Vertical Vegetables & Fruit_ Creative Gardening Techniques for Growing Up in Small Spaces ( PDFDrive )

GARDEN WINDS 877-479-4637 www.gardenwinds.com GARDENER’S SUPPLY COMPANY 888-833-1412 www.gardeners.com G.I. DESIGNS 877-442-6773 www.gidesigns.net SIMPLYARBORS.COM Hayneedle Inc. 866-579-5182 www.simplyarbors.com SIMPLYTRELLISES.COM Hayneedle Inc. www.simplytrellises.com STOCKYARDS RANCH SUPPLY INC. 303-287-8081 www.stockyardsupply.com Materials to make your own trellises

THE TRELLIS STORE 888-924-3946 http://thetrellisstore.com

WOODLANDDIRECT 800-919-1904 www.woodlanddirect.com Products to Try 3-D BARREL GARDENS Easiest Garden www.easiestgarden.com

AEROFALLS Perception Development Company [email protected] www.percdev.com Aeroponic growing systems GARDEN SUPPLY INC. 888-978-4769 www.stack-a-pots.com Freestanding and hanging stackable planter systems

MODULAR INTERLOCKING LIVING WALL SYSTEMS ELT Easy Green www.eltlivingwalls.com PLANTSONWALLS.COM www.plantsonwalls.com Mini-pocket panels and full pocket panels

THE VERTICAL GARDEN 877-775-4769 www.theverticalgarden.com Stackable growing containers

WINDOW FARMS The Window Farms Project www.windowfarm.org

WOOLLY POCKETS Woolly Pocket Garden Company, Inc. www.woollypockets.com

INDEX Page numbers in italic indicate illustrations; those in bold indicate charts. A A-frame bed design, 5, 5, 84, 84 construction of, 27, 27–28 swing set as, 54, 54 thinking outside the, 16 trellis, 12, 12 annual vines. See vines apple trees for espalier, 141–44 basics, 143–44 designs, 139 varieties, 142–43 apricot trees for espalier, 147–49 arches and arbors, 28, 28, 71, 71, 126 practical considerations, 30 B bags and totes, 37, 37 bamboo for framework, 14, 14 for support system, 16 barrels, 44–45, 45 basics, vertical gardening, 1–10, 5 crop yields, 5–6 light and air, 4–5 pests, 5 rules to grow by, 6–10, 7 shaded spots, 4 space maximization, 2–4 upkeep, 4 baskets hanging, 38, 38–39

wire mesh, 40, 42, 42 beans, 48–55, 50, 51 planting guidelines, 53–54 site/soil requirements, 52–53 support system for, 20, 20 training to grow up, 54, 54–55 varieties, 48–52 blackberries, 104–9 planting guidelines, 108 pruning pointers, 109, 109 site/soil requirements, 107–8 training to grow up, 108, 108–9 varieties, 104–7, 105 building materials, 11–18 containers, 18 for framework, 11–14, 12, 13 for support system, 14–18, 15 C cages, 26–27, 70, 70 chemicals to avoid, 12 cinder blocks, 41, 41 clips. See ties/clips/slings clothesline trellis, 25, 25–26 composting basics, 8 information sources, 159 containers. See also pots and planters bags and totes, 37, 37 creativity in using, 18 planting recommendations, 32 self-watering, 7, 7 with trellises, 24, 24 in window boxes, 34, 36 Cooperative Extension Service, 158 corn, 55, 55 cucumbers, 72, 72–77, 73, 74 burpless, story behind, 75 planting guidelines, 75–76 secret life of, 77

site/soil requirements, 74 training to grow up, 76, 76 transplanting, 39 varieties, 72–74 D direct seeding, 154 dirt. See soil drainage, 33 drupe, 105 E espalier, 138–50 apple trees, 139, 141–44 apricots/peaches/nectarines, 147–49 basic designs, 138–41, 139 pear trees, 144–47 plum trees, 149–50 tree selection, 141 F fences, as trellises, 25–26 clothesline trellis, 25, 25–26 fruits growing on, 96, 96 vegetables growing on, 52, 52, 102, 102 framework, building, 11–14 bamboo, 14, 14 metal, 13, 13 plastic, 14 wood, 12, 12–13 fruits, perennial, 103. See also espalier; specific fruit future vertical projects, 45 G gardening products to try, 162 supplies/nurseries, 160–61 gardening tips/information, 158–59

composting/mulching, 159 online gardening forums, 159 gherkins, 73 gourds. See squash grapes, 122–31, 124 edible leaves of, 129 planting guidelines, 127–28 pruning tips, 130–31 site/soil requirements, 126–27 thinning out leaves/fruit, 128 training to grow up, 126, 128–30, 130 varieties, 123–26 greens, 22, 44 H hanging baskets, 38, 38–39, 69, 119 hardening off transplants, 157 height of plants, 3, 3 herbs grown in ‘bags,’ 37, 37 hybrid support system, 29, 29 I irrigation. See water/watering K kiwis, 132–37 male/female plants, 134 planting guidelines, 135 pruning, 136 site/soil requirements, 134–35 training to grow up, 135, 135–37 varieties, 132–34 L landscape blocks, 41, 41 living wall, creating a, 46, 46 M

Malabar spinach (Basella alba), 22 materials. See building materials melons, 86–96, 87, 88, 89, 92 out of the ordinary, 91 planting guidelines, 94–95 secret life of, 93 seedless seeds, treatment for, 95 site/soil requirements, 94 training to grow up, 94, 96, 96 varieties, 86–94 mesh and wire, 15–16 metal cages, 13, 13, 70, 70 galvanized/nongalvanized, 16 spiraling stake, 26, 26 for towers, 43, 43 mulch/mulching basics, 9 information sources, 159 N nectarine trees for espalier, 147–49 O online gardening forums, 159 organic produce, 3 P peach trees for espalier, 147–49 pear trees for espalier, 144–47 Asian pears, 145–46 basics, 146–47 European pears, 144–45 varieties, 144 peas, 56–60, 57, 58, 60 planting guidelines, 59–60 site/soil requirements, 59 support system for, 20, 20

training to grow up, 60, 60 varieties, 56–58 pests, checking for, 5 planters. See pots and planters plastic pipe. See PVC pipe plum trees for espalier, 149–50 potatoes. See sweet potatoes pots and planters, 38–42. See also containers creativity in using, 41, 41 hanging baskets, 38, 38–39 modular planters, 46, 46 strawberry pots, 121, 121 upside-down, 39, 39–40, 42 produce, organic, 3 pumpkins. See squash PVC pipe, 14 PVC spacer, 7, 7 R raised beds A-frame with, 5, 5 basics, 8 multilevel, 41, 41 raspberries, 110–16, 111, 115–16 planting guidelines, 114–15 pruning tips, 116 relocation of patch, 115 site/soil requirements, 114 training to grow up, 115, 115–16 varieties, 110–13 recordkeeping, 10 roots, making room for, 32–33 rope/twine/string, 14–15 rotating crops, 10 rules to grow by, 6–10, 7 composting, 8 mulching, 9 raised beds, 8 rotating crops, 10

staking/supporting plants, 9 sunlight, 6 watering wisely, 6–10 weeding, 9–10 S salad bar, vertical, 44 seedlings, growing, 155–56 seeds/seeding direct seeding, 154 and planting information, 161–62 saving seeds, 4 self-watering containers, 7, 7 shade, 4, 31–32, 32 shelves for plants, 41, 41 slings, 82, 96 setting up, 17–18, 18 ties, clips and, 16–18, 17, 17 for very large fruit, 83 soil considerations, 3–4 depth, 32 sterile growing medium, 34 weight of, 38 space-saving options, 31–46 bags and totes, 37, 37 containers, 32 preliminaries, 31–33 window boxes, 33, 33–34, 36, 36 window farming, 35, 35 spacing of plants, 32 spinach Malabar spinach (Basella alba), 22 squash, 55, 78–85, 79, 80 planting guidelines, 83–84 site/soil requirements, 83 support system for, 21, 21 training to grow up, 82, 82, 84, 84–85, 85 transplanting, 39

varieties, 78–83 staking/supporting plants, 9 basics, 19–20 length of stakes, 21 spiraling metal stake, 26, 26 strawberries, 117, 117–22, 122 in containers, 119, 121, 121, 122 planting guidelines, 120 site/soil requirements, 120 training to grow up, 120, 122 varieties, 118–20 strawberry pots, 121, 121 string/rope/twine, 14–15 sun/sunlight, 32 air and, 4–5 direction of, 3, 3 hours per day, 6 shade and, 31–32 support system design, 14–18, 15 ties/clips/slings, 16–18, 17, 17 twine/string/rope, 14–15 wire and mesh, 15–16, 26–27, 27 wood and bamboo, 16 support systems, sources for, 161–62 support systems, traditional, 19. See also arches and arbors; tepees; trellises sweet potatoes, 97–102, 98 nutritional benefits, 101 planting guidelines, 100, 100–101 site/soil requirements, 99 tater tower, building, 42–43, 43 training to grow up, 102, 102 varieties, 97–99 T tater tower, building, 42–43, 43 tepees, 20, 21 four-legged, 23 with horizontal rungs, 24, 24 large, 21, 23

running, 23, 23 small, 20–21 vegetables growing on, 21, 21, 50, 50, 85, 85 Three Sisters Garden, 55, 55 ties/clips/slings, 16–18, 17,17 tomatillos, 67 tomatoes, 61–71 classification of, 61 in containers, 69, 69 disease resistance of, 63 grown in ‘bags,’ 37, 37 nutritional benefits, 67 planting guidelines, 68–70 root systems of, 33 site/soil requirements, 67–68 for stuffing, 65 support systems for, 27, 27, 29, 70, 70–71, 71 training to grow up, 70–71, 71 in upside-down planters, 39, 39 varieties, 62–67 towers/towering, 42–45 barrels used in, 44–45, 45 tater tower, building, 42–43, 43 transplants, hardening off, 157 trellises design options, 6 fences as, 25, 25–26 ready-made, 13 self-contained, 24, 24 sources for, 161–62 storage of, 12 V-shaped, 115, 115 tuteurs, 13, 24, 24 twine/string/rope, 14–15 U upside-down planters, 39, 39–40, 42 USDA hardiness zone map, 153

V varieties, recommended, 151–52 vines annual, 47. See also specific plant hybrid support system for, 29, 29 training, 9 tying too tight, 17 wet, avoiding touching, 8 W wall, living, 46, 46 water/watering, 6–7 aqua spikes, 7 drip irrigation, 7 homemade irrigation system, 7, 7 self-watering containers, 7, 7 wet vines and, 8 websites, 160 weeding, 9–10 window boxes, 33, 33–36 building materials, 33–34 containers in, 34, 36 creativity in using, 36, 36 window farming, 35, 35 wire and mesh, 15–16 cool cages from, 26–27, 27 wire mesh baskets, 40, 42, 42 wood cages, 26–27 for framework, 12, 12, 43, 43 for support system, 16 treated, chemicals in, 12 Z zone map, 153

Other Storey Titles You Will Enjoy Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riotte. A classic companion planting guide that shows how to use plants’ natural partnerships to produce bigger and better harvests. 224 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-58017-027-7. Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard, by Geri Harrington. Plant-by-plant advice on choosing, planting, growing, harvesting, and cooking more than 40 Chinese vegetables and herbs. 232 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-60342-140-9. Landscaping with Fruit, by Lee Reich. A complete, accessible guide to luscious landscaping — from alpine strawberry to lingonberry, mulberry to wintergreen. 192 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-60342-091-4. Hardcover with jacket. ISBN 978-1-60342-096-9. Starter Vegetable Gardens, by Barbara Pleasant. A great resource for beginning vegetable gardeners: 24 no-fail plans for small organic gardens. 180 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-60342-529-2. The Veggie Gardener’s Answer Book, by Barbara W. Ellis. Insider’s tips and tricks, practical advice, and organic wisdom for vegetable growers everywhere. 432 pages. Flexibind. ISBN 978-1-60342-024-2. Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, by Ron Kujawski & Jennifer Kujawski. Detailed, customizable to-do lists to break down gardening into simple, manageable tasks. 200 pages. Paper. ISBN 978-1-60342-694-7. These and other books from Storey Publishing are available wherever quality books are sold or by calling 1-800-441-5700. Visit us at www.storey.com.

Table of Contents Introduction PART I THE WHYS, WHATS, AND HOW-TOS OF MAKING FOOD GROW UP Chapter 1 | It’s Time to Grow Up! Chapter 2 | Making the Most of Materials Chapter 3 | Traditional Techniques: Tepees and Trellises Chapter 4 | Not-So-Traditional Tricks: Hanging, Stacking, Towering, and More PART II VERTICAL ANNUAL VINES Chapter 5 | Beans Chapter 6 | Peas Chapter 7 | Tomatoes Chapter 8 | Cucumbers Chapter 9 | Squash and Gourds Chapter 10 | Melons Chapter 11 | Sweet Potatoes PART III FINE PERENNIAL FRUITS Chapter 12 | Blackberries Chapter 13 | Raspberries Chapter 14 | Strawberries Chapter 15 | Grapes Chapter 16 | Kiwis Chapter 17 | The Essentials of Espalier Appendix 1 | A Note on Recommended Varieties Appendix 2 | Direct Seeding Appendix 3 | Growing Your Own Seedlings Appendix 4 | Hardening Off Tender Transplants Resources for Gardeners Index