Vertical growing is a great way to grow vegetables in constrained spaces. There are a variety of methods we are trying to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans.

We have been most successful growing new girl tomatoes that have long vines that reach to the top of our coldhouses and are extremely prolific-providing fruit from May or June, depending on when you start them, to October. Great in salads, they are also excellent dried and added to vegetable dishes throughout the year.

We have always grown pole beans. Being from the south, we always grew pole beans but are less well-known in the south. My grandfather substituted pole beans for meat at many meals. Full of nutrition, there are a number of varieties that taste differently and can be cooked in different ways. We grow 2-3 varieties every year and are a big hit at the food pantry we supply weekly during the growing season.