Growing Vertically with Annual Vines

More from Gardening by the Yard
Filed under: Vines, Trellis

Consider using annual vines, such as purple hyacinth bean vine, that bear beautiful flowers and fruit.

If you're looking for a way to get creative in your garden or you're low on horizontal space, consider going vertical with vines. And you don't have to be nervous about aggressive perennial vines, such as honeysuckle, trumpet vine and wisteria. Instead, opt for annual vines.

"My favorite thing about annual vines is that they're easy, beautiful, productive and reliable," says seed expert and vertical gardener Renee Shepherd. "A lot of them produce best at mid to late summer when the rest of the gardens are finishing up." Annual vines grow, fruit or flower, set seed and die back in one season, so there's less chance for maintenance issues of runaway perennial vines that come back year after year.

Growing vertically also enhances air circulation around the plant, minimizes disease and pest problems, attracts pollinators and makes harvesting and maintenance easier on the body. Plus, you can get one big vine from just one seed, and there's a tremendous diversity of ornamental or edible vines to choose from.

Figure A

Vertical structure for training vines

When growing vines, it's essential to have some type of support mechanism. The vines need a structure to cling to or climb up. From lightweight fishnet to bamboo or construction wire, there are many different types of trellises to choose from. As simple as a solitary upright pole or as complex as ornate latticework, any vertical structure will do.

Figure B

"I literally just point them towards their trellis and watch them grow," says Shepherd. "Most vines have tendrils, and they're always searching for something to grow around. They do it all by themselves – a wonder of nature."

Figure C

Five cool annual vines

Some of these vines offer a bit of a departure from the ordinary:

Trombone or trombetta squash is a climbing vine from Italy. It produces tasty fruits that have a unique shape. This massive heat-loving vine produces fruit that tastes like zucchini with a hint of artichoke. Don't even consider growing this vine without a strong trellis because the squash itself can stretch to an impressive three feet in length.

Figure D

'Musica' is a cultivar of a pole bean. Pole beans make good screening vines. They produce a healthy foliage cover, lots of blooms and, as a result, a bunch of beans. Not only are the beans edible, the flowers also can be eaten in salads.

Figure E

Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia) is another great vine for screening. It produces dense foliage and beautiful yellow-orange to creamy white flowers. Hide unsightly eyesores, like the compost pile or garbage bins, with an annual vine such as this on a trellis.

Figure F

Although commonly grown as annuals to cover the ground, nasturtiums can also be trained to climb a trellis. Give it some extra help to adhere to its trellis by using string or twist ties to loosely secure it in place.

Figure G

A unique vine that's sure to be a favorite with kids is the mini pumpkin. Easy to grow from seed, plant the pumpkin seed directly into the soil when the nights are evenly in the 50 to 60 degrees F range. Plant it in a rich composted soil in full sun, and water regularly. Then stand back and watch it grow.

When planting anything from seed, follow the directions about planting times and depth that are listed on the back of the seed packet. And remember to thin seedlings after they have germinated. This gives them room to grow and climb their supports.