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Vertical gardens can increase yields, reduce problems with pests and diseases, and save a lot of space. Whether you live in a condoor havelimited spacein your backyard, growing up may be the best option for vegetable gardening.
Many vining vegetables, when you allow them to grow horizontally, will take up large sections of the garden. Vertical gardens are popular options for these plants and work for a wide variety of vegetables. When planning out your vertical vegetable garden, ensure a successful and bountiful harvest by following the nine tips below.
1. Select the Right Plants
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Tomaximize space and make the most of your vertical vegetable garden, start with selecting the right plants. Vining or sprawling plants, such as zucchini, squash, melon, cucumber,tomatoes, and climbing beans and peas, are perfect for vertical gardening. These crops can climb and produce large harvests when given proper growing conditions. Some vegetables, like tomatoes, can even be grown upside down and in container indoors.
Herbs andleafy greens are also excellent choices for container gardening, which lends itself well to vertical arrangements. If you're interested in giving this a go, maybe grow herbs in your kitchen.
2. Pick a Sunny Location
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When selecting a spot for your vertical vegetable garden, pick a sunny location. Forindoor gardens, a south or west-facing window, sunroom, orbalconyis ideal. If you don’t receive enough sunlight, consider usinggrow lights.
Outdoors, choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight, depending on the crops you grow. Be mindful of structures that block the sun and the rain. Exterior walls of homes and fences can provide shelter from the wind, but if they don’t provide adequate sunlight, it's not the best location.
3. Choose a Sturdy Support
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Once you have selected a location for your vertical garden, pick a sturdy structure for support. These plants may start small, but when given the proper care, not only will they expand in size but the fruit they bear can be quite heavy. Common supports include; trellises, arches, tripods, wire cages, netting, and poles.
To ensure your support last, purchase or construct it from strong materials. Steel supports or 2x4s are the most common as they provide solid frames. You can use other materials such a chicken wire as long as it can hold the weight of the mature plant without falling over. For a sturdy structure, secure posts about two feet into the ground. You can also utilize slings for heavy fruit such as melons and squash.
For a tieredraised planter, be sure that it can hold the weight of the soil when wet. Planters and pots are ideal indoors and outdoors for growing a variety of herbs and leafy greens.
4. Get Creative
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One of the best parts of gardening is using your creativity. There are many DIY options and a plethora of vertical gardens and support structures you can purchase and customize.Have a look at your space, see what features of your home you can take advantage of, and choose something that matches your tastes.
Whether you prefer the rustic look of wooden arches, tiers, and ladders or the trendy look of recycled pop bottles, bicycles, and tires, there’s an option for every style.
5. Proper Drainage
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When it comes to vertical gardening, containers with proper drainage is still a necessity. It is difficult to maintain proper moisture levels for potted plants without drainage holes as overwatering or water logged soil could quickly become an issue.
They're usually either underwatered, which can lead to wilt and poor growth, or overwatered, which can cause root rot. If you are constructing the containers or have a vertical structure without drainage, drill some holes.
6. Companion Plant
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When plotting out your garden,companion planting in combination with vertical vegetable gardening is an excellent way to utilize the space. Here are some popular combinations to save you space:
- Beets and onions - vegetables in the Allium family can repel pests from beets.
- Peas and herbs - Peas add nitrogen to the soil creating a lovely environment for herbs. On the contrary herbs like rosemary will ward off pests.
- Plant marigolds with root vegetables such as carrots or turnips.
Companion plants are also fantastic supports for climbing plants. Sunflowers and corn, for example, have strong stalks and make excellent supports for peas and beans.
You can now make the most out of your space! Also, take advantage of the shade provided by vining plants by planting shade-loving plants nearby.
7. Give Them Space
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Once you start vertical gardening, the growth of your plants may surprise you. When you grow plants off of the ground, this provides more airflow, which reduces the chances ofdiseaseandpests.
Raising your plants also gives them more exposure to the sun, especially for sprawling vegetables. It often results in huge growth and yield, so give your veggies lots of space.
8. Train Them To Climb
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Some vegetables, such as climbingbeansandpeas, send out tendrils that tightly wind around any nearby support structure. They will climb on their own, but you may need to direct them by wrapping new tendrils where you want them to grow. On the other hand, you will need to tie or use cages for plants such as tomatoes to train them to climb.
When considering placement and training your plants to climb, be mindful of them tangling together. Whether intended or unavoidable, it can occasionally lead to one plant choking another out. Intertwined plants are also difficult to move and harvest.
9. Water Regularly
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Vertical gardens may also have the added disadvantage of an awning or eavestrough blocking access to the rain. Generally, vertical gardens will needfrequent watering. To save water, consider redirecting rainwater as an irrigation system.
Optimize Your Setup
Growing a vertical vegetable garden can optimize your setup and make your life easier. Not only will you not have to bend over to tend to your crops, saving your back, but your plants will also be healthier as a result. It can lead to higher vegetable yields, meaning you can save money on groceries.
Do you have a vertical vegetable garden? Share your tips in the comments.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in gardening and vertical vegetable gardens, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Vertical gardens are a great way to maximize space, increase yields, and reduce problems with pests and diseases. They are especially beneficial for those with limited space in their backyard or for indoor gardening.
Selecting the Right Plants
When planning a vertical vegetable garden, it is important to select the right plants. Vining or sprawling plants such as zucchini, squash, melon, cucumber, tomatoes, and climbing beans and peas are perfect for vertical gardening. These crops can climb and produce large harvests when given proper growing conditions. Herbs and leafy greens are also excellent choices for container gardening, which lends itself well to vertical arrangements.
Choosing a Sunny Location
For a successful vertical vegetable garden, it is crucial to choose a sunny location. Indoors, a south or west-facing window, sunroom, or balcony is ideal. If sunlight is limited, consider using grow lights. Outdoors, select a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight, depending on the crops you grow. Be mindful of structures that may block the sun and rain, as they may not provide adequate sunlight for your plants.
Using Sturdy Supports
To support your vertical garden, it is important to choose a sturdy structure. Common supports include trellises, arches, tripods, wire cages, netting, and poles. Ensure that the support is made from strong materials, such as steel or 2x4s, to withstand the weight of the plants and their fruit. For heavy fruit like melons and squash, you can use slings. For indoor gardening, planters and pots are ideal for growing a variety of herbs and leafy greens .
Getting Creative
One of the best parts of gardening is using your creativity. There are many DIY options and a plethora of vertical gardens and support structures available for purchase. You can choose something that matches your style and takes advantage of the features of your home. Whether you prefer the rustic look of wooden arches, tiers, and ladders or the trendy look of recycled pop bottles, bicycles, and tires, there's an option for every style .
Ensuring Proper Drainage
Proper drainage is essential for vertical gardening. Containers without drainage holes can lead to overwatering or waterlogged soil, which can cause issues like root rot. If you are constructing containers or using a vertical structure without drainage, it is recommended to drill some holes to maintain proper moisture levels for your plants.
Companion Planting
Companion planting is an excellent way to utilize space in your vertical vegetable garden. Some popular combinations include planting beets and onions together to repel pests, growing peas with herbs to add nitrogen to the soil, and planting marigolds with root vegetables to deter pests. Companion plants can also serve as supports for climbing plants. For example, sunflowers and corn can provide sturdy support for peas and beans.
Providing Adequate Space
When growing plants vertically, it is important to give them enough space. Vertical gardening provides more airflow, reducing the chances of disease and pests. Raising your plants off the ground also exposes them to more sunlight, resulting in better growth and higher yields. Make sure to give your plants plenty of space to thrive .
Training Plants to Climb
Certain vegetables, like climbing beans and peas, naturally send out tendrils that tightly wind around nearby support structures. These plants will climb on their own, but you may need to direct them by wrapping new tendrils where you want them to grow. Other plants, such as tomatoes, may require tying or using cages to train them to climb. When placing and training your plants, be mindful of them tangling together, as it can lead to difficulties in moving and harvesting.
Regular Watering
Vertical gardens may require more frequent watering, especially if they are located in areas where rainwater access is limited. Consider redirecting rainwater as an irrigation system to save water. Regular watering is essential to keep your plants healthy and thriving.
In conclusion, vertical vegetable gardens are a great option for maximizing space and increasing yields. By selecting the right plants, choosing a sunny location, using sturdy supports, getting creative, ensuring proper drainage, practicing companion planting, providing adequate space, training plants to climb, and watering regularly, you can have a successful and bountiful harvest in your vertical garden.
