How to grow edibles vertically

[mich1972]

Good morning Workshop Community Friends. I’m back out in the Garden and it’s been been really hot here in Perth. 
Thought I would share with you what I have growing at the moment. Not too much but enough. In our No Dig Garden I have set up a very old school way to trellis Lebanese Cucumbers, using twine, veggie clips and hanging basket hooks. Also Reo Mesh, Hard Trellis for my Rockmelons and Pumpkins. Keeping it simple. The Lebanese Cucumbers are easy and fast growing , even for a beginner Gardener who wants to grow them. 

Materials

Twine

Veggie Clips 

Stakes ( star pickets ) strong 

Hanging Basket Hooks ( Square )

Lebanese Cucumber Seedlings 

Rockmelon Seedlings 

Pumpkin Seedlings, they are a dwarf Diggers Seeds Variety 

Triple C Mulch 

Charlie Carp Liquid Fertiliser 

Garden Lime

Ezi Wet Granular Wetting Agent 

Tools

Trowel to dig holes to plant the seedlings 

Gloves to protect hands

Sun hat and long sleeves for sun protection 

Steps

Step 1

Choose the spot you want to grow Vertically. I have gone old school and just using the good old fashioned way, stake, twine and basket hooks. 

The square basket hooks hang off the brick wall, I have used steel star pickets and the recycled plastic stakes. They are both sturdy and strong enough for the string trellis. Ran the twine up and down around the basket hooks and stakes. 

I added Garden Lime to the soil as this is an important step when planting vegetables here in Perth with our poor sandy soil. I also added Granulated Wetting Agent as always because the soil becomes hydrophobic over time and needs to be replenished. Planted the seedlings and mulched with Triple C Mulch. I always use it as it breaks down down into a beautiful feeding compost. 

 

 

This Reo Mesh has Rockmelons on the left and Dwarf variety of Pumpkin on the right. It is just leaning against the wall on an angle. 

Step 2

I liquid feed every week with Charlie Carp and the seedlings grow fast and healthy. 

 

As they start growing I use veggie clips to secure them to the string trellis and also the mesh trellis 

They have tendrils that naturally grab onto whatever they are climbing on, the veggie clips just provide extra support. 

Step 3

These Rockmelons are in another spot in the garden, climbing up Rustic Mesh. 

The trellis are held up with hanging basket hooks on the pergola. 

Growing fast 

Step 4

I have been randomly cutting off leaves throughout the vines to help promote more airflow and prevent fungal infections. This is extremely important, especially on the hot humid days we get. 
I also water the soil NOT the foliage if I can help it and I NEVER water at night because that’s when you start getting fungal infections such as Powdery Mildew which is very common. 

Step 5

 

 

As they grow I just keep twisting them around the string and attach a clip. 

 

 

 

[mich1972]

Yes , got a few growing including the wonderful Carolina Reapers 🤣🤣

[Noyade]

"Carolina Reapers"

I bought some of these a year a go or so and never appreciated the heat expected. I cut them up and tossed them liberally into a chicken wrap for me and the wife.

To this day she has never forgiven me.

[mich1972]

And homegrown tastes heaps  better and NO chemicals 😊

 

 

 

[mich1972]

 

 

 

 Good afternoon Workshop Community Friends. Here’s an update on our Vertical Rockmelon Wall !! Now how cool is this for a temporary living vertical wall throughout the hot summer months hey ! 🤣 Giving us lots of shade on the patio. 
Reo Mesh - Hanging Basket Hooks - Rockmelon Seedlings - Veggie Clips. Easy as. I’m growing Hops on our Chook Run fence, next Summer I will grow Hops in this spot to give us more shade AND privacy. 

[EricL]

Hello @mich1972 

Thank you so much for sharing that update. Your veggie garden is absolutely gorgeous! I showed my wife your garden setup and she was very impressed. Your current harvest is outstanding, I can only imagine how much more produce you'll be getting in the next few weeks. 

Eric

[mich1972]

Hey Eric, thank you 😊 Only growing a few things as it’s been so hot here in Perth. Once it’s starts cooling down here, I’ll get ready for more veggies !!

[Refugee]

     When I had a backyard of virgin clay, rocks and weeds; everything grew; just needed to add some water.
Surrounded by vacant land where weeds even allowed the kitchen scraps we threw out to thrive.
The animal life was normal as well; unlike today where the density of birds and animals is far higher than anywhere else in Australia.
We even have new butterflies attacking vegetables that never existed on this side of the Great Dividing Range.
We had to find people to give away cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini.
Every year as the Shade trees grew the harvest was less and the watering more.
Our house was designed to be shaded by four canopy trees to make it habitable in summer.
We now have thick roots everywhere, until autumn arrives and the shade trees go to sleep for the cool months.
My grandmother told people we live in a forest.
Climate change is real, and, we also need some shade for things we grew in the open fields.
Vertical gardens are good idea as long as the root area of the vegetables is separated from the tree roots by very thick plastic building sheets.
Sloping beds that allow water to drain away.
We live in two houses; and, the one that catches the sea breeze every afternoon will have all the trees removed to grow vegetables and miniature fruit trees.
Eating whole, a cool crisp cucumber straight from the plant is a joy.