If you feel like growing some vegetables in your garden, you'll probably be thinking about planting them directly in the ground. However, you might want to think about planting vertically instead of horizontally. A vertical garden grows plants on a fence, trellis or other support, and such systems are great for growing vegetables.
Here are just four reasons why.
1. More Space for Produce
There's a reason high-population areas tend to build taller buildings; there's almost no limit on how far up you can go. The same is true in your garden. Planting vegetables requires plenty of square footage, but you can significantly increase your yield by planting up instead of across. Whether you want to grow lots of veggies or make a start without disrupting your flowerbeds, vertical gardening makes sense.
2. Make Tending Your Crop Easier
You probably aren't growing enough produce to see you through the winter, but even nurturing a few plants can be exhausting. You need to water them, fertilize them, prune them and then harvest them. All those tasks are easier when plants are set off the ground. Instead of having to spend lots of time bending over or on your knees, most of your plants will be within reach while standing.
3. Avoid Ground Contact
If you're any kind of gardener, you'll know how minimizing ground contact can improve your yield. Air circulation is improved, pest and disease problems are avoided and very few weeds will infiltrate the soil. That means less effort in getting your plants to grow and a greater yield when it comes time to harvest.
4. Save Money
When you plant vertically instead of using regular beds, you don't need to use as much soil. In fact, you just need enough for the roots of your plants. Additionally, compost doesn't need to go as far. That all helps save money on gardening supplies. Of course, soil and fertilizer costs aren't huge, but this is still something to consider when you're growing on a budget.
5. Keep It Eco-Friendly
Finally, keep in mind that planting vertically is going to help keep your garden eco-friendly. You won't need to use as much soil, and that means you also won't need to use as much water. The difference in water use between a vertically planted vegetable garden and a traditional ground-level garden can be considerable when you take the entire growing period into account.
Share15 October 2018
Hello, my name is Joanna, and I love to garden. I am not a professional gardener but I have taught myself a number of cool skills. My friend who works as a professional gardener took me under her wing and taught me how to use a spade, rake and a hoe correctly. The other day, I had a real problem when my tools began to fail. The handle on my spade became loose and my trowel began to rust. I called my friend and she came around and explained the steps I needed to take to fix repair and replace the tools.
