Friday, September 12, 2008

VERTICAL GROWING


I want to do more vertical growing next year. Pole beans, both contender and Kentucky Wonder, cherry tomatoes, cukes were just great for me this year. We had worlds of cukes as I expected but the abundance of peppers surprised me, especially the ones that grew so tall I had to trellis them. So apparently you can grow them up a trellis if you pick the right ones. It sure is a lot easier on the back than bending over to pick them.

A lot of cantaloupes served as dinner for the rabbits. I'm ready for them next year. I am growing the small ones and putting them up in the air. I'll use netting as a sling to hold them up. I think vertical growing is so much fun. You have less disease and pests and it is just so much easier on the back to harvest. Can rabbits climb? I believe I can train yellow squash to go up a trellis too. It is worth a try.

I am going to check into the baby type veggies too. I love the baby ones for salads. Baby corn is something I love. Baby carrots, baby corn, pearl onions, cherry tomatoes, baby pumpkins ( they call one "baby boo"), midget cucumbers, tiny cabbage heads, tom thumb lettuce, baby eggplant, Easter egg radishes, little dumpling squash...and the list goes on. These could be raised in containers all around the property. A healthy vegetable plant is as pretty as any other green plant.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's what I plan on doing next year too Eve. I'm going to mount trellises to the privacy fence to grow pole beans, baby cucumbers & maybe squash.

Anonymous said...

Yep, I am running out of space. So vertical it will go!
Brenda

Melissa said...

Me too. I planted my cucs and beans on a teepee frame made of hog panels and it was perfect for them. I also supported a cherry tomatoe on a frame that allowed the silly bugger to reach 8-9 feet.

I want to try growing birdhouse gourds next year and I don't know what else. ;)

walk2write said...

Anything easy on the back works for me! I have actually started using a gardening stool that my son bought for me a couple of years ago, and the funny thing is, I'm not ashamed to use it. Every day I get more comfortable in this aging, sagging soul sack.

tina said...

Vertical growing is very good. I love it too. I am very sure rabbits do not climb so your veggies should be safe:)

Susie said...

Okay, I want to see these baby veggies. I have seen baby corn but not sure about the rest.

Running them up a trellis is a great idea! My cucumbers did good climbing mine.

I hope Ike doesn't cause you too many problems this weekend. We were feeling some of his winds today and a little rain.

Lib said...

Hi Eve,
I too enjoy vertical . Sure helps on a broken down back!
Have a great wk.end.
Blessins',Lib

Julie said...

Hmmmm...very interesting idea! I tried growing tomatoes upside down and hung up last year, but it failed! This looks promising, what you are doing!!! Something to think about!

Gail said...

Wow, I learn more and more about vegetable gardening!

Gail

Skeeter said...

What an interesting concept! I dont believe rabbits can climb but I know squirrels sure do!

Meadowview Thymes said...

Great idea! I love to grow pole beans--I like them better than bush.

Cindy said...

I'd like to grow cucumbers vertically. I know I've thought about it. One year we had gourd vines growing all up in a tree. The gourds were hanging in the tree like ornaments.

Rose said...

Your squash look so healthy, Eve! I've never tried vertical growing, but maybe I should. Too often my squash as well as other plants wind up rotting on the ground, especially after too much rain. And if it makes it easier on the back, I'm all for it!