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Growing herbs and fruit in wall-mounted pallet

WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
in Fruit & veg
We have a spare wooden pallet from a delivery of patio tiles last year, and I was hoping it could be put to use as a planter for herbs and maybe some fruit like strawberries. But not sure where to start! We won't have any ground space (we're building a raised bed in our remaining sunny site) but we do have a south-facing fence it can either be attached to, or propped up against (we own this fence).

Has anyone done this before and got any tips for me on how best to prepare the pallet and what will be happy growing in such restricted conditions? Thank you  :)
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I did try this a few years back but there weren't enough of the herbs in such a small space for me. Looks very pretty but it is a lot of watering and piddling about so I now use the pallets to support my squash.

    I think it is a matter of personal preference so I gave it a go and maybe you should too?
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lots of herbs would probably do very well, as most like poorer conditions and good drainage. Things like thyme, sage etc.
    Strawberries could work, but they need more attention in terms of food and water. They'd work lower down if you wanted them all in the same pallet. When they have runners, it would also be easier for pegging down and potting those up.

    You'd need to line it with plastic to create pockets, and add drainage holes. A staple gun would be the most useful tool.  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
    herbaceous said:
    I did try this a few years back but there weren't enough of the herbs in such a small space for me. 
    Thanks for your comments! Do you mean you didn't plant enough up or the plants didn't produce enough harvest? 

    Fairygirl said:
    Strawberries could work, but they need more attention in terms of food and water. They'd work lower down if you wanted them all in the same pallet. When they have runners, it would also be easier for pegging down and potting those up.
    This would be my first time growing strawberries so I'm completely ignorant (and haven't done much research yet); what are runners and what do they do?!

    I'm happy to put in a bit of work watering and feeding - not like I'm going to have much else to do this summer!!!
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    The plants didn't grow big enough for a good harvest (I use quite a lot of herbs  :) )

    Sage wasn't too bad as you don't usually need too many leaves but thyme was not so good nor the marjoram. That said there were enough for a bouquet garni.

    Also my favourite strawberry, Sophie, is much happier in the ground or a trough. Alpine strawberries seem to do better in small spaces.

    This is just my experience and I am a rubbish gardener! My gardening relies on trial and error so you should give it a go anyway, it will certainly be a learning experience.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    One of the female presenters (can't remember her name) on Gardeners World did this last summer.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited February 2021
    As strawberries mature, they produce new plants - runners. Generally, it's best to replace your strawbs every few years, because they become less productive over time.
    I potted some up to send to a forum member, so I'll see if I can find a photo I took to send to her and that will give you an idea.  :)

    Here you go - There's one which was pegged down in a pot on the right, and if you look at the fruit on the left, you'll see a stem with some foliage which is down on the gravel. That one was rooting, and I simply potted that up too, and then detached it for posting. That's how they work.  :)



    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
    edited February 2021
    @herbaceous Your experience is very valued, thank you! I grow sage and thyme elsewhere so expect I'd grow annuals like basil, coriander, parsley and mint mainly, and strawberries. I've made a note to look out for alpine varieties!

    @Fairygirl Very interesting! Love that you get new plants from old ones - I assumed strawberries were annual, but like I say, I haven't really started looking into it (can you tell!). I'll see if there's a suitable lower down location to trail the runners into soil/pots.

    Thanks again everyone  B) Hopefully I'll be enjoying some strawberries with mint and basil in the summer!
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
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