HOME GROWN – Upward growth can also work

For the kitchen gardener it is not uncommon to be gardening within constraints, be it limited time or limited space, or even both, keeping your garden compact and manageable is pertinent. An effective strategy for maximizing available space is growing vertically. Any fruit or vegetable with a climbing tendency, especially those with tendrils, can be cultivated vertically. Vertical growing lifts crops such as tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, and winter squash up off the ground discouraging pestilence, while increased airflow around the fruits and vegetables can help to inhibit disease. Trellises and arbors used for vertical growing can add a decorative element to any garden, and with a little creativity trellising can be effectively used to create a shady spot to shield other more delicate plants, seedlings, or even a weary gardener, from direct sunlight. In my garden a low, dense, hedge-like trellis of malabar spinach has accidentally, and to my delight, formed both an effective and attractive wind block. The sturdy spinach leaves aren’t bothered by the strong winds and easily protect my tomato vines from certain damage.Recently I’ve been growing vines that would normally require a significant amount of space. When purchasing seeds I look for smaller varieties of climbing vines that are often labelled “space saver,” or “early crop,” many of which indicate that they are suitable for the home gardener.When building a trellis consider using non-traditional materials such as bamboo, PVC, or galvanized pipe in concert with wire mesh or even strong twine. Keep in mind that once your vine is well established the materials that you have used to build your trellis will be nicely concealed by the foliage.As the crop begins to mature on your vine give it ample support. Create, and secure to the trellis, a simple sling from an elastic material such as nylon hose that will stretch and expand as the fruit or vegetable grows. I have read that a climbing vine is able to support a fruit up to 20 pounds in weight – but after all of that hard work tending the vine that’s certainly not an experiment I’m willing to undertake! Remember to check your trellised vines and gently “train” them in the direction that you want them to grow.In a compact kitchen garden you will probably never grow the world’s largest watermelon, but with some inventive vertical growing you will certainly be able to diversify your crop.