Struggling to tell which garden products are worth your money? You're not alone.
Today I'm sharing what I learned on a behind-the-scenes visit to GreenStalk in Knoxville—how they design, test, and support a planter I've used for five years.
You'll leave with practical ways to use a vertical planter this fall for salad greens, herbs, and flowers.

free download: Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar
Plant at the right time for fresh greens all season.
http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden

Key Takeaways

• How a family-owned US company designs and tests products for real gardeners.

• Why quality materials and thoughtful R&D matter (and how that shows up in the planter).

• Practical fall ideas for your vertical planter: salads, herbs, pansies, and more.

• The role of good customer service—and how feedback shapes better products.

• When a vertical planter makes sense for beginners and for large-garden add-ons.

Chapters

00:02 – Why I only share vetted tools
01:45 – Welcome & what to expect in this series
03:06 – Why fall is the perfect time for this story
04:17 – My first GreenStalk in 2020
05:40 – Five years of testing: what's worked
07:36 – Meet the family behind GreenStalk
09:06 – The affiliate weekend invite
11:31 – First impressions & thoughtful hospitality
13:48 – Community with fellow gardeners
16:02 – Touring R&D and prototypes
18:27 – Designing lids & the auto-watering system
20:34 – Quality over shortcuts
22:56 – Caring for employees in a tech-driven world
24:24 – US-made parts and sourcing
26:22 – Why this product helps new gardeners start
27:40 – My favorite fall uses (greens, pansies)
29:40 – Clearance event details + my code
30:40 – Final encouragement: why I recommend them
31:49 – What's coming next week

Resource Links

• Fall Salad Garden Planning Calendar (free): http://journeywithjill.net/fallsaladgarden

Connect

• Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

• Podcast archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

Soft mention

• Complete Garden Planner – plan and track your season simply: https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Sponsor(s) for this Episode

• GreenStalk Vertical Planter – Family-owned, US-made vertical planters I've used for five years. Use code JILL10 for $10 off a $75 purchase: https://journeywithjill.net/greenstalk. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Disclaimer

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance. Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.