A bare fence, a narrow garden bed or a sunny corner of the patio could be the start of a productive garden.
Vertical gardening makes use of the height above your growing space. Instead of letting every plant spread across the ground, you guide suitable plants upwards, leaving more room for paths, seating and other crops.
For beginners, a good place to start is one support and a plant suited to the conditions. Here’s how to put them together.
What is vertical gardening?
Vertical gardening means growing plants upwards on supports, or arranging planted containers above one another.
It can take several forms: climbing beans on a trellis, a vine trained across wires, herbs in wall planters, or an espalier fruit tree with branches trained flat against a fence.
With a trellis or wire system, the roots usually stay in a garden bed or a pot at ground level. In a living wall, individual plants grow in pockets or containers attached to the structure.
Both use vertical space, but they need different planting and watering arrangements.
What are the best plants for vertical gardening?
Choose plants for what you want to achieve: fresh vegetables, flowers, screening or a longer-term fruit-growing project.
| Plant | Why it works | What to know before planting |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing beans | Their twining stems make good use of upright supports. | Choose a climbing variety; dwarf beans stay compact. |
| Peas | Their tendrils grip fine supports. | Provide netting, mesh or closely spaced strings within the frame. |
| Climbing cucumbers | Training the vines upwards keeps spreading growth off the ground. | Choose a suitable vining variety and give it warmth and consistent water. |
| Indeterminate tomatoes | These tall-growing varieties can be trained vertically. | They need regular tying and training; they do not cling to wires themselves. |
| Star jasmine | An evergreen climber for greenery and fragrant flowers. | Check its suitability for your climate and guide young stems onto the support. |
| Espalier apples or pears | Flat-trained branches bring fruit growing into a narrow garden bed. | Choose a suitable variety and rootstock, and check pollination requirements. |
These choices suit different growing conditions and levels of ongoing training.
For a first edible project, consider climbing beans or a cucumber. If you want a permanent feature, star jasmine or an espalier tree may suit you better.
Herbs, lettuce and strawberries can also form part of a vertical garden, using suitable planters or baskets rather than climbing a support.
How to start a vertical garden
1. Check the sunlight and exposure
Watch your chosen spot before buying plants. A fence that looks bright in the morning may spend most of the afternoon in shade.
For fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, aim for a position with at least six hours of direct sun a day. Leafy crops such as lettuce and some herbs can tolerate partial shade.
Check wind exposure too. A sheltered courtyard and an exposed balcony need different approaches, even if they receive similar sunlight.
Leave enough access to water, tie in growth and harvest. Keep the finished height within comfortable reach.
2. Match the support to the plant
A support needs to suit both the plant’s growth habit and its eventual weight.
Horizontal wires suit the branches of an espalier fruit tree. A diamond layout can support a decorative climber. Peas and climbing beans may need additional strings, canes or mesh to bridge wide gaps and give them a continuous route upwards.
Install the structure before planting, while the area is easy to reach. Attach it to sound, suitable supports and allow clearance between the plant and the wall or fence.
Espalar offers surface-mounted systems for suitable walls and fences, and post-mounted systems for growing frames between upright supports. Check your fixing requirements: masonry and metal surfaces need different fixings from timber.
See our installation videos to help plan your setup.
3. Give the roots enough room
Growing upwards saves space above ground. The roots still need enough room, moisture and nutrients to support the plant.
For containers, choose a pot with drainage holes and use a quality potting mix suited to your crop. Ordinary garden soil can compact and drain poorly in pots.
Match the container to the plant’s mature size. A small herb planter will not provide the same root space as a large vegetable pot or a container intended for a fruit tree.
In garden beds, prepare the soil and address poor drainage before planting.
4. Guide growth while it is young
Start training while stems are flexible.
Gently guide new shoots towards their supports and secure them with soft garden ties where needed. Leave room for stems to thicken, and check ties regularly so they do not become tight.
Spread growth across the available space. A few well-positioned stems are easier to manage than a tangled mass at the top of the frame.
Avoid forcing stiff branches into position. Fruit trees, in particular, need gradual training over time.
For a flowering climber, our guide to training a jasmine vine explains how to begin shaping the plant.
5. Keep up with watering and feeding
Containers have a limited supply of moisture, and sunny or windy conditions can dry them quickly. Check the potting mix daily in hot weather and water according to the plant’s needs.
Water thoroughly at the root zone. Feed with a fertiliser suited to the crop, following the label directions.
Plants beside walls and fences also deserve attention after rain: the structure can shelter the soil from rainfall.
For plants growing in garden beds, mulch can help conserve moisture. Keep it clear of stems and trunks. Our mulching guide covers the basics.
A simple first project: a cucumber on a sunny fence
For a manageable first vertical vegetable garden, try one climbing cucumber in a large pot beside a secure support.
Choose a warm spot with plenty of sun. As a practical starting point, consider a container around 40–50 litres, checking the variety’s growing advice before planting.
Set up the support first. If the main frame has widely spaced horizontal wires, add suitable vertical strings or mesh for the vine to climb.
Plant outdoors once the risk of frost has passed and conditions are warm enough in your area. Water well, guide the first shoots towards the support and check their progress regularly.
As cucumbers ripen, pick them frequently. You can learn the watering and training routine from one plant before expanding the garden.
Can you grow fruit trees vertically?
Yes. Espalier is a form of vertical gardening where a tree’s branches are trained into a flat framework.
Apples and pears are common choices for formal horizontal tiers. A suitable spur-bearing variety, appropriate rootstock and compatible pollination arrangement make a good foundation.
Plan for the tree’s eventual width as well as its height. Its canopy is trained flat, but it may still need several metres along a fence.
This is a project that develops over several growing seasons. A partly trained tree can give you a head start, though it will still need ongoing pruning and training.
Start with our guide to the best fruit trees for espalier in New Zealand.
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
- Buying the wrong growth habit. Check that beans and cucumbers are suitable climbing varieties before planning a tall frame.
- Overcrowding the base. Follow the variety’s spacing advice. Growing upwards does not remove the need for root space and airflow.
- Underestimating the load. Supports must carry mature growth and fruit, and withstand the wind at your site.
- Letting shoots tangle. Guide new growth regularly while it is easy to move.
- Expecting instant coverage. Annual vegetables can grow quickly in suitable conditions; permanent climbers and fruit trees take longer to establish.
Matching the structure to the crop and keeping growth accessible makes ongoing care easier.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a vertical garden without a wall?
Yes. A freestanding trellis or a wire system between securely installed posts can support vertical planting. Choose a structure suited to the site and the mature plant.
Does vertical gardening need more water?
It depends on the setup. Small wall planters and containers can dry quickly, while plants rooted in a garden bed have access to a larger volume of soil. Check moisture rather than using one watering schedule for every plant.
Can a vertical garden grow in shade?
Yes, with suitable plants. Lettuce, parsley and some other leafy crops tolerate partial shade. Sun-loving fruiting crops, including tomatoes and cucumbers, need a brighter position.
Start with one growing space
Choose a spot, decide what you want to grow and put a suitable support in place.
A single productive vine or a carefully trained tree gives you somewhere to begin—and room to build your confidence as the garden grows.
Explore Espalar’s growing kits and find the setup for your wall, fence or garden.
