruits. Doing that worked well. The extensions provide support but I just didn't want to potentially deal with cleaning up any addl fruit "splat."
@@hibiscus-dreams thanks for sharing what helped! Though isn't the greenstalk as a concept to garden in small spaces? Extensions, I imagine, take up space I don't have, make moving the tower more difficult ..... I think I will have to plant mine in the compost bin. 😀
@@katie7748 I disagree. Too many trends where everyone feels they have to hop on board the boosting train. I trusts balanced reports like Heidi's, giving us both the good and the bad.
I was thinking about taking the top half down this winter (west TN). I just bought one for mother's Day and just took the strawberries out of my garden and put in there as well so I could harvest them easier. They look great and are doing well. But in the winter, strawberries naturally hunker down to the ground, so I thought maybe I'd just take the top half down during the winter so it not so exposed 🤷🏼♀️ guess it's trial and error! I've also had the dollar tree ones and they dry out SUPER fast! As long as you stay on top of them with watering, they would do ok. Thanks for the update!!
The cheaper ones are just that - cheaper. There is no built in watering system so you have to water multiple times a day in heat. Their growing container sections are much smaller and shallower so much less room for roots to grow. The plastic itself rarely lasts a few years. With pots costing $20-30 a piece to buy (and even used are quite often over $10) and with the fact that the pots quite often don't last many years at least through our Midwest winters, I consider the Green Stalks an excellent buy with their UV resistant food safe plastic. Mine are several years old and I know people who've had theirs almost 10 years and still are like new. Green Stalks are quality vs cheap Chinese junk.
I love my greenstalks. I have two and they work great for me. I do all strawberries in them, but I have done other things like green onions, chives, leafy greens and really like it. The big things like cabbage, broccoli and large bulbing onions not so great yields were smaller than in ground or raised bed plantings. That, however, may have been a climate thing. 😊
Good idea on moving that over. I may try strawberries next spring on the south side of our house. and I'm glad you mentioned slugs...I will not be planting in the ground over there. Slugs in that area are relentless!! thanks for another great video! God Bless!!
I have a greenstalk but haven't opened and set it up yet. BTW, they are local to me, here in Knoxville TN 😊 Love your videos and all the information you share. Keep up the good work and may the Lord continue to bless you and your family ❤
I have 2 of them . I have looked at the cheaper versions. The green stock is so much better & the plastic they use have less chemicals in them Make sure , because it's warted from the top down, that you fertilizer them often as the nutrients are washed out.
I have both kinds. Greenstalk & Dollar Tree. I've had the $ tree for 3-4 yrs GS for 1-3. Have 4 of GS & basically 2 towers from DT. All my strawberries died after yr 1 in GS. That was a shame - bc the berry plants (for me) were quite an investment. What I do like is the vertical tower aspect. I have backyard but little usable soil space. Best things to grow so far have been greens, though flowers do well also For me, my goal would be to separate the tiers between each growing season and clean out the drip areas. The soil in top tiers have usually been more damp whereas the bottom are rather dry. I still have and use my DT containers. Thx for update Heidi
Strawberries only produce for a couple years and need to be replaced. In the ground they can replace themselves with runners. I wonder if that is why you had a couple good years by your greenhouse and then they fizzled, and then a couple good years in your greenstalk? Maybe some runners are rooting in the bottom ones more easily?
I grow strawberries in my Greenstalk, and I like that I can roll it under the patio when days are too hot. I wanted to get another one during their anniversary sale, but I forgot to order. My berries did poorly until I added a liquid fertilizer to the top watering basin.
We have thought about buying one but we have space to plant more traditional ways. They look to be a good product depending on your particular situation.
Watch acre homestead too with becky ale does different things too. I have noticed the same thing this year 3 years in the top is suffering. So I am going to do a flower what would you recommend for a flower then the rest strawberries. I did try marigolds loved those
Heidi thank you for the information. I purchased one similar on Amazon last year and I think the construction of yours might be better. Mine is shallow and the soil seems to dry out quicker.
I have 8 GS. I wish I could say I still love them but I don't. I even bought the watering system and that did not return my love for them. I find that I have to water each pocket instead of just watering the top and letting it flow down. It does not flow down enough to call it watering it just flow out the bottom. I have started taking them apart to make watering easier which defeats the purpose of even having them. This will probably be my last year of using them and then they will go in the garage sale pile or give them to my sister if she wants them.
Thank you for sharing, so odd none of them sound like they work right. I am glad to see a variety of reviews and thoughts in here though as it is best for all to learn what they can before making the purchase
@@RainCountryHomestead I even changed the soil out in all of them and that did not help. Boils down to the GS creating more work for me instead of less. I also found when taking them apart that I had a lot of slugs/snails living between the rows, weird I know.
@@ladycobra3 I have 4 of them. I think I have 2 and 2 (regular/leaf) or 3 & 1. I have similar concerns about their product. I've called and spoken with the company. Though the reservoir on the top is supposed to be sufficient, I've had hesitations about the design and how water flows down and through. I discovered by accident that those water "holes" in each tier can easily become blocked by soil sediment. If that happens, then the plant will struggle I'm in Z7a. Because the summer sun here is too intense, I opted to pause on seeding and put emphasis on autumn planting- I was about to give summer spinach a try this week. But even then I will likely be watering each pocket at least a little bit individually.
So funny to see this! I came home from a trip to find mine on the bottom of the pool 😢 I had it been stocked full of strawberries, but a hurricane went rogue from its predicted path and destroyed our yard while I was gone!
I got some stackable planters from Dollar Tree this year and am not impressed. I wanted them for strawberries and salad greens, but the pockets are so small that the plants don't grow well; they especially don't hold water. As Culdesac said, they dry out fast. My chamomile likes it, though, so I think for smaller plants like some herbs it might do well. I drilled a hole through the very center and put a stake down through it which keeps it from blowing over. I had to move my salad greens off the "stack" and have each pot setting on its own. I think that was for ease of picking and watering. I rotate those every time I water them. The stacked ones don't rotate as well. Zone 5
I have a Greenstalk, a Dollar Tree set up & one from Aldi a few years back. The Dollar Tree one- forget it. Too much watering needed. I like the Aldi one because it has only 3 pockets in same space as the GS, however, it does not have the wonderful watering system GS has. Although, in the summer, I just take the hose to it as I am spinning it around. The spinner I bought from GS. It's smooth, but I agree that the castors are a bit finicky. Another problem with the Aldi & DT planters is the color fades pretty quickly in the sun. I'm not sure if I'd buy another GS given the $100 price (on sale), not including the base, but I think I may try and bring it into the house for the winter. The way the watering system is it makes it less messy than traditional watering cans. I'd buy more Aldi planters, but they no longer offer them. Hope this helps.
Heidi, love the way your deck & pots are arranged in all varying heights. Do you think the change in cooler spring and sun is due to the changes in the earth’s pole shift? I would think due to your being further north you would experience more of an effect than us southerners ~ at this point. Also, have you been feeling any of the earthquakes happening off the west coast?
Temperature/climate changes happen in waves and this is proven by going back as far in recorded history. Warming trends and cooling trends. So no, I do not think it is polar shift but rather that at least for our area we are in a cooling trend that will eventually get increasingly warmer again. I have heard of the quakes but have yet to feel any of them. It is really nothing new though.
Do you cut the leaves from your strawberries for them to come back each year? I have tried growing different things this year in mine and better planning is definitely needed. Birds nesting is a problem in the Greenstalks, hard to really grow tomatoes in them because they shade out other plants regardless if planted on the bottom. They are pricey along with accessories because insect covering is needed. Despite watering from the top you also have to water each section for the plants to make sure they get enough water. In the future, I will just plant flowers or herbs in mine.
If you sign up for their notifications, you will get their upcoming sales. They just had their 10th Anniversary Sale and their 5 Tier Original Planters were $97. (That’s the lowest price they have ever had. On Mother’s Day it was $99.) Keep in mind, it’s food grade polypropylene plastic, made in the USA & they have a 5 year warranty. So it’s really a get what you pay for situation. Are they perfect? Nope, nothing is! But they are a great tool to use if you are short on space, can’t physically handle in ground gardening or just need a way to make gardening easier and fit into your schedule.
Hi Heidi I have a greensalk also. I bought it last year however this is the first year that I attempted to grow something in it. I didn't have much success. I believe my problem was the soil I used it organic garden soil which was mostly wood chips. When I watered the soil it would not hold much water it would mostly run through and would dry out quickly. I plan to try again next year with better soil and see it works better. quick question what would you say is the size of your large pots for your strawberries. Are they about a gallon or a littler larger. Thanks
Gosh, I cannot remember the gallon of the different sizes but they do not have to be massive if you keep them thinned out. I have them growing in all sizes but real small pots do not do well where average size and up seem to do great
I use to want a tower but have decided against it. Thank for that video. One question , if you are not comfortable answering, I understand. Is there a biblical reason why a follower of Christ should not be cremated?
I can't sight chapter and verse, but here's what my dad taught me. He was a fire chief and, later, an EMT. He saw "stuff." He always would say there are some people who get burned up in fires. God can resurrect them. He will resurrect all His children. I'm not sure how my dad dealt with all the stuff he saw. Some of the stories were horrific. He had great faith. He was almost always in a good mood. He lived his life to help people.
Ok attempt number four to answer the question also disappeared so let me try another way and post it in two parts: Here is my take on it: No where in the Bible is it a command to bury instead of cremate. Many believers will see the fact that burial was the traditional method but this does not mean it is wrong to cremate. There is also supposed evidence that pagans cremated their dead but putting that in modern terms, pagans also use computers, smart devices, drive cars, and other such things. Does this mean it is wrong for the believer to do the same? This is where legalism then becomes an issue and people are adding laws that God never stated.
Well, for some reason it is the last paragraph that youtube hates. I even tried rewording it and still youtube will not allow it and I cannot see ANY thing that violates community standards so I will put it this way and hopefully it sticks: People need to make the choice for themselves that is best for them including financially. One way is far more expensive than the other.
I love the green stalk and plan on using one for my herb garden. I have an off-topic question what do you pair with Lions mane mushroom for best results? I am getting ready to order Lions mane but it seems like you use something else along with it?
Patrick just takes it in capsule form by itself and this is what I get, this is the largest bottle for best value but they do offer a smaller one: amzn.to/3W8YqOu Some will buy blends that include turkey tail, reishi and others.
Thank you for the video. I have been interested in one of these for awhile, thing holding me back is plastic. I am concerned about the growing plants up taking the leached plastic I assume it does leach. Any thoughts on that?
I have so many strawberry plants but the leaves on all of them have gotten round black spots. Should I throw them all out and start fresh or does that matter? Also wondering if it's something in the ground that will just affect any be ones. I have different variety of plants from different sources which I obtained at different times so I'm confused.
This is my second year of gardenstalk. I have two, we had a bad storm last week and it picked up one of them. It had green beans in it, put it back together but it is going to be a total loss. Do you keep it outside all year long?
I have thought about it but would rather not. I may change my mind in the future. I want to first see how well they do after moving it undercover for the winter and early spring months
Yes, I realize that now as many have stated, funny how it took this video for people to come out and say that when before when I would speak of GreenStalk, people were telling me they got something similar from Dollar Tree but did not complain about them
I have both kinds. The dollar store version is nothing like the greenstalk. They are very small and each pocket is individual so you have to water every single pocket. It also doesn't take much to blow them over and I live in an area that gets a lot of high winds. It's very hot here in the summer and they dry out super fast. Even the original green stalks dry out pretty quickly here in late summer, but they have never blown over. I have a hard time moving them, the casters don't roll very well. They are too tiny for the size and weight of the structure.
Thank you for sharing this thorough information on those since I would have no idea never seeing them for myself.
The plastic on Dollar Tree’s version is also very thin along with the fact as you mentioned, the pockets are very small. I decided after looking at them, they weren’t worth the $1.25 asking price.
@@culdesacgrocerygarden
Which base do you have?
They have two types - the ones that have the rolling casters only (less expensive) and the casters with base that can turn (more expensive).
*btw, love your page name!
Yeah...I have the dollar store version. They dry out *super fast* but they still work. We're windy here, too, so I've only stacked them 4 high. No issues in that regard.
I’m really liking my GreenStalk! For our weather - MN, zone 4b - I was told (by a local garden center) not to plant perennials in them, unless I could bring the GS inside an insulated garage in the winter, since the soil in the pockets will freeze and kill the plants. 🤷🏻♀️ So, I planted lettuces and other annuals in it.
Becky from Acre Homestead in Oregon puts the most beautiful edible flowers in hers.
I have 1 greenstalk and 2 leaf stalks I am so happy with them because I am older and shorter than a greenstalk. I have been able to redesign them so I can reach all my plants and since I only have a patio to garden on they work great. They also provide a little bit of privacy.
I have two of them and I LOVE them. I roll them back in the summer so they only get morning sun. SE TX a sun is brutal.
I’ve grown lots of different veggies in them, my favorite is greens. No slug pressure, easy to care for.
This fall will be 4 years so it’s time to refresh the soil.
They are one of the best investments I’ve made into growing my own food.
Blessings!
Congrats! Your almost at 400K!!!
I see my reply was deleted, this has been happening over and over today. I was only trying to say that I would have been there months ago if I was not be throttled back by certain entities. Before this happened I was gaming twice the amount than I have been for the past 5-6 months now
Zone 5 - I love the GreenStalk for keeping slugs/bugs off. Works great for our peas, beans, lettuces/greens, & beets. I have one tower with only strawberries (successful) and kept them in a greenhouse for our winters, which meant having fresh strawberries before the outdoors ones were ready. Thanks for all you do!
I have different types too.
The green stalks are made in USA and made from a great material.
No fading or cracking
Absolutely love the three I have. Zone 5b. I have the frost covers so it’s easy to extend my growing season a few weeks on each side as it protects from light frost. I plan to get a couple more. I have one dedicated to salad/herb and the others are mainly veggies. Want to get a dedicated tea/medicinal one next. And then probably one dedicated to strawberries. 🌱
I made myself a setup with the dollar store version last summer just as a trial to see if I even wanted to mess with needing to fight our dry, hot weather and small growing pockets. Used it for Red Russian Kale and it was just ok. This year, I'm still not sure I want to invest in a Green Stalk so I'm just growing cut flowers in the cheapo and may decide to get the real thing for next summer. My growing space is very limited and I like the idea of being able to control bug-magnet plants easily with netting in this format versus managing a long row cover. I'm in Eastern Washington so containers often have to be watered twice a day...the Green Stalk's water reservoir would make this so much easier. Thank you for your ongoing product reviews, Heidi...you are very thoughtful.
I love my 2 greenstocks!
Dear Heidi I'm glad for this video as I was contemplating on making a request for a new series. I was wondering if you could do a series on growing foods. Maybe one video for one type of plant and explaining the beginning growing process, maintaince and other info. Maybe start with perennials and then seasonal foods. It would be great for people like me who sometimes feel overwhelmed when thinking about how to start and what to begin with when growing your own food. There is so much information about different soils and pots and whether to grow in shade or sunlight 🤯 Just an idea I know your busy ❤ many thanks for this planter feedback. God bless
I do have videos on growing some specific things such as tomatoes: ua-cam.com/video/i1TiMdfUg2E/v-deo.html
The reason I do not do a lot of these is because climate, location, and so much more will all have a big say in how and what will work best for each individual
@RainCountryHomestead Yes. There is no one size fits all. Drives me bonkers when people insist it's their way or the highway. I appreciate that you understand not everyone and everywhere is the same.
It probably depends on where you live, and what you want to use the Greenstalk for that informs how you feel about it. I do not have one. I do have a three-tiered planter that I bought 10-12 years ago from Kmart! It has nice, big pots, and a big saucer at the bottom. I used to always use it for impatiens that I would put on the porch (north side), and they would go to town! One year I moved it out onto the garden and planted herbs in it, and they did fantastic! In fact, the basil plants put roots down that went all the way through the drainage holes and into the ground!!! I had a tough time pulling it out of the ground and un-stacking the pots to put it away! I'm definitely no expert on Greenstalk, but, all things considered, I won't be buying one. I have plenty of ground to plant in anyway.
I never bought a Greenstalk because the only place I can place it would be my front porch which gets no sun. I have a small concrete slab off the back of the house that has a cafe table and 2 chairs. That pretty much takes up the slab. They are pretty and if I lived in an apartment, they would be perfect for that. I would revisit the idea if we ever put a deck on the back. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Shalom.
I agree with other comments. I have the cheap ones, but they are to shallow for most of the plants and require often watering. This spring I bought a greenstalk planter and I am very happy with it. I grow strawberry plants in it and have small pots with flowers on the top. I love that the greenstalk planter has deep pockets which helps with a root development and each level has six pockets for plants. I was excited when they had a Mother Day's sale and got the second one! Now I can grow more plants in a limited space.
I have both... love my greenstalks (I have several) they suit my needs very well in my limited space. The cheeper ones didn't last and were not user friendly at all. Just like in the raised beds I do "refresh" the soil each year and change the soil out completely every few (3-4) years. Very worth it for my circumstances. Great video Heidi... thank you! Blessings Kiddo!🌻🐛🌿💚🙏💕
I've heard that the Greenstalk's watering system is what makes people like it better than the inexpensive ones, but for those of us on a budget the extra watering in exchange for cost savings is certainly a consideration.
Thank you!!
Glad I didn't miss this video. Slugs can be the bane of vegetable existence!! I thought about getting a GS so I can grow herbs up on my deck. I think slugs are afraid of heights greater than 8 feet! At least I have never seen any even attempting to slime up my deck. I live near Bremerton so our weather and slug problems are similar! Love your videos and your spirit! 🙏🇺🇲
Your deck is gorgeous! Thank you for being honest about your experience with the Greenstalk. So many people who "review" them just say how perfect and wonderful they are and I am always skeptical..no product is perfect:) Also, great information about growing strawberries. I have never successfully grown them ,but a container garden on my deck sounds like a good way to start!
Very true, but for some people they really are great.
Thanks Heidi 😊 ❤❤
I like my Greenstalk planter w/the built-in watering system. Going on about 4 years now, it's currently holding my squash, zucchini, peppers, lettuces, & 2 melon plants. It's great for small places like a porch. Only downside is the castors, they can be finicky.🌸
How does your melon not shade out other plants? First year I had a hot pepper and a marigold and they got so huge that other plants close by just disappeared.
@@kleineroteHex I put the melons & squash on the bottom rows, so far so good...I use the extensions too & just rotate the GardenStalk daily. Maybe I just got lucky...lol.
@kaykayrn1747 I have to think of my 4 feet plus melon , what are they called? Runners? Anyway, I can't see how they can be herded 😀 sure hope it works for you!!!
@kleineroteHex
I planted melon seeds in the GS last year. The extensions help but I ended up having to provide addl support for each of the fruits.
Doing that worked well. The extensions provide support but I just didn't want to potentially deal with cleaning up any addl fruit "splat."
@@hibiscus-dreams thanks for sharing what helped!
Though isn't the greenstalk as a concept to garden in small spaces? Extensions, I imagine, take up space I don't have, make moving the tower more difficult ..... I think I will have to plant mine in the compost bin. 😀
Thanks for this, Heidi. So many 'trendy' things are promoted, its good to hear the real story on them.
Some people have great luck with them, others have crappy luck. All are "real stories."
@@katie7748 I disagree. Too many trends where everyone feels they have to hop on board the boosting train. I trusts balanced reports like Heidi's, giving us both the good and the bad.
I was thinking about taking the top half down this winter (west TN). I just bought one for mother's Day and just took the strawberries out of my garden and put in there as well so I could harvest them easier. They look great and are doing well. But in the winter, strawberries naturally hunker down to the ground, so I thought maybe I'd just take the top half down during the winter so it not so exposed 🤷🏼♀️ guess it's trial and error!
I've also had the dollar tree ones and they dry out SUPER fast! As long as you stay on top of them with watering, they would do ok.
Thanks for the update!!
The cheaper ones are just that - cheaper. There is no built in watering system so you have to water multiple times a day in heat. Their growing container sections are much smaller and shallower so much less room for roots to grow. The plastic itself rarely lasts a few years. With pots costing $20-30 a piece to buy (and even used are quite often over $10) and with the fact that the pots quite often don't last many years at least through our Midwest winters, I consider the Green Stalks an excellent buy with their UV resistant food safe plastic. Mine are several years old and I know people who've had theirs almost 10 years and still are like new. Green Stalks are quality vs cheap Chinese junk.
I love my greenstalks. I have two and they work great for me. I do all strawberries in them, but I have done other things like green onions, chives, leafy greens and really like it. The big things like cabbage, broccoli and large bulbing onions not so great yields were smaller than in ground or raised bed plantings. That, however, may have been a climate thing. 😊
Good idea on moving that over. I may try strawberries next spring on the south side of our house. and I'm glad you mentioned slugs...I will not be planting in the ground over there. Slugs in that area are relentless!! thanks for another great video! God Bless!!
I have a greenstalk but haven't opened and set it up yet. BTW, they are local to me, here in Knoxville TN 😊
Love your videos and all the information you share. Keep up the good work and may the Lord continue to bless you and your family ❤
I have 2 of them . I have looked at the cheaper versions. The green stock is so much better & the plastic they use have less chemicals in them
Make sure , because it's warted from the top down, that you fertilizer them often as the nutrients are washed out.
I have both kinds.
Greenstalk & Dollar Tree.
I've had the $ tree for 3-4 yrs
GS for 1-3. Have 4 of GS & basically 2 towers from DT.
All my strawberries died after yr 1 in GS. That was a shame - bc the berry plants (for me) were quite an investment.
What I do like is the vertical tower aspect. I have backyard but little usable soil space. Best things to grow so far have been greens, though flowers do well also
For me, my goal would be to separate the tiers between each growing season and clean out the drip areas.
The soil in top tiers have usually been more damp whereas the bottom are rather dry.
I still have and use my DT containers.
Thx for update Heidi
Strawberries only produce for a couple years and need to be replaced. In the ground they can replace themselves with runners. I wonder if that is why you had a couple good years by your greenhouse and then they fizzled, and then a couple good years in your greenstalk? Maybe some runners are rooting in the bottom ones more easily?
Thanks Heidi.
Thank you Heidi! 💜
I grow strawberries in my Greenstalk, and I like that I can roll it under the patio when days are too hot. I wanted to get another one during their anniversary sale, but I forgot to order. My berries did poorly until I added a liquid fertilizer to the top watering basin.
Thanks for the good review Heidi!!!
I always enjoy your videos even though I no longer garden.
We have thought about buying one but we have space to plant more traditional ways. They look to be a good product depending on your particular situation.
Watch acre homestead too with becky ale does different things too. I have noticed the same thing this year 3 years in the top is suffering. So I am going to do a flower what would you recommend for a flower then the rest strawberries. I did try marigolds loved those
Moving it next to the house and using a winter cover like they provide or making one might help with earlier production.
@@AuntBeeBon
I've used old bed sheets to protect against early frost.
Heidi thank you for the information. I purchased one similar on Amazon last year and I think the construction of yours might be better. Mine is shallow and the soil seems to dry out quicker.
I ordered two from Amazon. Quite happy with them. Not as fancy as green stalk. But a Lot cheaper
I have 8 GS. I wish I could say I still love them but I don't. I even bought the watering system and that did not return my love for them. I find that I have to water each pocket instead of just watering the top and letting it flow down. It does not flow down enough to call it watering it just flow out the bottom. I have started taking them apart to make watering easier which defeats the purpose of even having them. This will probably be my last year of using them and then they will go in the garage sale pile or give them to my sister if she wants them.
Thank you for sharing, so odd none of them sound like they work right. I am glad to see a variety of reviews and thoughts in here though as it is best for all to learn what they can before making the purchase
@@RainCountryHomestead I even changed the soil out in all of them and that did not help. Boils down to the GS creating more work for me instead of less. I also found when taking them apart that I had a lot of slugs/snails living between the rows, weird I know.
@@ladycobra3
I have 4 of them. I think I have 2 and 2 (regular/leaf) or 3 & 1.
I have similar concerns about their product. I've called and spoken with the company.
Though the reservoir on the top is supposed to be sufficient, I've had hesitations about the design and how water flows down and through.
I discovered by accident that those water "holes" in each tier can easily become blocked by soil sediment. If that happens, then the plant will struggle
I'm in Z7a.
Because the summer sun here is too intense, I opted to pause on seeding and put emphasis on autumn planting- I was about to give summer spinach a try this week. But even then I will likely be watering each pocket at least a little bit individually.
So funny to see this! I came home from a trip to find mine on the bottom of the pool 😢 I had it been stocked full of strawberries, but a hurricane went rogue from its predicted path and destroyed our yard while I was gone!
O no! I am sorry that happened!
I got some stackable planters from Dollar Tree this year and am not impressed. I wanted them for strawberries and salad greens, but the pockets are so small that the plants don't grow well; they especially don't hold water. As Culdesac said, they dry out fast. My chamomile likes it, though, so I think for smaller plants like some herbs it might do well. I drilled a hole through the very center and put a stake down through it which keeps it from blowing over. I had to move my salad greens off the "stack" and have each pot setting on its own. I think that was for ease of picking and watering. I rotate those every time I water them. The stacked ones don't rotate as well. Zone 5
Thank you for sharing.
I have a Greenstalk, a Dollar Tree set up & one from Aldi a few years back. The Dollar Tree one- forget it. Too much watering needed. I like the Aldi one because it has only 3 pockets in same space as the GS, however, it does not have the wonderful watering system GS has. Although, in the summer, I just take the hose to it as I am spinning it around. The spinner I bought from GS. It's smooth, but I agree that the castors are a bit finicky. Another problem with the Aldi & DT planters is the color fades pretty quickly in the sun. I'm not sure if I'd buy another GS given the $100 price (on sale), not including the base, but I think I may try and bring it into the house for the winter. The way the watering system is it makes it less messy than traditional watering cans. I'd buy more Aldi planters, but they no longer offer them. Hope this helps.
❤ Blessings 🍓
I domt have a Greenstalk. I did have the Dollar Tree stacksble planters, but given the price, they don't last longer than a season or two.
Heidi, love the way your deck & pots are arranged in all varying heights. Do you think the change in cooler spring and sun is due to the changes in the earth’s pole shift? I would think due to your being further north you would experience more of an effect than us southerners ~ at this point. Also, have you been feeling any of the earthquakes happening off the west coast?
Temperature/climate changes happen in waves and this is proven by going back as far in recorded history. Warming trends and cooling trends. So no, I do not think it is polar shift but rather that at least for our area we are in a cooling trend that will eventually get increasingly warmer again.
I have heard of the quakes but have yet to feel any of them. It is really nothing new though.
Good question..
Do you cut the leaves from your strawberries for them to come back each year? I have tried growing different things this year in mine and better planning is definitely needed. Birds nesting is a problem in the Greenstalks, hard to really grow tomatoes in them because they shade out other plants regardless if planted on the bottom. They are pricey along with accessories because insect covering is needed. Despite watering from the top you also have to water each section for the plants to make sure they get enough water. In the future, I will just plant flowers or herbs in mine.
I would love to try them but, can't get over the $200.00 price tag.
If you sign up for their notifications, you will get their upcoming sales. They just had their 10th Anniversary Sale and their 5 Tier Original Planters were $97. (That’s the lowest price they have ever had. On Mother’s Day it was $99.)
Keep in mind, it’s food grade polypropylene plastic, made in the USA & they have a 5 year warranty.
So it’s really a get what you pay for situation.
Are they perfect? Nope, nothing is! But they are a great tool to use if you are short on space, can’t physically handle in ground gardening or just need a way to make gardening easier and fit into your schedule.
@@heathermacy409 Heather, thank you so much for this information!!!
Hi Heidi
I have a greensalk also. I bought it last year however this is the first year that I attempted to grow something in it. I didn't have much success. I believe my problem was the soil I used it organic garden soil which was mostly wood chips. When I watered the soil it would not hold much water it would mostly run through and would dry out quickly. I plan to try again next year with better soil and see it works better.
quick question what would you say is the size of your large pots for your strawberries. Are they about a gallon or a littler larger.
Thanks
Gosh, I cannot remember the gallon of the different sizes but they do not have to be massive if you keep them thinned out. I have them growing in all sizes but real small pots do not do well where average size and up seem to do great
🌸🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌸
I use to want a tower but have decided against it. Thank for that video.
One question , if you are not comfortable answering, I understand.
Is there a biblical reason why a follower of Christ should not be cremated?
Good question.
I can't sight chapter and verse, but here's what my dad taught me. He was a fire chief and, later, an EMT. He saw "stuff." He always would say there are some people who get burned up in fires. God can resurrect them. He will resurrect all His children.
I'm not sure how my dad dealt with all the stuff he saw. Some of the stories were horrific. He had great faith. He was almost always in a good mood. He lived his life to help people.
Ok attempt number four to answer the question also disappeared so let me try another way and post it in two parts:
Here is my take on it: No where in the Bible is it a command to bury instead of cremate. Many believers will see the fact that burial was the traditional method but this does not mean it is wrong to cremate. There is also supposed evidence that pagans cremated their dead but putting that in modern terms, pagans also use computers, smart devices, drive cars, and other such things. Does this mean it is wrong for the believer to do the same? This is where legalism then becomes an issue and people are adding laws that God never stated.
Well, for some reason it is the last paragraph that youtube hates. I even tried rewording it and still youtube will not allow it and I cannot see ANY thing that violates community standards so I will put it this way and hopefully it sticks: People need to make the choice for themselves that is best for them including financially. One way is far more expensive than the other.
@@kathydills4050 Which is one of the things I was trying to say in the part of my comment that youtube would not allow to post
I love the green stalk and plan on using one for my herb garden. I have an off-topic question what do you pair with Lions mane mushroom for best results? I am getting ready to order Lions mane but it seems like you use something else along with it?
Patrick just takes it in capsule form by itself and this is what I get, this is the largest bottle for best value but they do offer a smaller one: amzn.to/3W8YqOu
Some will buy blends that include turkey tail, reishi and others.
Thank you for the video. I have been interested in one of these for awhile, thing holding me back is plastic. I am concerned about the growing plants up taking the leached plastic I assume it does leach. Any thoughts on that?
I get that but I do believe they use "less toxic" plastic and some things are simply hard to avoid.
I have so many strawberry plants but the leaves on all of them have gotten round black spots. Should I throw them all out and start fresh or does that matter? Also wondering if it's something in the ground that will just affect any be ones. I have different variety of plants from different sources which I obtained at different times so I'm confused.
🥰🤍🍓
This is my second year of gardenstalk. I have two, we had a bad storm last week and it picked up one of them. It had green beans in it, put it back together but it is going to be a total loss. Do you keep it outside all year long?
That is a shame!
Are you thinking of growing something other than strawberries in the top two tiers, like greens or radishes?
I have thought about it but would rather not. I may change my mind in the future. I want to first see how well they do after moving it undercover for the winter and early spring months
👁👁 Most Beautiful…🫶🏼
Greenstalk is made in the USA, right? I’m pretty sure the others are not.
Yes, it is made in the US
The ones from dollar stores are cheap, flimsy not real great
Thanks for sharing that. After I made this video someone also told me they are considerably smaller than the GreenStalk as well
I agree with you. They are nothing like the Greenstalk. Plus no watering system. I got one this year and ordered a second to do a strawberry one.
The cheaper ones are not nearly as nice quality
Yes, I realize that now as many have stated, funny how it took this video for people to come out and say that when before when I would speak of GreenStalk, people were telling me they got something similar from Dollar Tree but did not complain about them
The cheap knock offs aren't as deep and don't water plants thru center like yours.