Growing squash in a raised bed is an excellent option for gardeners with limited space or poor soil conditions. Raised beds provide greater control over the soil composition and offer numerous benefits, making them a popular choice for gardening. This comprehensive guide offers eight inspiring tips for cultivating squash in raised beds, helping to enjoy all the benefits of this warm-season vegetable.
Squash can be grown from seeds or transplants in a raised garden bed, but transplanting is easier and requires more time to mature. Raised beds improve soil quality and drainage, making it an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Squash plants can grow in compact bush forms, trailing forms, or in-between semi-bush forms. Trailing forms take up more space in a raised bed, but can be trained up a trellis to limit their footprint. Most types of summer squash grow in a bush form.
Pruning squash and zucchini growing in raised beds can give you more fruits forming on plants that take up less space in the garden. Once seedlings are hardened off, plant your squash in fertile soil in the full sun. Squash plants enjoy warm temperatures and at a lower temperature.
Growing squash in pots can be a great option for gardeners with limited space or those who want to avoid soil-borne diseases. Till below the depth of 10 inches to expand room for the squash’s roots, grow vertically, and keep bottom leaves pruned up to fruit for better visual inspection and less point of contact for squash vine borers.
📹 5 MAJOR Benefits of Training Squash and Zucchini Vertically| I’ll Never Go Back!|
Introducing Gro-Rite: the hassle-free, “No Tools Needed” metal raised garden bed that you can assemble by yourself in 10 …
What vegetables do best in raised beds?
Raised beds are ideal for vegetables that require a minimum soil temperature of 60°F (15°C) for seed germination. They are exposed to air and sunlight, warming up faster than garden soil. They work as season extenders in spring, allowing planting earlier than in garden beds. However, in summer heat, the soil in raised beds dries out quicker, requiring more watering. Mulching can help counter this, but a raised bed in full sun still gets baked. In hot, arid climates, sunken beds are the opposite of raised beds, improving water retention and evaporation while keeping the soil cooler.
What are the disadvantages of raised beds?
Raised beds can be an economically viable option for horticulture, yet they necessitate more frequent irrigation due to their exposure to the atmosphere and the accelerated drying process, which can result in a more rapid loss of nutrients from the soil in comparison to in-ground gardens.
Can you plant cucumbers and squash in the same raised bed?
To ensure optimal cucumber companion planting, it is advisable to avoid planting crops from the same family, such as squash, pumpkin, watermelon, melon, gourds, or zucchini, as they have the potential to attract specialist or single-diet insects. Cucumbers should be planted in rows with the appropriate spacing.
How much room does a squash plant need?
Plant and row spacings for cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkins vary depending on the cultivar, growth habit, equipment, irrigation approach, and market requirements. In-row plantings range from 12-18 inches for cucumbers in irrigated plantings, 24-30 inches for summer squash, 30-48 inches for winter squash, and 36-60 inches for pumpkins. Row spacings range from 3 to 10 feet apart. Closer spacings yield higher yields but require nutrient or water management adjustments.
Cucumber seeds are typically planted ½ to ¾ inches deep, requiring 3-5 pounds of seed per acre. Summer squash seeds are 4-6 pounds per acre and sown ¾ to 1½ inches deep, while winter squash and pumpkins are 2-4 pounds per acre. Hybrid seed is more expensive, so reducing seeding rates can be achieved by modifying planters to only plant one seed at the desired in-row spacing.
How to grow squash vertically in a raised bed?
Growing squash vertically is a popular method for urban gardens, as it allows for more plants to be fit into the smallest space. Trellises are not necessary for squash plants, but they can be trained to grow vertically to save space and provide cleaner produce.
Squash plants grown vertically can be placed on trellises, which prevents them from spreading, allowing for more plants to be grown in the garden. This method also offers several benefits, such as cleaner produce, fewer pests and diseases, and more attractive squash.
Squash vines grow on trellises, which receive more sun and air, making it easier to pass through their leaves and inspect for pests. Vertical squash vines also prevent unsightly discoloration on the bottoms, which can occur when squash is allowed to sit directly on damp earth.
In addition, trellising squash vines can produce straighter squash, which is beneficial for those who prefer long squash varieties like tromboncino squash. By following these steps, you can successfully grow and maintain a healthy and compact squash garden.
How deep does your raised bed need to be for squash?
An 18-inch-deep garden bed is ideal for plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and kale, which require more nutrients and space to spread out. This height also allows for better drainage, as most edible plants dislike having their roots stay wet. In-ground plants are more likely to stay in water for longer than plants in a raised bed structure, as the soil allows for faster draining. A two-foot-deep garden bed can grow almost anything, but the extra height is mostly for the ease and convenience of the gardener. The closer a bed is to two feet, the easier it is to tend and harvest plants, as it allows for a more enjoyable gardening routine.
What should you not grow in a raised bed?
Raised garden beds can be a helpful solution for home gardeners, but not all plants are suitable for them. Some plants, such as squash, melon, corn, blackberries, mint, apple trees, asparagus, and pumpkins, require more space for their roots to spread out due to their sprawling vines or complex root systems. Raised beds can help incorporate the right soil for your plants and extend the amount of garden space, but not all plants will thrive in a raised bed.
Horticulturalists and arborists have provided more information on which plants should never grow in a raised bed. Some plants, such as squash, melon, corn, blackberries, mint, apple trees, asparagus, and pumpkins, are better off directly in the ground.
How tall will squash grow vertically?
Squash vines can grow up to 20 feet in length, with the longest vines producing the largest fruits. Smaller types can produce vines up to 6-8 feet long. Growing squash vertically allows for more control and focus on developing and ripening specific fruits. Squash can grow equally well on the ground or a trellis, depending on space and preferences. While vertical growth offers benefits, it is not recommended for all squash plants.
Luffa, another crop that can grow vertically, can be picked when young and eaten or grown to maturity for natural sponges. These fast-growing climbing plants require support, such as a vegetable garden trellis, arch, or frame.
Can you plant squash and zucchini in a raised garden bed?
Raised bed gardening is a successful method for growing zucchini plants, as it allows for better weed management, precise soil control, and increased production. To ensure optimal growth, the soil should be rich, warm, well-draining, and in full sun with a slightly acidic pH between 5. 8 and 6. 8. Raised beds are a common method for ensuring adequate drainage, as zucchini plants are heavy feeders. Three to four weeks before planting, add aged manure, sieved compost, fish emulsion, or organic fertilizer to boost soil nutrient levels. Topdress with mulch to discourage weeds and maintain moisture. As the plants start flowering, give them another dose of fertilizer or organic matter to maintain their growth.
How many squash plants are in a 4×8 raised bed?
The 4×8 raised bed is planted with three zucchini and three summer squash plants, in addition to rhubarb and strawberries. The rhubarb is a perennial that returns annually. While it cannot be harvested during the first year, it should be possible to do so next spring. The plants exhibit a distinctive morphology, bearing resemblance to those observed during the Jurassic Period.
What not to plant next to squash?
It is advisable to avoid planting near squash plants due to the potential for significant nutrient loss from heavy feeders such as melons and the potential for disruption of sensitive squash roots by fast-growing root crops such as beets.
📹 How to Grow Squash Vertically…EVEN ZUCCHINI! Small Space Gardening.
The perfect option for small space gardening. You can grow squash vertically. All kinds! Zucchini, Summer Squash, Winter …
A few years back I used an old 8′ patio umbrella (without the cloth) as a cucumber trellis. I staked twine at each plant then tied the other end to each of the 8 ribs. It was one of my favorite upcycle projects. Now I have cattle panels for all of my raised beds. My garden is tiny by many standards but with my nesting blue birds, grand daughters’ mud kitchen, and many whimsical ornaments, it is the happiest place on Earth.
What I was little, my mom had a compost pile in the backyard. There were large bushes next to it. I remember going out there one day and being surprised to find pumpkins hanging from the bushes. A pumpkin seed had sprouted in the compost pile and grew up through the bushes, leaving beautiful little pumpkins hanging like Christmas tree ornaments.
At my old house, I had a jungle gym that rusted through at the ground. My boys carried it over to my garden and “planted” it next to my squash bed. I grew butternut squash up one ladder and acrossthee top, and watermelon up the opposite ladder and across the top. The fruit hung down from the top rungs, supported by old stockings. I also turned a children’s climbing dome into a support for peas and beans. My youngest son liked to crawl inside with his friends. I have also used the side railings from an old crib as a ladder for vines to climb (I think that one was for the cucumbers). My latest idea is to use an extra chain link gate for my kiwi to climb. I haven’t set it up yet, though, because I can’t carry it alone. My boys will all be home in a couple of weeks, so I will have them help me get it secured in the garden. Last year, I used the chain link fence that surrounds the garden for my peas, but the elk kept eating them. So this year, I am using a pet exercise pen for my peas to climb. I have one supporting my asparagus as well. As you can see, I like to give old, out-of-need items a new job, preferably in my garden.
I grow as many of my plants as I can vertical I use a green velcro tape to hold the stems to everything in the area. My kids have been asking me to grow pumpkins and watermelon but dread the space they take up so this year when I grow them I thought about using 3 wooden stakes in a triangle shape and making hammocks to help hold them up. Will let you know how I make out. Only going to be my 2nd yr gardening and have learned a lot from your articles and I owe you a huge Thank You for teaching me everything. My 1st garden last year was out of control. I had so many different plants growing and everything put out such a high yield of crops I actually had several life long gardeners tell me they all had a bad year and asked me how the heck I managed to get such a high yield.They all wanted to know my secrets. I started everything from seeds which they couldn’t believe and everything I grew organicly using only organic everything. I still had tomatoes and peppers producing right up till October and I live in zone 6b so once again I thank you for everything. This year I’m doubling my crops so I can donate even more to. Our Senior Center and local food pantry like I did last year. So young man, give yourself a pat on the back for making dozens of happy people last year
We saw a great idea in Disney World’s “Living with the Land” ride. They grew pumpkins up a wire and on top of a pergola. When small, the pumpkins were placed in a plastic mold in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears which shaped them as they grew. The molds were removed when the pumpkins were full size to reveal Mickey-shaped pumpkins hanging down from the pergola. We have done this with our pumpkins ever since (minus the Mickey molds). At first, we used slings to hold up our big pumpkins so they wouldn’t fall and break. We have since learned that the stem of the pumpkin gets thicker and stronger as the pumpkin gets bigger and no support is needed. It looks great and creates a nice shady place to relax in our garden.
If you have a small yard and you want a big garden, don’t forget about about the roof! The first time I planted pumpkins in my tiny yard, they took over the whole place, even climbing the trees. Lightbulb moment…I built a really sturdy frame out of 2x4s and wire fencing material between the ground and first story roof. Now I plant about 20 vines in a 3’x10′ space, and let them run all over the roof. I get about 200+ pounds of squash out of 30 square feet of dirt. This trick works with any full-vine variety of winter squash. But stick to winter squash, because you don’t want to be making a lot of trips up onto your roof to be monitoring and picking immature fruit (like melons). With winter squash you can just wait until the vines start to die and pick them in one or two sessions. Pro tip: don’t let the vines set fruit in your gutter, you will regret that later.
Trying to grow my zucchini using 4′ wooden stakes this year in my raised beds. So far so good! They are training well and I love that the leaves, flowers and fruit are off the ground! Sure saves space! Last year grew my baby butternut squash utilizing a cattle panel and it worked really great with lots of great squash. Love em!
Cattle panels, wooden stakes, old dog fencing, chain link fence, wire closet shelves, bamboo stakes, and tomato cages are what I’m using for vertical growing. I even have a couple of genuine trellises just to add class to my menagerie. I’ve found the chain link fence (5’ tall) and tomato clips are the easiest for the tomatoes. Thanks for another great article! Going to try once again to stake the monster zucchini here.
Thank you for another superb article. I love your website and I’m learning so much from you. I live in northern Turkey, near the Black Sea coast and I just started with veggies in a greenhouse this year, I usually worked with wild herbs before which needed no help to grow. Veggies are whole new story for me. I’m using only in-house horse manure for fertilizer, no pesticides, no chemicals. Growing tomatoes and cucumbers vertically is the traditional way of doing it here in the villages. They tie them with a string to a horizontal pole above in the greenhouse. I tried doing a Y-shaped method inspired by dreamcatchers to give the vines a little extra mobility, where I tied a string with both ends to 2 separate horizontal poles and then tied the plants from ground up in the middle with a 12-inch stake, crossed the plant string over the one hanging from the pole, pulling it down the middle creating a Y shape. I leave extra thread and play with the tightness, direction and weight distribution easily by sliding the strings on the poles. I accidentally flooded the greenhouse a couple of times because the irrigation pipes exploded. I then decided to go no-till and leave the wild grasses and edible weeds like dill, purslane, lady’s thumb and amaranth to grow in the soil between my plants, as an experiment. I cut the grass to make fresh horse feed weekly, and it’s saving me so much in expenses. There is almost no bare soil in the greenhouse. So right now there is edible weeds and grass with the veggies.
For several years I’ve been growing winter squash on “skyscraper” towers I’ve fashioned from 3/4″ PVC pipe and fittings. They are 7′ tall, 2′ on a side, and in four sections that make for easy disassembly and storage. The vines are easily trained onto the towers. They result in better air flow through the plants, raised level of blossoms, less disease, and higher fruit production. Thanks for the idea about growing zucchini upright. I’ll try that next year on a smaller tower.
The best thing i have used to tie plants up is tie tape. I got a roll of it from my dad who has a vineyard. It’s awesome and doesn’t shrink or stretch too much. It allows the trunk of the plant to expand without cutting into it and yet it’s gentle enough to tie small vines and tender plants up without damaging them
Great tips, I’m going to try them! Everybody, please avoid using zip ties and any plastic as much as possible. It ends up in the ocean or in the soil and it’s killing a lot of innocent wildlife. (And us) If you’re into gardening I’m sure you want to do it as impact-free as possible and avoiding plastic is is a big help.
Once again, Brian to the rescue! My zucchini had fallen over and started to take up the bed. Like you suggested, I used wooden stakes and that flexible coated wire I just happen to have. I was able to gently wire them up. Theey look a little crooked, but I imagine they will straighten up. I have learned and put into practice so many tips and tricks from your website and I truly appreciate it.
My garden area is just shy of 700 sq ft, and I, too, wanted to grow squashes. But I knew I couldn’t because they would take up too much space. So.. vertical I went.. kinda. Instead of a single vertical panel.. I arch Hog Fencing from the squash bed to another. It’s reinforced with three sections of 3/8th’s rebar (for snow load), and it works great for queen, king acorn, and butternut. This year, I will be trying sweet pumpkin but on a different trellis.. same design.
I really like the idea of staking summer squashes. The only downfall would be if you got an infestation of squash borers. If the plant stalk still has access to the ground, you can put soil farther up from the infestation and it will root again so the plant can continue producing fruits and not relying on the main compromised root system.
Hey Brian…Yesterday I watched this article and then went out and stood up my yellow squash plants…today they have already adjusted to standing and look great…thanks so much now I have more room to plant something else…also, I think I’ll make a teepee and plant some more beans vertically…I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough beans but with this method I will…Love your website…keep up the good work
I’ve seen a couple of blogs/articles where ppl have had great success using upsidedown tomato cages for zucchini and yellow squash… I’m actually trying it out this year! I love your trellis systems, they’re all so compact and great for a smaller garden space! Thanks so much for all your hard work, teaching us newbies!
Built a trellis from those exact same bamboo poles you speak of… Pre-drill, then connect with the shortest deck screws you can find. Has lasted me a decade….outdoors year-round Amazing how durable bamboo is…defying weather elements as if it were an issue.. (Charlotte weather zone) Great article…cheers!
Great article! I would like to offer some variety suggestions if I may please. I live in a city condo but have a decent sized outside area for a condo. I grow many things vertically to save space. I am trying these varieties of smaller, personal sized melons, etc. this year and so far, they are growing fantastic up on my Hortonova trellis. These varieties are compact vines and have great reviews. They are: Small Sugar Pumpkin, Tigger melons, Little Baby Flower Watermelons, Sugar Cube Hybrid melons, Small Wonder F1 hybrid personal sized spaghetti squash and Minnesota Midget melons.I am in Louisville, Ky. zone 6B
I was sitting in the backyard enjoying my morning coffee when i decided that if it doesnt feed me or my pollinators i dont want to grow it. I live in Texas and i really have good oppertunities to grow so many things all year round. I started with a small space thats about 2 feet wide and 24 ft long. I had already started looking into vertical gardening so in that spot i have put squash and cucumbers. Ive got willow trelliss to attach to the side of the shed and am starting to put them vertical. Ive always grown something but this is the beginnibg of something bigger. So im hoping it works! Lol. Ive saved a dryer tub that will be a raised garden for strawberries, I planted two elderberry bushes and am about to start an arch full of luffa. Im so excited. Thank you again for the articles!
Thanks for the informative article Brian. In lieu of cattle panels I’m using wire reinforcing mesh (Ramesh) that comes in 42″ x 84″ sheets (about $8 at the big box stores) and “T” posts. I’ve grown hot house type cucumbers on it for years and it works well. Depending on the plant I’ve used them both vertically and horizontally and they’re pretty stable even in heavy winds. I also save the stalks from sunflowers and repurpose them as teepee stakes for pole beans etc. They last 2-3 growing seasons and have a rough texture so support tape doesn’t slip. This season I’m growing buttercup squash vertically and I use those nylon drawstring produce bags for support. They’re cheap and work great.
Great ideas! Last year I panted my butternut near a small garden fence that surrounds my raised beds and the plants gravitated towards the fence and naturally trellised. After perusal this article, I will plan on trellising with cattle panels (available at Tractor supply) to preemptively save space. Also will do the same for my Zucchini.
I found a roll of concrete reinforcing wire and cut it to create an arch over one of our beds. The pumpkins (as well as canteloupe and spaghetti squash) have gone absolutely crazy winding throughout it, with several large pumpkins hanging below (now supported). I planted in late April and they are already turning orange here in southern New Mexico. Not a topic for this article, but we also planted a bunch of gold and purple potatoes in feed bags from our chicken and rabbit feed before we made the beds. It gave us quite a bit more planting space and reused the bags…They are just about ready to harvest as well!
I’ve been making “tipis” out of the branches of the Mulberry tree that gets a serious trim every winter and the birdhouse gourds last year were pretty tall, but your soil or micro-climate or fertilizer or something is quite a bit better than what I was doing, the harvest was less than spectacular. Also train cannabis branches to spread using the same system. The wire I use is the same stuff used in wiring a house, 4 wire,10 gauge “Romex” that I strip down to individual wires, the uninsulated ones I keep for art projects – I have a wire “oak tree” still in the works that probably weighs 4 or 5 pounds already and so far, it’s way cool. There’s another potential benefit I can imagine for me anyway by elevating summer-squash – the “fruit” wouldn’t be able to hide under all the leaves and grow to the size of a small toaster oven before I run across the darn thing. I’m in the garden daily in the summer but already have recycled a bunch of giant zuchinni and Mexican squash into the compost pile. Guess the eyes are getting past their prime, but sometimes I’d swear that the things are purposefully hiding from me, Appreciate the tips you provide. Been gardening for three decades(?) and am still always ready to learn something new. Gratitude
Man. I continually change my ways of gardening and growing my vegetables the vertical way even though I grow in a garden. I have 5 gallon buckets too experimenting with and has drip irrigation or spray heads. This article with summer squash will absolutely help I think also in controlling squash bugs here in Texas much better. My peppers and tomatoes I grew from seeds your way in green house now I have peppers n tomatoes on plants in garden I planted 2 weeks ago. Amazing!!! Seems the crab n lobster shell,kelp n rock phosphate are killing it in my garden!!! Thanks again for great advice n articles
I had lots of time on my hands because of covid-19 so I’m trying out straw bale gardening with cattle panels. I placed the bales 30 inches apart in rows and drove T-posts through the bales into the ground. To transport the cattle panels, I folded them in half lengthwise so they would fit on top of my van. As I unfolded them they automatically formed a gothic arch. I liked the arch so I zip tied the panels to the T posts spanning the opening between the straw bales. I have cukes, gourds, melons, and beans climbing the panels as well as Morning Glory and Cardinal Climber. Squash, okra, peppers, tomatoes, and egg plant are carefully woven through the openings in lieu of trellising. So far so good.
I started zucchini from seed for the first time I put a tomato cage over it, then my husband made me a 7 ft 4 sided trellis which I put over the top of the whole plant, it’s working wonderfully, not only are the plants growing vertically, but it looks pretty too, I only recently found your website and I am learning so much. Thanks so much. and tfs…..Mary
Instead of cattle panels, I use rebar grids that I buy at Home Depot. They look like your cattle fencing and come in 8×4 panels. I’ve had mine for years and have grown cucumbers, pumpkins, beans – anything that climbs or can be tied up. I form mine into an arch with 4 rebar posts – a bit of work to begin with, but it lasts forever. I even moved it this year, very easily. Simply pulled up the rebar posts and then reinserted in the new bed. I probably found this idea on Pinterest.
I am new to this … I’ve only planted tomatoes and chilies in the past. Last year … due to the lockdown, my friend gave me Beans and squash (4 of each). With no experience I just planted all of them together with my tomatoes in my 6 x 4 feet garden … you can just imagine how crazy it got … this year, I hope to do a better setup. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I am growing in 30 & 55-gallon plastic barrels cut in half to make 2 planters. I line them up east to west and stake a cattle panel across the top of them for my cucumbers… holy cucumbers galore and easy picking too! Making lots of oven never fail dill pickles…that actually seal and keep on the shelf for a long time!
Hi Brian, great vid. Funnily enough, just before I saw this I pruned and staked up my courgette (zucchini) and marrow using canes wired together like one of your teepee. I learned that the reason I was getting end rot on the later courgettes was because the flowers were not getting pollinated enough. Growing vertically should help the bees get in to the later flowers and produce better fruit!
As I had a garden arch for putting up some shade cloth I am training the cushaw pumpkins along it. I use fabric slings under any fruit once they are over 2″ in diameter. This is my first year trying this and hope to improve it soon. The comment about the patio umbrella frame really rocks and I will give that a try this week.
I love your show!!! I have squash, watermelon, cucumber and zucchini growing in different ways (some near fences, some just sprawling and some near stakes). This is the first year I’ve tried vertical growing. I was unsure how to train the zucchini, this show really helps. I have one zucchini in a tomato cage and the others near stakes but didn’t quite know how to get the zucchini to go up the stake. Now I know, thank you again!!
Thanks for the great article Brian. I did a vertical garden this year for my tomatoes, squash and zucs. Has worked out very well. Thanks for the wire idea to tie off the squash. I’m going to try it next year on the squash and zuc since the stretchy green tape was hard to get them tied properly. I got some 2×4’s free from a construction sight and cut them into 2×2 by 8 ft long. Needed more than originally planned since I let the tomatoes split into 2 main nodes. They have grown almost to the top of those posts. Squash and zuc were similar in that there were 2 main nodes or stems I had to tie up. It was very hard in the beginning to get them to train up the posts, but once started it was easy to maintain. Also kept the large leaves off the ground. Plan on doing the same approach next year.
I bought twenty concrete mesh panels so far this year and intend on buying at least ten more for growing things vertically. They’re far cheaper than cattle panels and can easily be cut with a hacksaw to make smaller trellises or various supports and arches. Also got some cheap wire closet shelving for the same use. They’re very strong and would support larger squash. Another option for tying things to stakes and trellises and saying no to anything plastic or synthetic is cotton macrame cordage, which is available in a variety of diameters. I bought a thousand foot roll very cheaply. Its very strong and is completely biodegradable. We all need to seriously lessen our plastic consumption and purchases, so I forgo zip ties and other such rubbish whenever possible. ESPECIALLY zip ties, which most people only use once because they cant be bothered to put the effort into reusing them. I even reuse the plastic twine farmers use to pack the hay bales I buy so they don’t end up polluting the land anymore than the manufacturing process of plastics already does. I personally don’t want to contribute to more crap in the landfills and oceans when I can find better alternatives. It negates growing organically when adding more pollutants to the planet.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful info you have on gardening! I’m older by comparison, and just started growing a garden within the past 2 yrs. . I’ve gone through all, or most of your article’s and have found some GREAT tips and tricks for great gardening, in small spaces! I can’t wait now, to try growing things vertically!
I wish I had seen this before I got my garden going. But I’m so happy I found it! I have a small space that gets full sun so I need to grow vertically. Definitely following your zucchini stake setup for my zucchini and summer squash. I have watermelon seeds too but couldn’t figure out what I would do with them and now I know!
I’m growing North Georgia Candy Roasters this year. According to a blog I read on Simple Seasonal, many commentators said that if you let them grow up, instead of across the ground – the vine and stems will get stronger, and they will bear the weight of the squash without help (I couldn’t help thinking how this relates to raising children, by not coddling them too much.). This is really saying something, since they normally weigh more than 15 lbs..
Nicely done! I’ve been using a vertical trellis for cucumbers for years and love it. But, I use 4 ply jute twine and my trellis has 10 horizontal lines (tied off on eye bolts). I end up with a wall of cucumber plants and an amazing number of cucumbers. The extreme of vertical growing can be seen at Walt Disney World’s “Living with the Land” ride. Heavy veggies definitely need a support structure and they seem to use netting around each melon (tie the netting off on the structure).
Last year, for first time, I used your vertical tomato growing technique. It was awesome! I was able to grow 4 plants where, previously, barely one would fit. Those 4 were so productive, I gave away a LOT of tomatoes! But, I used 1/2″ electrical conduit as my cross piece. By the end of the season, it was bowing from the weight of all those tomatoes. This year, I’ve doubled the space and I’ve replaced conduit pipe with heavy duty plumbing pipe which I’ve planted deep, like a fence post, using cement. I’ll bet there’s nothing too heavy, including melons, to grow there now! After perusal this, I fully intend to try that! I really enjoy your show and thank you so much. If I followed no other tips than the one about tomatoes, it was worth all the article perusal time logged. Thank you, lovely man!
I started using this method this year. The other advantage is for those of us who are constantly battling squash vine borers it makes it much easier to wrap the trunk with foil and also to check for the tiny eggs and if all of that fails you should be able to see their poop immediately so you can kill them before the plant is beyond help. I like the electric wire trick. I’ve been using twine and the plant slides down so I have a silver coiled trunk on the ground.🤣
Perfect timing for me, too! I have one pie pumpkin planted next to a fence I had planned to trellis it on. I love the idea of using a panty hose to tie it up. I planted one patty pan squash in the covered beds with a short post to attach a string so it could grow vertically (going to change that out to a taller post). I just transplanted one zuchinni in a self wicking bucket. Now I’m thinking I’ll train it up the cattle panel I’m getting tomorrow. I’ve been trying different things around my backyard to see what works best. Great info! This gave me lots of expanded and new ideas.🌻🐝🌱🐞
I bought a very cheap wedding arch from Amazon as cattle panels are too big for me and too expensive to get delivered. I bought a rather sturdier arch too and have now ordered another cheap one.I have used four t posts on each on and they are very firm. I can use netting or strings on them to grow beans and squash. I have antique roses at the base, planted in large pots to attract pollinators as I have seen this done in France. These $25 dollar aches with T posts are easy, cheap and manageable.
I grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets that are watered from a 55 gal barrel with a spout at the bottom and lines going from a bucket with a float to each of the buckets with plants. I use left over reflective insulation. from a barn build to wrap the 55 gal barrel with to prevent algae. Then I use cattle panels cut and rolled to be the size around of the buckets and my tomato plants use those for stability and climbing. It’s super to give the plants the right amount of moisture and I don’t have to be home to water them. I can be gone for a week or more and not worry about watering. The raised garden boxes are another story. But I will use this method for my cukes and zucchini. LOVE THE IDEA!
I’ve been using old T-shirts cut into strips. I have used a pallet for cucumbers. The first two years it worked well. It didn’t work well this past year because I switched variety of cucumbers which just didn’t seem to want to act like a vine and climb. Definitely doing the string trellis method this year
This is an older article, but REALLY helpful, considering I’m trying to grow more than just herbs in my apartment (and its accompanying patio). Already printing off some water bulb adapters for soda bottles (to save a little bit of cash/time) and will be getting seeds to grow in my mini greenhouse (literally a plastic storage container I drilled holes into). Thanks, man. 🙂
I use old ladders and pallets. My fave was a thin metal ladder used for a roof hatch. We cut it in the middle painted it with enamel. I lay it against my fence and attached it. My cukes and watermelons love to climb it. The other half i used for my grapes to make a trellis on top of wooden legs. I also laid some wood on top of the ladder using zip ties, to give more slats for them to climb on. And the best part everything was free except the zip ties!
i never grew summer squash vertically but want to try it this year. i grow winter squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, beans, peas, and tomatoes vertically so i might as well do the summer squash as well. been thinking about it for a couple years now so i guess it is time to give it a try. it will probably make it easier for me to take care of those pesky vine borers as well.
Rewatching the article ready for another growing season. In UK and I use the wooden trellis instead to cattle panel for all my gourds . I also have 2 long wooden containers with trellis attached which I connect on the top by a wooden trellis and grow the above. It forms lan arbor and also can sit comfortably u underneath its canopy,in shade!! Thanks for a great article
Your articles never fail to impress and enlighten me. You are without a doubt, the best “authority ” on gardening. I have my vertical garden growing in grow bags atop the retaining wall in the back yard. I use light grade fencing wire with 2.5 inch openings for my tomato cages (5-6 ft tall), formed into circles that fit neatly around the 15 gal grow bags. I cut “doors” into the cage to harvest veggies. I drive a metal stake into the ground beside the grow bags to keep them from being blown over during strong storms. I water my tomatoes/cucumbers/peppers/zucchini via 4 ft sections of 2.5in pvc pipe with 1/8 in holes drilled neared the bottom of pipe (capped end) to allow water to slowly trickle into the soil.
May 4,2024. I’m new to your site. This article really helped me understand what I was as trying to do. I’m new to gardening and I really want to do this right. I have tomatoes in buckets, hopefully that’s right, squash and cucumbers just went in ground today. I’m headed to hardware store for wood sticks. 💙
Been using all these methods for many years and some. Around my homestead I use what is handy, cut saplings from the field, concrete reinforcing wire, and worn out underwear elastic bands. Had a couple of spools of the concrete wire left over from a job and made all my tomato cages, bean cages, deer protectors, etc., round is great since it hates to be flat. The underwear bands get cut and hold vines and stalks without cutting into the vine and untie to reuse next season. Going to tractor supply tomorrow to p/u another 12 panels for bean tunnels.
I live in Queensland Australia and I have a colorbond fence between my neighbour”s yard and mine. I planted a passionfruit vine against it by hanging something similar to chicken wire, (but much stronger) onto the fence by buying some cheap LARGE hooks from what you would call a dollar store. I bought the wire on a roll from my local Bunnings store, and it is completely removable and doesn’t need any holes to be drilled. Also if I decide to move it to a different section I just unhook it and move it. This was my own idea. I have never seen it anywhere else.
Last year I used a Cattle panel we cut into 2 and made a teepee securing with zip ties at top pushing the bottom into the ground. I grew cucumbers on one side and cantaloupe on the other side. I had to support the cantaloupe with netting. I grew so much cucumbers, I was picking them every couple of days. The side the cucumbers were on I planted them in the cinder blocks at the edge.
Can’t believe it was only 1 month ago when I made my last comment my plants were tiny!!! Ended up making a make-shift trellis for the pumpkins and thinning to 4 vines. Things are working out great. Need to thin some low hanging leaves though; Also vertically staked my summer squash and zucchini. Best decision ever!
Last year we made a web out of a broken flex hose & tied it to the base of the 2nd story deck. The effect was a cargo net covered with cukes. Only problem was accessing to spray for powdery mildew. Lesson learned: don’t go too high. Still a lot of fun. This year we planted lettuce below the deck. Not as much fun, but easier to get to.
Maybe I got lucky, but I have not had a vine borer problem this year. Not sure if it was luck or the vertical growing method for yellow squash and zucchini. I saw the vine borer adults flying around the plants, landing and then quickly leaving. I inspected the vines and leaves and never saw any eggs. I had also been consistent in removing the lower yellow leaves. I’m wondering if the vertical method confused the vine borers in some way – again, maybe I got lucky but my initial planting from early May is still going strong in late July and I’ve never had that happen before. And the harvest has been better than ever! I’m sold on this method!
We have used the welded panels for the last 10 years. Worried about the Banana squash breaking off for the first couple of years. But found out the support was not needed. They hang just fine and we get a couple over 30 inches and 20 lbs. each year. We put the panels between the grow boxes in a vertical up side down U shape nailed to each grow box 4 feet apart. The panels are 16′ x 4′ 6″ which gives use 7′ of clearens .
I’m a bit late to the party here, but glad I arrived! I have rather rubbish soil, so containers are currently my best friends. This method of tying things up is just brilliant. I never realised it could be done with cucumbers, squash and even pumpkins. I suddenly have a lot more space and I don’t have to worry about my (as yet) unimproved soil. Awesome. 🙂
Hi Brian – love your articles. We are growing squashes, small pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, beans, peas & melons including the Sugar Baby Watermelon, Okra, Lentils & Pinto Beans vertically this year. I use garden twine with the plastic plant clips to tie up the cattle guards we also purchased this year. So lots of verticals this year. Oh and the Chayotes will climb up the other fencing we have. Love that article & I love the concept of vertical growing so more lower level veggies can have room. Judi
I have used an 8 ft post that’s about 3 inches in diameter. I put a line of screws 6 to 8 inches apart from the top to the bottom and tied twine to the top then wrapped it around the screws going down the post to the bottom. I used my clips that attach to the twine and hook around the stem. The same ones you use to ties up your vertical tomatoes. They work great for this purpose too.
Thanks! How timely! I just planted two varieties of zucchini on June 29 here in Tokyo, and I am very nervous because I have never done this before. You’re articles give me some more confidence. (And I better get to the garden center to get some posts before our upstairs veranda, where we hang out the laundry, is covered with leaves). A long time ago I planted some gourds on the first floor, and we strung them up to the veranda, where they finally grew to 4 to 5 meters long. Passersby were fascinated because gourds are supposed to be lucky in Japan. But this year I want something I can eat!
I currently have my Zucchini tied up to an old microscope tripod dont know if it will be tall enough but we will improvise and learn as we go. Have cow panel for cantelope and little watermelon just like your friend. I have some wire fencing I found in the junk pile and using that for tomatoes. Thx for showing the stake method I do have a few things I can use for that idea. Have a blessed day and thx again
I hope I did it right and you get credit for the Neem oil and wire I bought! Thanks for the tips. I planted zucchini late this summer and have gotten several fruit from the plant, but I went out today, and many of the leaves are white, and I found lots of little dead or dying zucchinis. I have wood for stakes, now I just need the wire to tie it up, and the Neem oil to treat the rest. I also found the powdery mildew on my one pea plant. Thank you for the tips!
I grow my zucchini between 4 vertical stakes like a tall cage/chimney which keep the plant vertical. I don’t have to tie it but every now and then I might run some twine around the cage to make sure the zucchini plant says inside it while it is growing upwards. My neighbour uses a metal version which originally was designed to be the metal core of cement columns. lt works really well.
For cucumbers, I put 3 t-post in the ground about 3 ft space between and make sure t-post is very firm as I use knitting yarn and weave around those 3 t-post like bunch of rows from ground to top. The cucumbers grow wild upwards as they have something to held on. When season over with, just cut the yarn off the t-post and move them to burn pile. Easy job to do that way instead of fence as for using fence method, you would have to pull, pull, pull, all the dead ones off the fence or burn them right there on the fence.
yes past 2 or 3 yrs started growing cucumbers, zucchini, squash, melons, cantaloupe etc upright. it helps w the squash bugs n even put some plants in a planter n trellis from that to keep squash bugs away n plant mint tea n the flowers that deter the harmful bugs n worked great last yr but not until I lost about 6 plants but got a ton of butternut squash, neck pumpkins etc this way
Nice article. Very informative! Definitely some helpful tricks. I just started gardening again this season after 25 years and I never remembered how crazy pumpkin vines can get. I have 6 jack-o-lantern vines that are just now starting to rapidly grow top-heavy and bend over. I am definitely going to need to go vertical with a cattle panel, and most likely thin to 3 vines or maybe even 2… I’m only working with about a 2’x14′ bed for the pumpkins and tomatoes. There’s a random Habanero pepper plant in there too. Plus there are 2 massive rose bushes that have been established for years now so those are staying. DEFINITELY not a lot of space! But I think I can make it work thanks to your tips and some others I’ve seen!
I find that wrapping the plant around the string support allows for movement like in the wind. The string and the vine move as one and there is no rubbing. Been doing this for my tomatoes for the last 4 years. Yes the set up is a bit of a fuss, but totally worth it. I’m doing cukes and squash this year like that for the first time.
We use a metal electrical conduit pipe and put concrete, cement & wire mesh hung over the pipe. It is great because it can hold the weight of the plants, tomatoes, butternut squash, green beans, water melons. The pipe is connected on the end with corner elbow connections and you can put a rebar pipe into the ground and slide the electrical pipe into the rebar pipe and make the frame as long as you want or need, you can plant several types of vegetables on them. We like that we can harvest from both side of the plants.. we have been using this system for over 30 and is still holding up to the weather . You can tie the mesh on the sides with zip ties and the top of the mesh you can crimp it over the pipe.
I save my old pantyhose all year, and several lady’s at church seem to get a kick out of giving me their old pantyhose. I just soak them all in hot water until the water is cold, then I put some vinegar in the water. Rinse it again and cut into strips for steaking up my plants. I am going to steak my zucchini up this year. Thanks for so much ideas.
I use Earth Boxes in my Greenhouse, and have Paracord strung from the slats in the shelves up to the guy wires in my greenhouse. I also have some Earth Boxes on the ground. Those I have Paracord tied around a 2 x 4 or 4 x 4 and strung up to the guy wires. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Winter and summer squash are all grown this way. I use Tomato clips to attach the vines to the Para Cord. I have also used Heavy Duty square Tomato cages that I have cut down one side and opened up. This works great for melons or summer squash, as they will not climb as high.
A long time ago I bought a roll of green 1/2″ wide Velcro Brand. Forgot about it til lately, and now looking for more since trying it to tie vines to stakes. Cut to the length ya need, and wrap it around and it stays. When I was a child during WW2, mom tried a new plant, zucchini. It grew huge, and we ate zucchini til it came out our ears. From then on, I hated squash. But recently planted crook necks, and am enjoying them immensely. Sliced, fried in butter with pepper. Yum! Thanx!
Years ago I made my pole bean frame out of 3/4″ electrical conduit. Legs ant top bar were attached to each other and the bottom of the two cross supports were free floating. Used garden jute that ran from a bottom cross support up and down and around the bottom support on the other side. I used the jute over and over and the metal frame came apart for easy storage. From two 10’ rows of plants I harvested a years supply of beans
I tried tee posts instead of small stakes…and the squash topped the tee post! I was using bits of twine from hay bales to secure in space, but might try the sprinkler conduit, or other scrap coated wire to secure, great idea! I tried doing two squash per tee post, but one always dominated. I am on west facing 50% grade hillside, so try to use every bit of “flat land” I can create with bottomless pots buried most of the way…So, more tee posts, possibly even only18″ apart, but not two Zucchini per post.
We grew our cucumbers on a cattle panel this year and they are producing more cucumbers than we’ve ever had! We used sturdy tent pegs to form the cattle panel into an arch and planted the cucumbers on both sides. The plants have totally covered the panel and continues to grow and thrive. I’m going to have a pantry full of pickles! Only problem we’ve found is our panel isn’t long enough to make the arch high enough to walk under easily. And the plants are getting so heavy they are flattening the arch. Next year we’re going to get a longer panel made of heavier wire.
You are so fortunate not to have squash vine borers where you are. I commented on a previous article asking why you thought my squash were shriveling up even though the blossoms hadn’t opened. I believe I’ve found my answer. I have been diligently checking for squash vine borers at the trunks but hadn’t paid as much attention to the young fruits and even male blossoms. Yesterday I found lots of squash vine borers in the leaf stems (not the trunk), the young unpollinated fruit and even the unopened male blossoms. I was under the impression (obviously false) that the squash vine borers would only bore into the trunk and possibly fruit but leave the leaf stems alone. I am about ready to give up on squash. I took off as many leaves and fruit that I could find that had been infiltrated, sprinkled diatomaceous earth and am going to try to get through until the squash vine borers are done. This may be my last year trying squash. Btw, I am growing my squash up a pole this year (at least as much as the pests will allow).
I live near Phoenix in Arizona and am trying to grow vegetables in containers, I love your articles and have learned a lot. My major problem is the quail they eat everything from veg to flowers, if they don’t get them the rabbits eat them do you have any tricks up your sleeve for this problem. Thanks keep the articles coming I am learning a lot.
One thing to look out for is when people throw out polls for their awnings or tents. I lucked out when I was camping and somebody threw out two dozen canopy poles steel. They were 4 1/2 feet long screw together to make 8 feet long. Neat thing about it is that you can put a aluminum wire heavy duty hook at the top and tie your quarter inch cord to the top and leave a 10 inch loop around it with the top line hitch. You can either tighten or loosen the cord as you like.
This year I grew my squash in 25 gallon mineral tubs. It actually worked fantastic.. They are large so its off the ground about 2 ft.. The squash grew up and then it grew down the sides. Though I could have also staked them like you’re saying. But by the time my squash get tall enough to even steak I start getting powdery mildew… I try to stay on top of spraying it but the powdery mildew just takes over here.. I’m in very humid area of East Texas.
Great vid and I totslly related. I have a big animal issue so I’m growing my veggies on our deck in grow bags. This year I used both the bamboo and string for my cucs, zucc and squash. I started everything late bc I had a disaster with my seedlings. I fried them in my porch grow tent, very, very sad. So far all is looking good. FYI. I also use the coated shelving left from my closet install. Also great for cucs. That coated wire? It’s magic! I found it early in the season at the Dollar Tree. Enough for my little garden and yes, it gets used over and over so it goes a long way. Keep your great ideas coming. Hope your health is good. You were in my prayers.
Heyyy! I’m doing something right! I’m using cattle panels on T-posts for zucchini, cucumbers, and yellow squash. I also bent two cattle panels into arches and secured them into shape with rebar and zipties for Sugar Baby watermelon and spaghetti squash! 😋🍴♥️ My zucchini wasn’t getting pollinated even though it was well pruned. I ran to the local garden center and bought some discounted potted petunias to hang on my cattle panels to make sort of a 🎯 bullseye for the pollinators! Can’t wait for your next vid! Always educational! Blessings!