Trellis Gardening

Growing vertically can offer many advantages. There are any number of ways you can do it. You can grow up a string, a fence, lattice, poles, or special garden mesh or netting. You will need some kind of horizonal support above. You can see in the picture the kind of trellis I use.

Space savings is one of the biggest advantages it offers the gardener with limited space. By planting vertically vine crops like melons, cucumbers, squash can be placed as close as 1 foot apart. Small crops like peas and pole beans I plant 1" apart.

Also by planting vertically you plants are no longer on the ground and are afforded good air circulation. This helps in preventing the spread of soil borne diseases that get splashed on plants when it rains. After a rain, the plant dries faster, keeping diseases like powdery mildew from proliferating.

The fruit of your labor are easier to spot and pick without breaking your back. This also keeps the ground or rodents from from damaging your prize.

You are able to get a higher yield per square foot. My largest raised bed is 5'x4' and I can't even keep a cucumber plant in the bed. This way I plant 4 plants in the back and still have 16 sq. ft. to plant in. The space savings is great.

You ask " How do you keep the fruit from falling off? " That's a good question. I only have to support melons and Squash when they get larger. I use old stockings or some small mesh that I use to protect berry plants from the birds. I cradle the fruit and attach it to the netting of the trellis.