What Should You Plant In Your Vertical Garden?

What Should You Plant In Your Vertical Garden?

Vertical gardening isn’t just an efficient use of space—it’s a game of strategy. You need plants that won’t just survive but will thrive in their skyward climb.

Leafy Greens: The Workhorses of Vertical Gardens

If you want fast results, lettuce, spinach, and kale will not disappoint. These leafy greens grow quickly, don’t need deep soil, and keep providing fresh harvests when picked regularly.

In my experience, butterhead lettuce grows beautifully on vertical panels, and Swiss chard, with its colorful stems, adds a bit of flair.

Herbs: Flavor Without the Bulk

Some plants demand space. Herbs don’t. Basil, thyme, oregano, and chives tuck neatly into pockets, growing lush while staying compact.

Mint is vigorous—almost unruly. A contained pocket in a vertical setup keeps it from taking over.

Fruit & Vegetables: Vertical Growers That Earn Their Keep

Strawberries: Sweet, Compact, and Rewarding

Strawberries are made for vertical gardening. They spill over containers, basking in the sun, while their fruit stays off the soil—less rot, fewer pests.

Tomatoes: If You Have the Right Setup

Cherry and grape tomato varieties do well when given strong support. I’ve trained them up wire mesh, letting them weave their way to productivity.

Peppers: Small But Mighty

Bell peppers and chili peppers work well in deep vertical pockets. All they ask for is warmth, sunlight, and a little patience.

Beans & Peas: Climbers With a Purpose

Pole beans and sugar snap peas naturally reach upward. Give them a trellis, and they’ll reward you with a cascade of pods.

Fast-growing vine crops like beans can increase yield per square foot by up to 200% compared to traditional garden beds.

Flowers: Beauty With Benefits

A vertical garden doesn’t have to be all about food. Nasturtiums, pansies, and calendula do double duty—attracting pollinators while adding edible petals to your plate.

For sheer spectacle, trailing petunias or fuchsias create a living waterfall of color.

Vines & Groundcovers: The Living Curtain

Sweet potato vines and ivy soften vertical structures, creating a lush, jungle-like effect. I’ve used creeping Jenny to spill from containers, its gold-green leaves catching the light just right.

For a practical twist, consider strawberry spinach. It cascades beautifully while producing edible leaves and bright red berries.

Final Thought: Match the Plant to the Setup

The best vertical garden isn’t just about cramming in as much as possible. The trick is matching plants to the space, ensuring they get what they need to thrive.

Choose wisely, and your wall of green won’t just grow—it’ll flourish.

Vertical gardening is an attractive and efficient way to put the potential of any space to use. Once you understand your climate and sun exposure, have gathered the right containers or trellises, and have chosen the plants you love, all that's left to do is get started. Vertical gardening can bring beauty, fun, and healthful benefits in the form of nutrient-dense homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. With planning and care, it's easy to create a vertical garden that will be enjoyed for years to come.