Have you ever felt like you’re fighting an uphill battle trying to find space to grow all the fresh veggies you want? If you’re anything like me, the frustration of having a small garden plot or limited raised beds is real. But what if I told you there’s a secret weapon that’ll instantly give you more growing area without tilling up any extra ground?
No, I’m not talking about converting your roof into a veggie garden (though that could be awesome too!). I’m talking about growing UP instead of out. Yep – with the right climbing crops and some simple trellising, you can double, triple or even quadruple your harvests from the same square footage!
Think about it – vines naturally want to climb and spread upwards, so we might as well work with nature instead of fighting it, right? By training certain veggie plants vertically, you’ll not only gain tons of space, but your plants will also get better airflow and be less susceptible to soil-borne diseases and pests. It’s a total win-win!
Now, I know what you may be thinking: “But won’t all that extra weight from the climbing plants topple over my trellis or cage?” That’s where choosing the right vertical veggie varieties comes in. Some plants are just naturally better suited for vining upwards with their gripping tendrils or twining stems.
These days, vertical vegetable gardening is my go-to strategy for maximizing yields from even the smallest spaces. And I’m excited to share some of the best climbers that will have your plots positively towering with produce.
Whether you’ve got ample yards or just patio containers, you’ll definitely want to get these vertical veggie growers into your space. Time to scale some severe harvests by gardening up instead of out!
1. Pole Beans
These vigorous vining beans are one of the best vertical crops for beginner gardeners. Give them a trellis, teepee or cattle panel to scramble up and get ready for a plethora of snap, shelling or dried bean harvests all season. The plants just keep producing more and more legumes as you pick them. Be sure to provide nutrient-rich soil by mixing in some compost or aged manure.
2. Cucumbers
Maybe the most notorious vertical veggie, cucumbers rapidly vine upwards if given a trellis, cage or stake to climb. I’ve had the most luck with smaller pickling and Persian varieties that don’t get too heavy and weigh down the vines. The climbing habit keeps the fruits off the ground and allows for air pruning to control the vegetative growth.
3. Indeterminate Tomatoes
While bush varieties don’t need staking, indeterminate or vining tomatoes require sturdy cages, stakes or trellises to keep the plants upright and contained as they grow taller and taller. I always add an extra support ring at the top to gently guide the tomato vines upwards without damaging them. Vertical growth prevents fungal issues by increasing airflow.
4. Pole Peas
Watching petite pea vines zag-zag their way up a trellis is always so satisfying. Give them something to climb at least 5-6 feet tall for best results. Peas love to climb but tend to topple over without support, making vertical structures mandatory. Be sure to harvest frequently as mature pea pods signal the end of production.
5. Mini Melons
Smaller melon varieties like sugar or galia actually do quite well when trellised to keep their vines off the ground. As the melons develop, you’ll need to support them in old pantyhose, nets or slings so their weight doesn’t break the vines. With vertical growth, the plants get amazing sun exposure and airflow.
6. Squash/Zucchini
Though we typically think of squash vining along the ground, many varieties like tromboncino or cushaw take readily to vertical growth up a trellis or cage. Just be sure to use solid structures as the squash gets very heavy later in the season. For zucchini, I recommend leaving just 2-3 main vines to climb and trimming off extras.
7. Small Pumpkins
You read that right – even pumpkins can climb with the right variety! Pick vining pie, mini or snack pumpkin cultivars and let their vigorous vines scramble up a cattle panel, trellis or cage. I’ve actually suspended old hampers to support the pumpkin’s weight as they develop. It’s such a fun novelty crop to grow vertically.
8. Yard-Long Beans
With their striking curled shapes and ease of climbing, these Asian beans are a must-try for vertical gardening. Provide them with a tall trellis or arched cattle panel to grasp and you’ll be continuously harvesting the bright pods for months on end. Yard-longs’ vining habit makes for incredibly productive plants in limited space.
9. Bitter Melon
An all-star climber in the cucurbit family, bitter melon vines thrive when trained upwards on sturdy trellises or arched tomato cages. Through vertical growing, you avoid many fungal issues that can affect the fruits when left ground-trailing. The more airflow, the better for these warm season vegetables.
10. Climbing Spinach
While it may surprise you, there are actually climbing cultivars of spinach out there specifically bred for vertical growth! They grip almost any trellis or netting beautifully to produce ample greens without taking up as much real estate as non-vining spinach. It’s an awesome way to max out your harvests.
It’s amazing how easy vertical gardening makes it to maximize even the smallest growing spaces. If you’ve only got a cramped patio or balcony, you can still grow surprising amounts of vertically-vining crops in just a few large containers or hanging bags. Heck, I’ve even grown yard-long beans up a trellis along the side of my house before!
So if you’re eager to level-up your harvests and grow more while spending less time weeding, definitely give some of these climbers a try. Whether you start small with a single tepee of pole beans or go full verbose veggie jungle, I’m willing to bet you’ll be hooked on vertical gardening before you know it. The low-maintenance, high-yield potential is just too good!
Just start small with a few crops that piqued your interest from the list. Don’t overcomplicate things, and most of all, have fun watching your little gardens reach new heights. With a bit of guidance and sturdy supports, these vigor vining plants will do most of the hard work for you. Before you know it, you’ll be swapping excess harvest with the neighbors!
