A vertical vegetable garden is a space saver gardening method that is creative and functional at the same time. With a vertical garden, you’re able to grow a mixture of vegetables and fruits and so much more!
Check here as we round up the best crops to grow in your vertical vegetable garden.
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Vertical Vegetable Garden | Best Crops to Grow
1. Cucumbers
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Cucumber is such a wonderful plant to grow in your garden. It is crisp and refreshing – perfect for salads and healthy drinks.
Vining cucumbers grow well in a tent-shaped trellis which makes it easier to harvest. By using a trellis, you can keep the fruit fresh and clean as they grow bigger.
2. Tomatoes
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You can grow different varieties of tomatoes in a vertical garden. They are easy to propagate and can be grown in a small space like containers.
Although they are commonly grown in tomato cages, they also grow best in pipe fan trellis and can produce heavily when pruned into a single vine.
3. Peas
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A twine trellis will work perfectly for peas. But you can also train them to vine up a wood frame trellis with chicken wire. Climbing peas may grow as tall as 6 to 8 ft., which needs sturdy support.
Snap peas, snow peas, and shelling peas are the best varieties you should try growing in your vertical vegetable garden.
4. Summer Squash
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If space is limited in your garden, consider growing summer squash upward instead of sideways. This will prevent the plants from taking over the garden bed since most varieties tend to become bushy.
The best varieties for trellising are zucchini, patty-pan, and yellow crookneck squash. But don't forget to use a strong cage and coax the vine to grow inside.
5. Pole Beans
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Pole beans need a support trellis at least 6 ft. high. Remember to plant the pole beans at the base of the trellis, 3 inches apart.
This crop is low-maintenance and very easy to grow vertically as long as they have sturdy support. In addition, growing pole beans in a vertical garden will keep its long fruit from touching the ground.
6. Peppers
Peppers are one of my most favorite summer crops to plant in a vegetable garden because they are easy to grow and look beautiful when they start to fruit. These kitchen staples thrive well in a vertical garden.
Unlike any other vining crops though, peppers need a special vertical garden to realize its full potential. The GreenStalk planter will work best for pepper plants.
RELATED: DIY Vertical Garden Anyone Can Make | Practical Gardening Ideas
7. Jicamas
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Have you heard of Jicama before? Also known as Mexican yam bean and Mexican turnip, Jicama is a mild-tasting root vegetable that can be eaten raw as a healthy snack.
You can grow Jicama in a huge container and train its vine to go up a trellis. It tends to create a vigorous vine, so you better prepare a larger and sturdy trellis for this plant.
Warning: Jicama's leaves and vines are poisonous. Thus, avoid touching your face and mouth after working on your Jicama plant.
8. Pumpkins
Small varieties of pumpkins like Mini Jack baby pumpkins will grow perfectly with trellis and other supports.
Pumpkins need at least 10 ft. tall trellis support to produce taller runners and supply adequate nutrition for its developing fruits.
9. Cantaloupes
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When trellising cantaloupe or melons, plant them 12 inches apart at the base of a trellis. Cantaloupe needs large support up to 8 ft. tall and 20 ft. wide in warm conditions. A sturdy wire fencing will work well for this crop.
Tip: If pests like aphids are bothering your plant, it is also advisable to place a bright reflective surface against the trellis so the light will confuse melon aphids hiding underneath the leaves.
10. Watermelons
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Growing watermelon is quite similar to growing cantaloupe. It takes a lot of space, even when you plant at the base of the trellis, you have to remove the old plants that you have grown there.
When you're growing watermelons vertically, it's ideal to choose smaller and more compact varieties such as the sugar baby watermelon which only matures to about 8-10 lbs. Adding hammock to support the fruit as they grow is also a good idea.
11. Strawberries
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Most strawberry plants don't climb, but there are some hybrid varieties with long runners that can be attached to a trellis and give that vining appearance. A teepee trellis will work well for strawberry plants.
Another way of building a strawberry vertical garden is by using vertical planters that can be bought or DIYed to save you a penny and be more sustainable at the same time.
12. Grapes
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Grapevines are an amazing plant to grow in your vertical garden. They grow incredibly fast, and they produce a lot of fruits, especially when you prune them young. You can grow them on arbors or trellis.
What I love about growing grapes vertically is that it creates a gorgeous grape display. Also, it is truly rewarding to see all those bunches of grape clusters dangling around.
13. Greens
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Did you know that you can successfully grow greens such as kale, spinach, cabbage, Swiss chard, and lettuce in a vertical garden? Yes! It's fun and just gives you a lovely garden display.
And just like peppers, a special kind of vertical garden is required to grow leafy greens. However, if splurging for a vertical garden is out of the budget, you can always build a DIY vertical vegetable garden using materials lying around your house.
Aside from a beautiful garden view, the vertical planter keeps the greens off the ground, which makes it cleaner, healthier, and free of snails and slugs.
Watch this video by Daisy Creek Farms with Jag Singh on how to make an easy and cheap trellis for your vertical vegetable garden:
With a vertical vegetable garden, vines of your plants get better air circulation which reduces the chances of diseases. Furthermore, it saves a lot of space, avoids pests, and maintains fruit appearance.
It enhances your garden by creating beautiful climbing walls and arbors with lots of fresh, healthy, and colorful vegetables and fruits hanging around.
But my most favorite part of having a vertical vegetable garden is the fact that I can harvest my crops without breaking my back!
Have you been growing crops in a vertical vegetable garden? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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