Cone garden
A space-saving solution for growing crops
A cone garden is an efficient method of growing vegetables in limited spaces. It features stacked layers of polythene liner arranged in a staircase-like structure. This design allows crops to grow vertically as well as horizontally, giving the garden its distinctive cone shape.
Cone gardens allow for dense planting (up to 100 plants per square metre), with a space of 16 square metres producing enough to feed a family of three. They use significantly less water, reduce the risk of common pests and weed infestations, and their compact design minimises the effort needed for planting, watering and maintenance. As a result, cone gardens are an excellent option for improving food security for farming families in rural Africa while also promoting healthy soil practices.
Francis relies on his cone gardens. He has seven children still living at home, he doesn’t have much land and has limited access to a water source. Space-saving, water-conserving techniques like this are vital for farmers like Francis.
He shared: “Through Ripple Effect technology, our family has planted so many things, so I am able to sell those crops, and raise enough money to cover my children’s school fees and enough for me here at home. As a parent, our life is now in peace.”
To make your own cone garden, you will need:
• garden hoe or fork
• spade
• soil
• six sticks
• polythene liner
• well-rotted manure or compost
1. Soil preparation
• Loosen the soil using a hoe or fork.
• Break up clumps to create fine soil, then mix with manure or compost in a ratio of two parts soil to one part manure/compost.
2. Setting up the layers
• Position six sticks evenly into the ground in a circle to mark out the size of your lowest layer.
• Curl the first piece of polythene liner around the inside of the sticks to create a large circle.
• Fill the liner with the prepared soil mixture using a spade, and once it’s stable, remove the sticks.
• Now place the sticks a few inches inside the first circle to create the next level, and curl the second piece of polythene liner inside the
sticks as before.
3. Building additional layers
• Repeat the process for each of the six layers, ensuring each is stable and filled to the top with the soil and manure/compost mix.
4. Final step
• Plant your seedlings, water generously and watch them flourish!
What could you grow in a cone garden?
• kale
• spinach
• chard
• coriander
• strawberries
• peppers
...and much more!
Want to hear good news stories from Africa, get involved in fantastic fundraising and be part of exciting events? Fill out your details below and we will keep you updated by email.