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Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Climbing vines (like cucumbers) require stout, sturdy supports if you’d prefer they grow vertically. (Using such aids helps to conserve space, too.).

Part of the appeal of climbing vines in a vegetable bed is that they’re easier to harvest, eliminating the strain of bending to pick pea or bean pods, cucumbers, tomatoes or eggplants. Besides this practical advantage, they also make the garden more interesting by varying the height of your plants.

Stakes, trellises and tepees are important accessories for the vegetable garden, as they’re used to accommodate these climbing vines. In small-space gardens, supports can also reduce the
footprint of sprawling vegetables like pumpkin, watermelon and winter squash.

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Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Pole plants naturally like to climb. A central pole – either metal or wood – with staked strings form a vertical pyramid when the vines mature.

Plants that require support can be divided into two groups: natural climbers with tendrils or holdfasts, and plants that require tying. Pole cultivars of many beans and peas will follow a string or pole naturally as they grow, while other vines will need your direction and assistance. Soon after planting, these plants will send out dominant shoots. Gently lift them and redirect them onto your supports. As they grow, use stretchy plastic plant tape or twist ties to tie them to the structure.

Place your supports to avoid shading any nearby low-growing crops by keeping them on the side of the garden opposite its sun exposure. (Keep in mind that some plants can grow 12 feet tall or higher and may grow together to form dense masses of foliage. Because of their growth habits, these tall plants are useful for sheltering shorter ones in the garden when they’re planted on the upwind side.)

Some vine and bush vegetables such as beans, peas, peppers and tomatoes require string supports to help bear the weight of their vines and fruit. For best results, plant them in rows and install a string trellis along each side, or plant a hill and make a tepee of wood stakes for the vines to climb.