Vertical Gardening of Vegetables
Growing plants vertically is a simple way to maximize the use of small spaces in your home garden. In addition to be being easier to maintain, water and monitor, growing some vegetables vertically actually improves the quality and yield, according to the University of Tennessee. You can use a variety of supports to train vegetables to grow vertically both in the garden and in containers located on porches and patios. Growing vegetables vertically is an easy task with careful planning and regular care and attention to the plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Plants
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Several types of vegetable plants are amenable to growing vertically. Vine plants such as beans and cucurbits -- pumpkins, squash and cucumbers -- will attach themselves to a trellis structure and grow vertically with little assistance. Other plants such as tomato vines may need some additional ties in order to promote vertical growth. Once vegetables begin to develop on the plant, it is important to ensure that the plant is securely attached to the growing structure in a way that the weight of the vegetable does not cause damage to the plant. Tie vertical vegetable plants to the supporting structure in several locations to help distribute the pressure of hanging vegetables evenly to multiple parts of the plant. Reducing pressure on the vines allows for healthy development and vegetable production.
Location
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Choose a sunny location on your property for growing vegetables vertically. All vegetables need ample direct sunlight in order to develop properly. South-facing walls are a good place to grow vegetables vertically since the thermal heat from the wall will allow you to extend the growing season of many vegetables, according to the University of Arizona. Ensure that there are at least 3 to 6 inches between your vegetable plant and the wall for adequate air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases, according to Washington State University.
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Supporting Structures
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Matching the vegetable you want to grow with the correct supporting structure is an integral part of vertical gardening. Several trellis designs work well for vertical vegetable growing including wooden lattices, wire trellises, tripods and circular cages. Beans and other vining vegetables will readily grow up a trellis or tripod. Tomatoes can easily be grown vertically by attaching the vine to a single stake or to the sides of a circular cage that is at least 22 inches in diameter, according to the University of Tennessee.
Care
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Cultivating plants vertically requires a little more attention and care than traditional growing methods. Plants grown vertically are more exposed than plants near the ground and tend to dry out quickly. Vertical plants require frequent watering in order to produce healthy fruit; some vegetables may even need to be watered several times a day in summer months. Placing a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of vegetable plants is a good way to help maintain soil moisture for vertical plants.
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References
- Photo Credit peas vine image by Aleksei Potov from Fotolia.com
