When we think of a traditional vegetable garden, we probably envision narrow rows of evenly spaced plants planted in a square or rectangular space. Not everyone has a large garden or the ability to care for hundreds or thousands of plants. Another style of gardening dates back to the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon. The advantage of vertical gardening is to maximize the available vertical space while minimizing land use.
Vertical gardens offer many benefits to gardeners. First, much less weeding is required because growing requires much less soil than traditional gardens. Shade from vertically growing plants can reduce weed pressure. Vertical gardening puts less strain on your back because you don't need to bend over. Another benefit is that when plants grow above ground, air circulation around the leaves is improved, which helps keep plants dry and reduces leaf diseases. Additionally, some edible plants can only be grown using vertical gardening techniques. So, if a gardener wants to grow different plants, he must grow them.
Growing plants in a vertical space has many benefits, but it requires an upfront cost. If you are using a trellis, installing a durable trellis will require time and materials. Trellises can be constructed in different ways depending on the gardener's preferences, but the general goal is to allow plants to grow above the ground and be accessible to the gardener. The type of trellis a gardener chooses will depend on the plants they want to grow. For example, muscadine grapes can be grown on a single wire trellis at breast or head height, while peas and pea-like plants are suitable for larger-area trellises. To increase longevity, it is best to use wooden or metal stakes sunk deep enough to support the weight of the plant. Cables in network construction, single or interconnected, must be corrosion resistant and capable of withstanding appropriate loads.
If the tree is close to the garden plot, it can be used as a natural cage. We live in the northern hemisphere, so the sun always passes through the southern half of the sky. As a general rule, it is best to plant a south-facing tree to get more sun all year round. It's not always easy for plants to reach the lower branches of trees, so you can use biodegradable rope so the plants can reach the lower branches. The problem with using trees as a trellis is that once the trees climb, fruit or plants may no longer be available. Use smaller plants as a trellis or choose trees that can produce long-lasting fruit from the tree canopy. Passion fruit is one of the best options for using a tree as a trellis because the delicious fruit falls when ripe and the fruit has a very long lifespan.
The downside to vertical gardening is the ability to grow plants aesthetically, usually indoors. Edible landscaping, also called “edible landscaping,” is something everyone should consider before purchasing very expensive plants. They look good. It's beautiful. Why not try it?
Florida has several native plants that are excellent choices for vertical gardening. Muscadine grapes are the most common and probably the best choice. These vines will live for decades and can produce high quality fruit year after year. Choosing the right variety and planting it correctly is important. Passion and hot peppers are other great options, but they need plenty of space to grow freely and may not be as hardy as muscadine grapes. More information about muscadine and passion fruit grapes, as well as lots of interesting gardening information, is available on the University of Florida's Ask IFAS website.
Other vertical garden options include hardy plants like sweet potatoes and Malabar spinach. It grows best on a mesh trellis rather than a single strand wire. Additionally, this plant tends to be cold sensitive, so expect to replant it every year. Depending on the season, peas, snow peas, peas and other legumes are good choices. If the cage is sturdy enough, it should accommodate certain types of squash, chayotes, and their smaller relatives, like the chayote.
Vertical gardening does not have to be limited to plants that require a trellis, but can include any plant that can be suspended from the ground. How a gardener chooses to grow their plants is largely limited by their imagination.
— Mark Bailey is the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Extension Agent for the Marion County Chapter of UF/IFAS. For more information, call the Marion County office at 671-8400. The service is located in Jl.
This article was first published in The Gainesville Sun; Mark Bailey. The garden is growing.
