The key to growing the best garden in small spaces is to grow vertically. What I mean by this is to use trellises and other structures to grow your plants upwards not taking up additional space on the ground.
By growing vertically you not only can plant more types of vegetables but you can also increase your harvest by as much as 50% on some of the vegetables.
This can also reduce the diseases and pests that attack your plants and vegetables. It can also reduce rot that occurs when vegetables come into contact with the ground for extended periods of time.
I will recommend several cages, trellises, and other verticle structures you can purchase but you can also easily build your own with wood stakes, zip ties, and string or other banding materials.
Here are some recommendations for trellises and structures to help you grow a verticle garden.
Trellis is a structure that is typically made of wood metal or plastic allowing plants to grow vertically and allow for good airflow.
- SMALL SIZE - Length: 10.2/26cm
- PREMIUM TRELLIS
- STACKABLE DESIGN
- PERFECT SUPPORT
- Made from Polyethylene-coated steel tubing with nylon netting,
- A sturdy build that adds height, dimension
- HIGH QUALITY
- EASY TO USE
- Made of 100% real willow,willow sticks is are about 1/4” to 3/8” thick
- Perfect climbing plant support
- EASY INSTALLATION:
- HIGH-QUALITY
- Grid panel measures 27.6 x 35. 4 inches (Width x Height)
- EASY-TO-ASSEMBLE
Cages are structures that encircle the plant allowing the plant to grow vertically and not cover the ground. Sometimes they are referred to as tomato cages.
Things to consider before purchasing a cage are what you are growing, smaller tomatoes and cucumbers can have a smaller cage to support the plant. For larger tomatoes and squash you should use a cage that can be pushed deep into the ground for support.
Lastly consider where you will store the cages in winter, if you are limited to space I would recommend a cage that folds flat for easy storage.
When using tomato cages you should consider driving larger stakes or posts into the ground so that as the plant grows and the fruit sets on adding weight to the branches your plant does not break or get blown over by summer winds.
- Measurements: 14-3/8 square x 39 H overall including 7 legs; 32 H installed - 8 square openings
- Not just for Tomatoes, they will work for other vegetables as well
- HIGH-QUALITY BUILT
- EASY TO USE
- 10 Cages
- Powder Coated for rust resistance
- Green
- 12 wide by 33 T
- Heavy-duty
- FOLDABLE PLANT CAGE】
- GALVANIZED STEEL CAGE】
Books to teach you how to grow your garden vertically
- Increase what you can grow by growing vertically
- Projects made simple
- How to improve production
- More vegetables in small spaces
- Ideas on container gardening
- Best raised beds
- How to grow edible plants indoors
- Small space ideas
- How to grow vertical gardens
- Fruit, Vegetables, and flowers
- More plant in less space
For extremely limited space where you are using planters or pots, you can use the same structures to grow your garden vertically, you will only need to purchase a smaller verticle structure.
Soil amendments are still critical for growing vertically, be sure to start by adding amendments to build your soil up before planting.
Vegetables that you can grow vertically
Tomatoes
Peas
Cucumbers
Squash
Beans
Recap How to Maximize Small Spaces for Gardening
By growing your plants vertically you free space on the ground to now be planted with other low-growing vegetables which will shade the base and roots of the vertical plants.
These can include carrots, onions, peppers, flowers like marigolds, and nasturtiums, herbs like basil, dill, cilantro, and other low-growing companion plants.
Remember that you can grow any vegetables in a limited space by growing vertically to open up valuable garden space on the ground.
