San Francisco Chronicle’s Rooftop Garden

189 Replies

20130522_0099

20130522_0101

I included two rooftop gardens in Backyard Roots and was  curious about the downtown San Francisco rooftop garden at the Chronicle ever since I heard about it.  When  the chance came up to visit it  I jumped. Editorial assistant Kim Gomes is also the gardener and she showed me around. It’s her “green sanctuary” she said, up above the hustle and bustle of the city below. It attracts a lot of birds including hummingbirds. They have two thriving hives despite the fact there is not a lot of greenery to be seen nearby. The plants get full sunlight and a lot of wind  so they are watered with a drip irrigation system ten minutes a day. Pests are few and easier to control on an isolated rooftop, although Kim says she still can’t figure out how the snails made it up there.

The garden is a place to experiment with plants and growing methods. One of the latest is a potato growing bag called a Potato Planter bag that has drainage hoes and two flaps at the bottom to retrieve the potatoes. She adds compost to the plants weekly. The potatoes grow faster in the solar warmed grow bag and the bag is a great rooftop option especially if you don’t have much space.  Harvest is easy and fast, just open the flap.

Another successful newcomer are the evergreen strawberries she’s planted this year.  They are planted in containers all over the roof, but I loved the pallet planter. She said to make the planter she simply stapled landscaping material on 5 sides and then filled with dirt.  After planting the strawberries and letting them get established she tilted the pallet up vertically. She did the same technique for a succulent garden. For step by step instructions for the pallet planter and other planter diy planter ideas check the SF Gate article she wrote here.

 

potatoes

The Potato Planter Bag

20130522_0070

 

 

20130522_0052

189 thoughts on “San Francisco Chronicle’s Rooftop Garden”

  6. Appliance Repair Manual

    The very core of your writing whilst sounding reasonable initially, did not settle well with me after some time. Somewhere throughout the sentences you were able to make me a believer but only for a very short while. I however have a problem with your leaps in logic and one might do nicely to fill in those breaks. In the event that you can accomplish that, I will certainly be impressed.

  7. Hairstyles

    I and my friends happened to be studying the best techniques located on the website and so instantly I had a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those secrets. All the ladies had been totally stimulated to read through all of them and already have actually been taking pleasure in them. Thanks for genuinely well considerate as well as for figuring out such marvelous areas millions of individuals are really desperate to discover. My very own sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.

  14. Williamnable

    se puede comprar sildenafil sin receta en farmacias similares en espa̱a: Confia Pharma Рse pueden comprar las pastillas para dejar de fumar sin receta

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *