You can improve yield, grow bigger vegetables, and make more efficient use of growing space through vertical gardening.

 Illustration: Elayne Sears, Mother Earth News

Small gardens become more productive when you use the vertical space. Many vegetables can be trellised or supported to grow upward.

Some veggies such as green beans can be grown as bush or pole beans. I’ve grown cucumbers and snow peas on trellises as well. This summer I’m trialing ‘Honey Nut’ Baby Butternut Squash on a 7 foot trellis.

For more details and reasons to grow vertically, read this excellent article, Vertical Gardening Techniques by Barbara Pleasant in Mother Earth News.

Also check my previous post featuring various garden plans using vertical gardening techniques.