Vertical Vegetables & Fruit: Creative Gardening Techniques for Growing Up in Small Spaces

320 Pages·2011·5.46 MB·English

by  Rhonda Massingham Hart

VERTICAL
Vegetables & Fruit
RHONDA MASSINGHAM HART
VERTICAL
Vegetables & Fruit
for
CREATIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES GROWING UP IN SMALL SPACES
The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by
publishing practical information that encourages
personal independence in harmony with the environment.
Edited by Gwen Steege, Carleen Madigan, and Lisa H. Hiley
Art direction by Jessica Armstrong
Book design and text production by Michael Vrana/Black Eye Design Inc.
Illustrations by © Kathryn Rathke
Indexed by Christine R. Lindemer, Boston Road Communications © 2011 by
Rhonda Massingham Hart
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written
permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief
passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may
any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or other — without written permission from the publisher.
The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our
knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the
author or Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in
connection with the use of this information.
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Printed in the United States by Versa Press
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Hart, Rhonda Massingham, 1959-Vertical
vegetables and fruit / by Rhonda Massingham Hart.
p. cm.
Includes index.
First ed. published as: Trellising.
ISBN 978-1-60342-998-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Vertical gardening. 2. Trellises. I. Title.
SB463.5.M37 2012
631.5’46—dc23
2011024851
To my beautiful, spectacular, brilliant daughter,
Kaelah, and my handsome, amazing, awesome son,
Lance — the absolute joys of my life.
Love you, Mombo
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I hope you read this. It’s the part of a book in which the grateful author gets to
thank “all the little people” who helped. I’m not that deluded. In reality, I barely
helped the people who actually did the work. I just wrote the thing. The folks
who made it readable, fun to look at, and small enough to carry (not to mention
print it, bind it, and haul it off to market) are the ones who should get the real
credit.
So here’s to the real stars of the show. Publisher Pam Art came up with idea in
the first place. We all owe her our thanks. Gwen Steege and Carleen Madigan
got the ball rolling. Send them roses. Jessica Richard had the job of herding feral
cats in the forms of a writer, business contracts, and other grown-up stuff. There
should a medal for that, or at least therapy. Jessica Armstrong wrangled Michel
Vrana, the intuitive and gifted graphic designer. They both deserve tremendous
credit; someone should take them out to dinner — but maybe not together. Ilona
Sherratt oversaw the images I sent, along with those that actually made it into
the book; chocolates to her. Kathryn Rathke, the illustrator, created the dead-on
perfect illustrations you’re about to see, on a tight deadline, no less. Champagne
perhaps? And Lisa Hiley knitted the whole works together as project editor;
roses, dinner, chocolates, and champagne to her!
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
Introduction
We’ve all seen them. Those gorgeous, elaborate examples of trellised plants
beckon, even if only from the pages of the latest garden magazine or website.
Images of billowing clouds of climbing roses, obediently outstretched arms of
espaliered fruit trees, and cascading waves of wisteria reach from the pages to
flirt with our imagination and tug at our envious hearts. Such visions of the
gardener’s devotion are surely beyond us, the Keepers of the Home Plot, so
pressed for time, space, and available resources. Or are they?
True, creating these living works of art takes time and dedication, both things
today’s backyard gardener often finds in short supply. But the techniques that are
used in achieving these glorious results can be put to good use by even the most
harried of home growers. The results may be less dramatic with trellised beans
or cucumbers than with ornamental flowers, but that depends entirely on one’s
perspective. Whether you trellis plants for fine art or fine harvests, one of the
most appreciable results will be a less harried, less tired, more satisfied gardener!
Using cinder blocks is just one of many resourceful ways to create vertical space
in your backyard, an existing garden, or even a deck or balcony.