Vertical gardening racks toppled my tomato dreams

I put up a vertical gardening rack to save space and grow tomatoes on my balcony. A strong wind last week sent it crashing down, ruining all my plants. Is vertical gardening really safe for exposed balconies, or should we stick to heavier pots?

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3 Comments

lopez.mason7mo ago

That's a real shame about your tomatoes... see this all the time with DIY projects. People focus on the cool part and skip the basic safety steps... wind doesn't forgive.

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nathanl367mo ago

Heavy pots can blow over too. The problem wasn't the rack, it just wasn't anchored down right. Gotta tie it to the railing or use weights at the base.

2

the_lisa7mo ago

Wait, didn't I see a video where someone filled old plastic bottles with sand and put them in the bottom of their pots for extra weight? It seems like a cheap fix if you don't want to drill into your railing. But you're totally right, if the whole thing isn't tied down, a strong gust just takes it all. I guess it's one of those things you don't think about until you're picking dirt and plants off the sidewalk.

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