Allotment & Kitchen Garden - Vertical Growing

Just like a city, lack of ground space has had architects designing and building upwards to maximise the space. Flat dwellers, or those with limited or no garden can still join the grow your own revolution with Vertical Growing!

From wall mounted tubs and window boxes to a trellis or vertical structure, there are many ways of growing upwards and downwards. You can use existing structures such as your fence, wall or pergola roof (the wooden beams make good vines). Just ensure the structures being used are strong and sturdy enough to hold your filled plant containers or established plants that will grow and bear 'fruit' also.

You can buy vertical stacking pots and towers and so on or you could get more creative and recycle unwanted items such as vertical show racks, ladders, pallets and more.

Consider the position of your growing area. Are you south facing or very sheltered and shady? Choose your crops accordingly.

Depending on what you're planting will depend on what would be the most effective in terms of a container. Some plants are great climbers and others are trailing. Check your varieties when purchasing your seeds.

Your plants don't have to be climbing or trailing either. Smaller plants and herbs will work very well too. 

Your preparations may well involve tools and drilling, so if you're not too hot on DIY consider alternative/easier options. You could perhaps use wire or something similar that will be strong and seure enough to hold pots to your support.

Here is a list of plants to try, it's not exhaustive but are known to work well:

• Aubergine
• Beans
• Chillies
• Cucumbers
• Grapes
• Herbs
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Squashes
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes

Obviously your choice of containers and positioning along with your location and it's weather will play a large part in your growing success. Smaller plants will be easier to accommodate.

They will require regular watering and you should ensure your plant containers have a good drainage system and room for root growth. Be mindful of pests and disease; especially with many varieties in close proximity and treat where neccessary.  You may want to see our Companion Planting for maximising the benefits of planting certain plants next to each other.

See also our Container Planting page for more information.