Growing vegetables upward (vertical gardening) can be a gardener's dream, especially if you have limited space to grow vegetables.
If you live in an apartment with adequate sunshine, you can grow a variety of vegetables on your balcony using planter boxes, hanging containers, or topsy turvey upside down planters for growing tomatoes.
There is no bending or squatting involved using this method of gardening because you can stand up while you work on your vegetable plants. This saves wear and tear on your back.
I don't know about you, but for me, saving as much wear and tear on my back is a huge consideration to use this method of gardening, whether you are growing plants on a balcony or in your back yard.
So, let's consider a few other advantages of using vertical gardening when growing vegetable plants.
Air circulation is increased because plants are vertical, allowing fruit and foliage to dry off faster when they get wet from rain.
Fruit and foliage diseases are reduced from soil born diseases because the fruit and foliage is not laying on the ground.
Here is one of my favorites. Because you use less soil as traditional gardening, you won't have to weed as often.
Because your plants are up high, there are fewer problems with soil crawling pests having easy access to the plants foliage or low hanging fruit.
Here is a list of just a few vegetable plants to give you an idea what you can grow.
Depending on what kind of construction system you use (and we will discuss this later), you can
grow such popular vegetables as tomatoes, peppers, snap peas, Lima beans, Roma beans, cucumbers, acorn, butternut squash, corn, and some varieties of melons.
Vegetable Garden Tip - When you head to the nursery, make sure you buy vining plants not the bush varieties.
That said...There are two important things to keep in mind about vertical gardening. First your choice of vegetable plants you intend to grow, and second, using suitable construction material.
Vining plants climb by means of tendrils, that twine, or cling to a structure. So make sure your choice of structure material is strong enough to support the weight of the plant.
If you're an apartment dweller, twine or jute is a great structure material to use for your vegetable plants. The only work involved is to secure the twine to the top of the balcony ceiling and let it hang down and fasten next to your vegetable plant container. This will allow the plant to climb upward vining around the twine.
Another alternative, would be to hang a pot from your balcony ceiling and let the plant grow downward toward the balcony floor.
You also can apply the balcony method to a patio or any other structure high enough to keep the plant from touching the ground.
If you have a trellis or garden arbor in your back yard, they are also an excellent source for vining plants.
Do keep in mind that no matter what structure you use, make sure the location receives at least 10 hours of sunshine each day.
If you are excited or curious about vertical gardening and new to the technique of growing your vegetables vertical, let's pause for a moment and make a quick decision.
How much money do you want to spend on your vertical garden?
Depending on how much you are willing to spend on construction material, vertical gardening can cost you several hundred dollars or more.
Now the good news!...It doesn't have to.
If you have a garden budget, there are a wide variety of options available to grow and enjoy your vertical garden within a reasonable price range.
Look around your yard for any existing construction material you can use for your plants to climb.
Do you have a chain link fence? This is an ideal support for your plants plus you get the added advantage of adding a little beauty and privacy to an otherwise bland or ugly setting.
You can pick up vertical lattice at Lowes or Home Depot made from rough wood available in four feet wide by seven feet high sections for less than ten dollars per section. They make a great support system for your plants and can be erected most anywhere in your garden.
One of my favorite locations is next to the side of my house or against my garden wall. I also leave a little space between the wall and lattice for air circulation for my plants.
You can brace the bottom of
the lattice structure by inserting the bottom lattice stakes into the
ground.
Hang twine (jute variety is very good) from a tall
overhead horizontal structure such as patio or balcony and fasten the
twine at the bottom to the floor of the structure. Place you plant
container near the twine and slightly wrap the climbing plant around the
twine.
From then on, the plant will wrap around the twine as it continues to grow.
At the end of the growing season the twine can be discarded along with any intertwined vine growth.
And of course...the most basic of all construction material is inserting a single pole
or stick in your vegetable container pot to support your plants as they
grow.
For tying your plants to this form of support use
stretchable green tape available at any garden center. It is easy to tie
and knot to support the vegetable plant and will not harm them or
impede their growth.
Gaining popularity with many gardeners (especially if you have limited space), is to grow vegetables in containers or a raised bed garden.
If
you don't mind spending some extra money you can spice up the look of
your garden by purchasing garden containers, self-watering containers,
garden arbors, trellises, or pergolas. Any of these construction
materials are available in an assortment of sizes, shapes and material.
There are even products available for small areas such as a balcony.
We usually think of vertical gardening as growing upward. Remember too your vegetable plants can also grow downward.
If your garden space is really small, why not use topsy-turvy plants (miniature tomatoes plants are a popular choice), or hanging baskets, in a porch or patio area, or even on a balcony. You can also add a touch of flare by choosing different pots of different sizes, shape and color.
Vertical gardening is no different than traditional gardening or a raised bed garden when it comes to gardening plant care.
Vegetable
plants need sunlight to grow and produce fruit. Do keep this in mind
when you plan or decide where
your plants will be located. If you are not sure of the bright
sunny areas in your garden, go out when it is sunny and check the arc of
the sun throughout the day noting areas the
sun reach and those areas that are in the shade. Choose an
area in your garden that will receive full sunlight for at least 8 to 10 hours each day.
You can also
check with your local nursery for advice on plants that will thrive in
conditions they will encounter in your garden.
Do keep in mind
that vertical gardening plants will cast a shadow so make sure you plant them far enough away from
any sun loving crops.
On the other hand, shade tolerant crops
will love and welcome your vertical garden plants that cast a shade.
Because
vertical growing plants are exposed to greater air circulation, they
dry off more quickly than non-staked vegetable plants. This helps in
reducing fungus disease and fruit rot. However having greater air
circulation will also cause the plant soil to dry out quicker especially
on sunny days, so make sure you water and fertilize your vertical
plants more frequently to avoid letting the soil become completely dry.
In the beginning of this article, I mentioned several plants you can grow vertically. You can read more about growing tomatoes here on my website or as an added resource you can read more on tomatoes at grow garden tomatoes.
Happy gardening
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