Nowadays, either due to the lack of space or time, several gardeners are taking interest in developing smaller gardens. Therefore, the concept of vertical gardens is gaining popularity in the gardening circles. Cultivating vegetables and fruits in such gardens not only saves space, but also makes harvesting more convenient, as you don’t need to bend to pluck fruits from the vines. This is especially beneficial for aged gardeners or those suffering from back problems.

These gardens usually make use of arbors or pergolas. The incorporation of the use arbors and pergolas in gardens usually makes a small space appear bigger. At the same time, it provides extra advantages of privacy and cool shade. Vertical gardens can also be developed on fences or privacy screens that block unwanted views and wires.

For making a vertical garden, you can make a cage of any heavy wire. It will make the structure strong enough to support the weight of the vines. You can also use wide-mesh fencing, but it requires additional wooden or iron support. If you have decided to use stakes of bamboo, decorative rods, or the rusty-colored iron rods, then buy only the ‘cane toppers’, as they will protect your eyes when you are working in the garden. 

Since majority of climbing plants find it difficult to attach themselves to brick or wooden walls, the structure of the vertical garden trellis or arbor is ideal for them. It provides the essential support and an ideal surface for their growth. The ideal vertical garden plant is the pole beans. Pole beans, except the bush variety, will cling up to anything, even other plants for support. Now it is available in different varieties like the one with red flowers and yellow leaves. They grow well and flower beautifully.   

Other vertical garden vegetables are the gourds and winter squash that have long vines. But they take a lot of time to grow. You should take care to support the heavy fruits of winter squash like butternut with cloth twine. Only make sure that the string does not cut the stem itself. In the same way, you can grow melons and cucumbers as well.

But don’t grow only vertical plants; they will create a very monotonous look. The vertical plants need to be combined with other types of plants. It will provide visual attraction to the garden. And, for your convenience, don’t let the plants grow out of your reach. You can employ a combination of planting techniques to take care of it. For instance, if you decide to grow pole beans in 30" high planter box, then they will certainly grow out of reach. So, it is better to cultivate a low growing plant in this box.  Raised bed planters are great because they allow easy access to planting and harvesting while not having to bend over or get down on ones knees. Planters are also great to do plantings of individual plants such as herbs. Planters can also be combined with a small trellis to grow a tomato plant for instance, again with out bending over. A trellis would make a good climbing apparatus for the tomato vine.

According to Janeen Advil, you must ensure that vertical trellis structure lies on the north side of the plants, especially the sun-loving ones. Also make sure that the vertical structure lies on the downwind side of the plants to prevent the wind from blowing over the plants. Instead, it pushes the plants against the supportive structure.

You can also utilize the concept of hanging baskets to make a vertical garden. These hanging gardens can be developed on arbors or any other vertical structure, which can support them. You can also install ropes and pulleys to lower your plants at the time of tending or watering. To minimize the chances of accidents, you can tie a safety knot as a wedge in the pulley. Whenever you lose control, it will immediately stop a falling container.

So, you can cultivate anything in your vertical garden. But, you have to pre-decide what you want to cultivate and then, choose only those plants, which suit your requirements and can flourish amidst all limitations. For this purpose, you can seek help from different sources like the gardening centers, library or your own valuable experiences.

So, have a thriving vertical garden and have fun with your climbing companions!