When we look at nature, we can see crops on every floor: trees, bushes, ferns, flowers ….
Also, when you do not have much space to garden, you can produce more thanks to a very simple trick: you grow higher!
By installing some vertical structure (even a tree or fence), many plants can be climbed up and thus gain space to grow underneath.
Additionaly, some plants like to grow next to each other. This is the case for corn, beans and squash for example. They are called the 3 sisters or “Milpa”. The Americans Indians had cultivated them together for a very long time. The Maize serves as a support to the bean that climbs over it. The squash covers the ground thus protecting it from moisture.
Some plants climb on their own, as long as they have supports to wrap around: these are row beans and peas for example.
Others need to be tied, like squash and courgettes, cucumbers and pickles, tomatoes, melons …
To grow my crops vertically, I can use some original tricks:
A tower of herbs for example, with 3 pots of different sizes stacked on top of each other and filled with top soil, this can accommodate aromatic plants.
Peas and beans can be grown on chicken wire mesh or on teepee poles. The harvest thus becomes very easy, in addition it is pretty.
Vegetables such as cucumbers can be grown along a wall. We then save space and decorate the wall.
We can run squashes on an arbor to form a vegetable roof. There will be shade underneath.
