Sure, it makes sense that there's a buzz about vertical gardening?there are lots more of us to feed these days with much less productive land. "Let's make the best use of our diminishing resources," many are saying. And likely there are also those who dismiss vertical gardening as a fad. Mostly, though, I hear talk about increased yields. However, I suspect there are vertical gardeners like myself who have been surprised by another aspect we hadn't expected.
"Necessity is the mother of invention," is a cliché often quoted, and human food requirements necessitate sponging-up sunlight at smaller and smaller focal points. My wife, Vicki, and I have a small yard, and somewhat out of necessity we began years ago building what began as rather makeshift trellises. Somewhere along our way, it had dawned on us that vining plants, such as cucurbits, those that produce melons, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins, are much like grape vines, their vines produce tendrils that secure to structures so they can climb as they grow.
Commercial farmers still grow cucurbits on the ground, but home gardeners realized long ago that these vining plants are more adapted to growing upward. Of course, home gardeners support cucurbit vines on trellises of all sorts and have devised many ingenious, albeit awkward, means of providing support to heavy melons, pumpkins or squash while they are yet ripening and suspended.
We began to desire a more scientific and artistic approach to vertical gardening and to building a vertical garden structure. We searched in vain for a guidebook to how to build one that is both aesthetic and engineered to be vine-friendly, and finally resigned to sketching our own design and years ago we built our first vertical garden structure. As the next season progressed, we were amazed to see squash and melon vines rise to heights over our heads.
Each year since, we have been delighted by astounding yields and our harvests of both heirlooms and hybrids (see photos at our website). We have harvested mouth-watering melons whose flavors are unmatched by the "store-boughts," and we store enough squash each year that it is mid-April before we cook and savor the last of our trophies. As pleasurable as it is to bite into these orbs of sweetness and palate sensation, though, there is another thrill exclusive to vertical gardening that may eclipse these joys.
Vines grown vertically are artful all by themselves as they twist about and their tendrils reach and spiral. We've observed, though, that with a little pruning and directional coaxing using garden ties, they can be guided to achieve magnificent form and function. Each day of the growing season we can step over to our vertical garden to find wondrous surprises.
The magnificence of vines grown vertically tugs gently at our subtler nature until we begin to awaken to a certain glimpse of the sublime. The joys experienced when tending vines may be akin to what one feels when listening to corn grow during the hush of dawn. I 've fallen into awe sometimes while cultivating and coaxing vines to grow left or right or up or down to fill our garden structure. I am eager already for next season, when I will experiment again with varieties strange to me and surely be amazed anew.
©2005 Steven J. Townsend. All Rights Reserved.
Steve and Vicki Townsend share hundreds of vertical gardening shortcuts and secrets in e-books you can download at http://www.gardensup.com.
There are many varied definitions of what each color of... Read More
Many of us garden just for the sheer joy of... Read More
Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow... Read More
So. The water garden bug has bitten. You've dug and... Read More
First, some background on PINE WOOD. Pine is a naturally... Read More
My first introductions to Hostas were four small green and... Read More
Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the... Read More
Now's the time to get ready to grow your own... Read More
Are you searching for that perfect bench to set off... Read More
Unless you have access to a greenhouse, or something like... Read More
Gardening for wildlife has become quite a passion for me,... Read More
No dig gardens essentially strive to be their own ecosystem.... Read More
How often you mow your lawn will depend on a... Read More
You can have different water pond designs, however ones that... Read More
Part four in a seriesIt's hard to think about winter... Read More
It is a beautiful evening and you are relaxing on... Read More
This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a... Read More
Doing a full pond cleaning during the colder winter months... Read More
Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain... Read More
Every gardener riding a lawn tractor should be concerned about... Read More
When most people think of landscaping, they think of a... Read More
Children are continually bombarded with advertising for fast food and... Read More
Compost, made from decomposed grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and branches,... Read More
Having a gazebo in the backyard is an excellent way... Read More
You know that brown patchy debris in a lawn that... Read More
Having an ultra violet pond filter will give you a... Read More
Summertime provides the best time of the year to water... Read More
Flower gardening is not only about the present, but can... Read More
Do you love swimming? Do you dream of an in... Read More
A Garden Pond in your Landscape - Want Water in... Read More
Pruning and deadheading are essential to proper rose care. Alas,... Read More
What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter?... Read More
Flower bulbs need a good, long, winters sleep. Like some... Read More
Think of your garden like you would a room in... Read More
A wild flower garden, just like any garden you wish... Read More
The average home can reduce their water consumption by around... Read More
Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More
When choosing a new greenhouse for your garden there are... Read More
Newsletter Name Change?After several of you made suggestions to me... Read More
Spring is coming, and now is the time to get... Read More
The first thing to look for is the plant's grade.... Read More
If you were to travel to Blue Mountain Lake, New... Read More
The design of your garden has an amazing affect on... Read More
Do you love to sit outdoors and swing for hours... Read More
Without a doubt, hummingbirds are beautiful and interesting creatures.Those living... Read More
Adirondack is the name given to a style of furnishings... Read More
There is nothing better to do on a hot, lazy... Read More
In years past, serious rosarians would never consider having a... Read More
So. The water garden bug has bitten. You've dug and... Read More
Early in May here in west central Wisconsin, I can... Read More
Women take pride in home decoration and gardening and want... Read More
We all know one disadvantage of flowers is that they... Read More
Okay, so you have spent hours upon hours creating the... Read More
Sure, it makes sense that there's a buzz about vertical... Read More
HID lamps are categorized in three groups :Mercury Vapor ,... Read More
Pruning your roses does not need to be a dreaded... Read More
I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden... Read More
When you hear the term "Zen Garden" the picture conjured... Read More
You've put a lot of work into your garden, from... Read More
A principle of all art is unity. This means that... Read More
If you think that a large pond is simply a... Read More
Known as "joy of the mountain," Origanum vulgare is commonly... Read More
What could be more relaxing than gardening on a nice... Read More
You've found a great Porch Swing and you know exactly... Read More
Growing your own seedlings is very gratifying and far more... Read More
Don't force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |