Vertical gardens look beautiful on Pinterest, but which plants thrive IRL (in real life)? Whether you\u2019re gardening on a vertical plant stand or trying to recreate the hanging gardens of Babylon, we\u2019ll list a few plants that work well in any vertical garden setup.<\/p>
Since vertical gardens are such a varied lot, we\u2019ll focus on which types of plants work best for home container garden setups. We\u2019ll focus most of our attention on vegetable plants. If you\u2019re more interested in ornamentals, we\u2019ll mention several of these plants that stand upright, trail, and climb, so you can choose one that suits your gardening style.<\/p>
A vertical garden is a garden that grows up instead of horizontally along a row. Most vertical gardens are planted in some type of container; most traditional gardens are planted in-ground.<\/p>
Vertical gardens range from basic home container gardens<\/a> that rely on recycled materials to indoor warehouses that use hydroponics and artificial intelligence to grow and harvest food for commercial distribution.<\/p> Vertical gardens are a varied lot, but in general, any plant you can grow in a pot, you can grow in a vertical garden. <\/p> Here is a short list of edible plants that work well in vertical container gardens, organized by potting depth<\/a>:<\/p> Radishes, lettuce, spinach, green onions, chives<\/p> These plants work best in pots that have at least a 6 to 9 inch depth<\/strong>.<\/p> Peppers, peas, kale, eggplant, chard, celery, cauliflower, carrots, beets, broccoli<\/p> These plants work best in pots that have at least a 12 to 18 inch depth<\/strong>.<\/p> Zucchini, winter squash, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, corn, beans<\/p> These plants work best in pots that have at least an 18 to 24 inch depth<\/strong>.<\/p> Don\u2019t forget about ornamentals as well:<\/p> Here are a few tips to help your container garden thrive:<\/p> Check out the University of Minnesota\u2019s \u201cVegetables A-Z<\/a>\u201d or the University of Missouri\u2019s Vegetable Gardening page<\/a> for more helpful growing information.<\/p> When you grow in containers, do your research and find varieties that work well for container gardening (should say in the description). You can also look for bush varieties of some crops, which are usually non-vining, or dwarf varieties<\/a> if you\u2019re looking for a smaller-sized plant. <\/p> Vining beans and cucumbers, for example, are perfect for growing vertically, though, if you want to set up a trellis or put the pot next to an arbor, pergola, or even a fence. If your idea of vertical gardening is more setting pots along your back steps, the dwarf or bush varieties may be a better choice.<\/p> To make things a little easier, check out this handy list from the University of Wisconsin Extension service that includes container-friendly varieties<\/a> of many commonly grown vegetables.<\/p> Vertical gardening isn\u2019t ideal for every gardener, but here are a few benefits to consider: Anywhere!\u00a0 A living wall (also called a green wall or plant wall) is a piece of living sculpture that you\u2019ll find most often indoors in commercial settings or outdoors along walls in subtropical climates. These living works of art feature a plethora of different species and colors that form privacy walls or act as a focal point in an office building lobby, for example. Depending on your setup, hydroponic vertical gardens usually grow greens such as lettuces,\u00a0 spinach, and herbs. Other crops, including tomatoes and cucumbers, are also possible. Almost any plant that is not a root crop can be grown hydroponically<\/a> as long as you have the right set up. <\/p> <\/div> <\/div> If you\u2019re busy paging through seed catalogs to find that perfect tabletop tomato variety, let our <\/em>local lawn care pros<\/em><\/a> keep the lawn tidy in the meantime.<\/em><\/p> Best edible plants for vertical gardens<\/span><\/h2>
Shallow rooted plants<\/span><\/h3>
Plants with moderate roots<\/span><\/h3>
Deeply rooted plants<\/span><\/h3>
Best ornamental plants for vertical gardens<\/span><\/h2>
Planting tips for vertical gardens<\/span><\/h2>
Which plant varieties work best in vertical gardens? <\/span><\/h2>
How to grow a vertical garden<\/span><\/h2>
FAQ about the best plants for vertical gardens<\/span><\/h2>