Who says you need acres of land to grow enough food for your family? The truth is… you don’t need to spread OUT, you just need to grow UP!

Whether you have small spaces or large spaces, if you have the opportunity/ability to grow a plant vertically—DO IT!

I cannot emphasize enough how much this will change the way you garden! I don't care what plant it is, if it's able to be grown vertically, tied to a pole, attached to a fence, or hung from a tree—DO IT! 

When you think of vertical gardening, most people picture beans climbing a trellis or peas wrapping around a string. But here’s the secret: you can train nearly ANY plant to grow vertically with a little creativity, the right supports, and a dash of determination.

Tomatoes & Peppers? Cage ’em or string ’em high—use poles, sticks, fences— ANYTHING; they’ll love the airflow and sunshine.

Cucumbers? Trellis those vines for straighter, cleaner fruit. Or use poles, sticks, fences, and even string attached to a structure.

Squash, melons, pumpkins? Yep—sling them in netting to support their weight! Growing these plants vertically is your number one way to avoid powdery mildew. I grow pumpkins from the ground, up to 12 feet high! Take a look at this picture closely; there are 2 pumpkins growing on my kiwi pergola! 

Lettuces, herbs, strawberries? Stack them in towers, hanging planters, or wall pockets.

Flowers? Of course! I generally stick a small pole in the middle of MOST of my flowers and give them a wrapping of string. I only need to do this one time each year! Flowers like echinacea, daisies, and even my beloved edible bread seed poppies, can use a little upright support so they don’t fall over and get lost in the chaos.

Growing vertically keeps your plants healthier, reduces pests & disease, makes harvesting easier, and saves a TON of space. Plus, it just looks absolutely magical—like your garden decided to become an art installation.

If you’ve got a small yard (or no yard at all), vertical gardening turns even the tiniest space into a food-producing powerhouse. And if you do have lots of space? Growing vertically still makes sense, because why bend over if you don’t have to? In larger spaces, the opportunities here are endless for you to end up with record breaking harvests, and a unique, one of a kind, edible & herbal food forest, EXTRAVAGANZA!

 If you need more help, don't forget to check out MY EDIBLE & HERBAL FOOD FOREST GUIDE available now. This guide starts from scratch, and takes you step-by-step through mastering your own edible & herbal paradise.

Always remember:

The Future Is Worth The Patience Of The Present

-Michele

The Homemade Gardener