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'VERTICAL GARDEN' GOOD SOLUTION FOR SMALL SPACES
I lived on a 40-ft. lot in southwest Minneapolis for 20 years. With a large two-story house centered on the lot, the space didn't leave much room for a garden. To compensate, I learned how to grow plants in hanging containers and to select and grow plants vertically.
Growing plants vertically makes good use of space in smaller gardens. Harvesting is easier since vertical plants eliminate stooping to pluck produce from vines. Plants that grow vertically add architectural interest, especially when surrounded by a border of blooming perennials.
Combining vining plants, such as beans and cucumbers or peas and gourds, on the same A-frame trellis can yield double the harvest for the space, according to the National Garden Bureau.
Pole beans will climb up just about anything, including other plants. You may want to consider planting a harmonious trio of corn, pole beans and squash based on the "Three Sisters" Iroquois legend where the three crops support one another.
To try the three sisters method, create a hill 1 ft. high by 20 in. wide. Then, in 1 in. deep holes, sow five corn seeds 6 in. apart in a circle. When the corn is 6 in. tall, plant four pole bean seeds and four squash seeds, equally spaced, around the corn. As the plants mature, the corn will support the beans, the beans will provide nitrogen to the soil, and the squash will help control weeds. Some gardeners substitute or add sunflowers to the mix.
This Native American tradition is based on the "circle of life" idea that all living things rely on each other for survival.
Gourd vines can grow to 25 ft. and require a long growing season to mature. Check plant maturity requirements on the seed packet to determine whether seeds need to be started indoors in April or early May, then transplanted under the trellis about June 1. Gourds are attractive on a trellis with tendrils that carry the vines up while interesting-shaped fruits hang down.
Cucumbers produce straighter, cleaner fruit when grown vertically. Sow seeds along a cage, netted A-frame or flat trellis and guide the plants up onto netting until plants' tendrils naturally curl around the trellis on their own.
Melons are relatives of cucumbers, climbing with tendrils, but their heavier fruit requires some buttressing when grown vertically to prevent the weight of the melons from pulling the vines down. One support method is to tie individual cloth slings under each fruit.
Edible-podded peas and snow peas produce vines that readily climb string or netted trellises by means of tendrils. Because peas grow best in cool weather, combine them with later maturing vegetables such as beans or cucumbers, or with a flowering vine to take their place during the hot, midsummer months; peas can be re-sown in late summer for a fall harvest.
Tomatoes trained on stakes or in cages bear cleaner fruit and take up less space. Look for indeterminate varieties with stems that keep growing through the season. Seed packets and plant labels can tell you whether a tomato is determinate or indeterminate. Tie tomato plants at intervals to cage or trellis with soft string or cloth. Staked tomatoes can be grown in large containers but they require daily watering during hot weather.
Best garden placement for vegetables on trellises and other supports is on the north side of your plot and towards the back of a row or bed so they do not shade other, low-growing plants.
Trellises can take up anywhere from 20 sq. ft. to as little as 1 or 2 sq. ft., depending on size. Garden centers sell a variety of trellises or you can make your own.
I make trellises out of slender, straight tree trunks. One of my 10 ft. tall trellises made from four bur oak poles has been in the ground for five years and supported five seasons' of pole beans. This year, I will try mixing pole beans and gourds for a more interesting and colorful display.
Vegetables can be raised vertically on fences too. Cyclone or chain-link fencing works best. Sow cucumber, melon or winter squash seeds in rows near the fence and guide vines up onto the fence as they grow.
Many flowering plants can be grown from seed and grown successfully on trellises, either alone or in combination with climbing vegetables to add color and visual interest. Over the years, I have grown black-eyed Susan vine, climbing snapdragon, cup-and-saucer vine, hyacinth bean, moonflower, morning glory, nasturtium and cardinal climber.
Annual vines can hide unsightly views, add color to an otherwise dull location and even offer shade on porches and balconies. Some gardeners "decorate" their mailboxes or decks with flowering vines.
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PUTTING DOWN ROOTS:
A Delightful Blend of
Gardening Wisdom, Wit
and Whimsy
$10 + $2 for shipping
by Cliff Johnson |
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