Growing African vegetables on buildings can save space and feed cities – new study
The study compared the performance of traditional African vegetable crops in two types of living wall system, the Vicinity wall and the Eco Green Wall, in terms of crop yields and health.
By Karen Botes
Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, University of Pretoria
The Conversation
November 5, 2023
Excerpt:
Selecting traditional African vegetables increases the feasibility and resilience of crop performance. These crops can tolerate sub-Saharan Africa’s harsh climate conditions.
Traditional African vegetables also have a high nutritional value, don’t need much irrigation or chemicals, and are resistant to disease.
These vegetables prefer full sun and no frost. Well-drained, aerated potting soil that allows for movement of air, water and nutrients works well for them. They require moderate irrigation.
The system should be positioned to avoid possible contamination of crops by polluted environments. It must be orientated to provide efficient sun exposure for the selected plants.
Sun exposure of plant pots should be limited so that the soil doesn’t get too hot. The Eco Green Wall system is an example where sun exposure is limited and the structure protects the crops.
Pots need to have at least three litres of soil with a depth of 200mm. This increases yield and reduces plant stress. The soil must be lightweight and meet the plant’s requirements. Aeration, texture and drainage must be right. The pots’ drainage holes must limit blockages.
A drip or wick irrigation system for each plant level reduces maintenance and increases resilience.
