How to Start a Vertical Farm: What You Need to Know

1. Find Your Customers Before You Grow the Lettuce 🛒

Let's start with something that might surprise you.

One of the first things you should do when planning a vertical farm has absolutely nothing to do with growing plants.

It's finding out who's going to buy them!

It's easy to get excited about producing hundreds of beautiful heads of lettuce. But if you don't have customers ready to purchase them, you've suddenly got a whole lot of salad on your hands. 🥗

Who Could You Sell To?

• Restaurants and chefs: Fresh herbs, specialty greens and consistent local produce can be appealing.
• Farmers markets: An opportunity to sell directly to customers and learn what they love.
• Local grocery stores: Potential buyers of fresh, locally grown produce.
• Schools and institutions: Some programs may use produce in meals or educational activities.
• CSA subscribers: Customers who purchase produce through a recurring farm-share arrangement.
• Direct-to-consumer buyers: Local residents looking for fresh greens and herbs.

Before investing in equipment, have some conversations.

Ask restaurant owners what they're buying now. Find out which herbs or greens are difficult to source. Visit farmers markets and see what customers are actually purchasing.

And don't forget to ask about pricing, quantities and delivery expectations.

Before you buy: Identify potential customers and test whether there's enough demand to support your farm.

2. Choose Crops That Make Sense for Your Farm 🥬

Now we can talk about the fun stuff. Plants!

One of the great things about Tower Garden technology is the variety of crops you can grow. But just because you can grow something doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice for a commercial operation.

For example, lettuce and many leafy greens are popular crops to evaluate because they can be relatively quick to harvest and fit well into vertical growing systems.

Herbs can also be appealing, particularly if you have restaurants looking for a regular supply.

Tomatoes, peppers and other fruiting crops may work too, but they often need more growing space, support, light and time.

What Should You Consider?

• Customer demand: Is someone actually going to buy it?
• Growing time: How long will the crop occupy a growing port before harvest?
• Plant size: How much space will a mature plant need?
• Yield: How much usable produce can you realistically harvest?
• Labor: How much time does it take to plant, maintain, harvest and package?
• Selling price: Will the revenue justify the production costs?

It's tempting to grow a little bit of everything. And for a home garden, that's half the fun!

But for a commercial farm, a smaller, carefully chosen crop list can make production planning, harvesting and sales much easier.

Before you buy: Choose a manageable crop list and estimate the production time, space and harvest quantities for each crop.

3. Choose the Right Growing Environment ☀️

Where are you going to put all those beautiful towers?

Outdoors? In a greenhouse? Inside a warehouse or commercial building?

Each option can work, but the costs and growing conditions can be very different.

☀️ Outdoor Tower Farms

Outdoor growing lets you take advantage of natural sunlight without the expense of an enclosed growing structure.

But you'll need to work with your local climate. Summer heat, freezing temperatures, strong winds and severe weather can all affect production.

🌿 Greenhouse Tower Farms

A greenhouse provides some protection from the weather while still allowing you to use natural sunlight.

Sounds like the best of both worlds, right?

It can be! But greenhouses also need proper ventilation and temperature management. Anyone who's walked into a greenhouse on a sunny Florida afternoon knows they can get pretty toasty. 🥵

💡 Indoor Tower Farms

Indoor growing can give you greater control over lighting, temperature and humidity.

That control can be valuable when you're trying to maintain a consistent harvest schedule, but you'll need to budget for grow lights, electricity and environmental equipment.

We've written a separate guide comparing all three options:

Outdoor vs. Greenhouse vs. Indoor Tower Farms: Which Is Right for You? →

Before you buy: Choose an environment that supports your crops and production goals throughout the year.

4. Plan for More Than Just the Towers 📐

One of the biggest advantages of vertical farming is that you can grow a lot of plants in a relatively small footprint.

But here's where some people get a little carried away.

They calculate how many towers will physically fit in the space... and forget that someone actually needs to work around them!

Trust us, harvesting lettuce while squeezing sideways between two towers isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. 😄

You'll need room for:

• Planting and transplanting seedlings
• Accessing reservoirs and pumps
• Inspecting and maintaining crops
• Harvesting produce
• Cleaning equipment
• Moving carts, supplies and harvest containers

Depending on your operation, you might also need dedicated space for seedling propagation, nutrient mixing, washing, packaging and cold storage.

Think About the Entire Workflow

Imagine a typical harvest day.

Where will the produce go after it's picked? Where will you package it? How will it get to the refrigerator or delivery vehicle?

Planning these details now can save a lot of frustration later.

For more on layouts and working efficiency, read How Tower Farming Can Reduce Labor and Maximize Space.

Before you buy: Measure your space and plan walkways, work areas and equipment access before deciding how many towers to install.

5. Check Your Water, Electricity and Infrastructure 💧

Plants need water. Tower Garden pumps need electricity. And commercial farms need both to be reliable.

Sounds obvious, but it's worth checking all the details before committing to a location.

Water Supply

You'll need a dependable source of suitable water for filling reservoirs, mixing nutrients and cleaning equipment.

Water quality matters too. Depending on your source, you may need to evaluate pH, mineral content and whether treatment is required.

Our Tower Garden Water Guide explains the basics.

Electrical Requirements ⚡

Your farm will need electricity for pumps and potentially other equipment, such as:

• Grow lights
• Ventilation fans
• Heating and cooling systems
• Dehumidifiers
• Nutrient dosing or monitoring equipment
• Refrigeration

Make sure the building or site can support the electrical load safely.

What Happens If the Power Goes Out?

Power interruptions happen, and plants don't particularly care whether it's convenient!

Consider what backup systems or emergency procedures your operation might need, especially if you're growing in an area prone to storms.

Before you buy: Confirm that your location can support the water, electricity and other infrastructure your farm will require.

6. Be Realistic About the Daily Work 🔧

One of the reasons people love Tower Garden technology is that the watering process is automated.

But let's clear up one common misconception:

Automated watering doesn't mean an automated farming business! 😄

Plants still need attention. Equipment needs checking. And somebody has to harvest, package and deliver all that lovely produce.

A Typical Tower Farm Workflow

1. Start or source seedlings: Make sure you have healthy plants ready for your production schedule.
2. Transplant: Move seedlings into the towers at the appropriate time.
3. Monitor: Check plant health, water, nutrients and equipment.
4. Manage problems: Keep an eye out for pests, disease and changing growing conditions.
5. Harvest: Pick produce at the right stage and to the required quality.
6. Handle and package: Prepare produce for your customers.
7. Sell or deliver: Get your harvest where it needs to go.
8. Clean and reset: Prepare equipment for the next crop.

You'll also need time for ordering supplies, managing customers, maintaining records and handling the unexpected.

And here's an important question: Who looks after the farm when you're away?

Plants don't take weekends off, and your pumps won't know you're on vacation!

Make sure you have a trained backup who can handle routine care and respond to problems.

Before you buy: Estimate how much labor your entire operation will need, not just the time spent checking plants.

7. Understand Your Costs, Permits and Business Requirements 💰

Okay, let's talk money.

It's not always the most exciting part of starting a farm, but it's one of the most important.

And the cost of your Tower Garden equipment is only one piece of the puzzle.

Startup Costs

Depending on your setup, you may need to budget for:

• Tower Farm equipment
• Site preparation and installation
• Greenhouse construction or building modifications
• Lighting and climate control
• Water and electrical infrastructure
• Seedling propagation equipment
• Harvesting, packaging and storage equipment
• Training and initial supplies

Ongoing Operating Costs

Then there are the expenses that keep coming after the farm is running:

• Labor
• Seeds and seedlings
• Nutrients and water
• Electricity
• Maintenance and replacement parts
• Packaging
• Storage and refrigeration
• Transportation and delivery
• Insurance and other business expenses

You'll also need enough working capital to cover expenses while crops grow and your customer base develops.

What About Permits and Regulations?

Requirements vary depending on where your farm is located and how you plan to sell your produce.

You may need to investigate zoning, business registration, construction approvals, food handling requirements and insurance.

If you're building a greenhouse or converting an existing building, check with the relevant local authorities before making major commitments.

Before you buy: Create a realistic startup and operating budget, and investigate the requirements that apply to your project.

8. Start at a Scale You Can Actually Manage 🌱

We get it. Once you've decided to start a Tower Farm, it's tempting to go big!

Rows and rows of towers. Hundreds of plants. A steady stream of beautiful harvests.

But sometimes the smartest way to build a successful farm is to start with a smaller, manageable operation.

That gives you an opportunity to:

• Learn how your crops perform in your environment.
• Test different varieties and growing schedules.
• Understand your actual harvest quantities.
• Measure labor and operating costs.
• Build relationships with customers.
• Identify problems before they become expensive ones.

For example, you might discover that one variety of lettuce grows beautifully but doesn't sell particularly well, while a different crop has customers asking for more every week.

That's valuable information to have before investing in a much larger setup!

Before you buy: Choose a starting size that fits your resources and gives you meaningful information about your potential business.

9. Think About Expansion Before You Need It 📈

Here's a nice problem to have.

Your crops are growing beautifully. Your customers are happy. And now you're getting requests for more produce than you can supply.

Time to add more towers!

Well, maybe. But before you do, think about everything else that needs to grow alongside your farm.

More towers may also mean:

• More seedlings and propagation space
• Additional water and electrical capacity
• More harvesting and maintenance time
• Extra packaging and storage
• More deliveries
• Additional staff or equipment

It's worth thinking about these possibilities when you're choosing your original location and planning the infrastructure.

For example, if you eventually want to double the number of towers, will your electrical system support the additional equipment? Is there room for wider production and more storage?

You don't need to build everything on day one, but it's helpful to know what future expansion might involve.

Before you buy: Identify how your farm could grow and what limits you may encounter as production increases.

✅ Your Before-You-Buy Vertical Farm Checklist

That's quite a lot to think about, isn't it?

Don't worry. You don't need to have every single answer today.

But before making a major investment, it's worth checking that you've considered these nine essentials:

• ☐ Customers: I know who might buy or use my produce.
• ☐ Crops: I've chosen a manageable selection to test.
• ☐ Location: I understand the growing conditions throughout the year.
• ☐ Space: I've allowed room for people, equipment and daily tasks.
• ☐ Utilities: I've checked water, electricity and infrastructure requirements.
• ☐ Operations: I have a plan for planting, harvesting, maintenance and staffing.
• ☐ Budget: I've considered startup costs, operating expenses and local requirements.
• ☐ Starting scale: I have a realistic first phase.
• ☐ Expansion: I've thought about what future growth might require.

If you can work through these questions, you'll be in a much stronger position to make informed decisions about your Tower Farm.

Ready to Start Planning Your Tower Farm? 🌿

Starting a vertical farm is a big decision, but you don't have to figure everything out on your own.

At Living Towers, we can help you explore the practical side of your project, from growing space and crop selection to production goals and equipment requirements.

And you don't need a complete business plan before getting in touch!

• Have a space? Send us the dimensions and a few photos so we can discuss a possible layout.
• Have a production goal? Tell us what you'd like to grow and how much you hope to harvest.
• Have a budget? Let us know what you're working with so we can explore suitable options.
• Still researching? That's absolutely fine too!

Our Tower Farm Planning Guide brings the main steps together.

And when you're ready to talk through your ideas, get in touch with Living Towers. We'd love to hear what you're planning! 🌱