12 Vegetables That Are Great for Vertical Gardening

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Vertical gardening has made the cultivation of fruits and vegetables efficient. It is a method of planting that encourages the growth of plants in a vertical manner, as opposed to horizontal structures like garden beds. It helps you maximize space, as you can grow your plants on walls, fences, or any other structure instead of using the valuable space of the ground.

With this in mind, here are twelve vertical garden-friendly vegetables.

Tomatoes

One of the most popular vegetables for vertical gardening is tomato, as it can easily be grown on a trellis or in cages. Tomatoes also may be different sizes, from cherry tomatoes to large beefsteak tomatoes, allowing them to fit in a wider range of spaces. You just need to support the branches/fruit as they grow.

Cucumbers

Cucumber is a vining plant, so it can be trained up onto trellises or cages. These plants grow rather high, so go for a variety that works vertically, such as Japanese cucumbers that reach up to 6 feet. Provide support for the heavy fruits as they are growing.

Peas

Peas are great candidates for vertical gardening, as they do well on trellises and aren’t very work-intensive. They are also very good for small spaces, so they are ideally suited to urban gardens. While snap peas and snow peas are the cream of the crop for vertical vegetables, there are many to try.

Eggplant

They are perfect candidates for vertical growing, and can climb support stakes or trellises. Low growing and available in multiple varieties ranging from tiny to small. In addition to that, they provide decorative purple flowers for your garden.

Melons

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Melons, such as cantaloupe and watermelon, can be vertically grown if supported properly. They need more substantial trellising or solid support because they are large when mature. Make sure to pick compact varieties designed specifically for vertical gardening.

Peppers

Since the majority of pepper plants are bushy and small, peppers are an obvious choice for vertical gardening. They are also easy to grow on a trellis or cage and come in various sizes and heat levels for whatever your preference.

Cabbage

Cabbage (and other leafy greens like lettuce and spinach) can be an ideal crop to grow in a tower planter or vertical hanging basket. This way, you save space, and the pests get demoralized for not being able to get up to your plants. Also, you can rotate planters as the sun moves across your space.

Herbs

10 Genius Ways to Grow Food Anywhere While Keeping It Beautiful — Photo Credit: Menita/ Pixabay

One of the best choices for getting into small-space vertical gardening, herbs can be grown in tiny pots pinned onto a wall or fence. This hack does double duty, saving space and creating a garden vista. One thing is for sure: fresh herbs can be pretty expensive in stores, and this tipo can help you grow them at home.

Squash

Zucchini or yellow squash are excellent for vertical gardening because they can be trained to grow up a trellis (or cage) and save on space in the garden bed. As this MasterClass article attests, you can grow your squash on trellises to prevent its fruits from rotting. For even more space-saving, select bush types.

Strawberries

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Many people love growing strawberries on a garden trellis because they are space-saving and provide delicious fruits the entire season. They can be grown in hanging baskets or towers, and are perfect for balconies or patios.

Radishes

Radishes are very fast growers and are great for vertical gardening. They have shallow roots and will grow in tiny hanging pots on a wall or in a planter box. These plants can grow in 3-4 weeks, so they are nice and easy veggies for your vertical garden.

Pole Beans

Another excellent choice for vertical gardening is pole beans. According to this University of Minnesota report, these vines can grow 6 feet tall and usually yield loads of beans during the season. Versatile vining beans plant cleave to trellises or bamboo stake tee-pees, providing an added visual appeal in addition to their tasty produce.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.