Growing tomatoes in a vertical garden is not difficult and has many wonderful benefits. They can be grown vertically both indoors and outdoors. By attaching the vines to a vertical stake or trellis, the plant will be trained to grow upright.
I’ve compiled a list of all the tips and tricks you need to grow your tomatoes vertically and yield your most delicious crop yet.
Benefits Of Growing Tomatoes Vertically
Vertical tomato gardens are growing increasingly popular. So, let’s examine what all the fuss is about!
They Make For Easier Pruning
Pruning is an essential aspect of tomato farming. Tomato plants can grow unruly fast as leaves quickly branch off from the main stem. If left un-pruned, new vines will multiply over time. While this may produce more fruit than otherwise, the tomatoes will likely not be as delicious as a pruned batch because the vine’s nutrients are spread across more fruits than it can bear.
Pruning a tomato vine is an excellent way to produce tasty fruit and speed up ripening.
Horizontally grown tomato gardens are often challenging to prune as the vines become entangled and cumbersome along the ground. On the other hand, a vertically-grow tomato garden makes pruning far more manageable as the vines are attached to the trellis, and the ones that must be pruned are obvious. Thus, producing a flavourful tomato garden that ripens quickly with a vertical plant is easier.
Easier Application Of Fungicides And The Like
Vertical gardens make for more straightforward applications of fungicides, pesticides, and nutrient sprays. The vines are attached to a device so that they grow vertically. This means the vines are much easier to access than those on the ground.
You can tend to your crop without having to sift through the soil. This also means you can quickly analyze the leaves, fruits, and vines to check for early signs of disease or pests.
Better Air Circulation
Air circulation is essential when attempting to grow a problem-free, tasty crop. When tomato plants are grown too close to each other, they run the risk of forming fungi. If they are in the ground, this fungus is even more likely to appear and spread quickly as all the vines are touching one another. The same goes for other diseases and pest problems.
The space embodied in a vertical tomato plant reduces the likelihood of these issues because it allows for better air circulation. But, unfortunately, this also encourages more pollination.
Upward Direction Allows For Maximum Sunlight
Any tomato grower knows direct sunlight is vital to a plant’s survival. Traditionally grown tomato gardens may lose some sunlight depending on how full they are and how much shade taller plants produce.
The vertical nature of a vertical tomato garden allows each fruit and vine its own space to absorb sunlight. The plant’s height also makes shade less likely.
Optimizes Space
A vertical garden can optimize your space if you have a small area (either inside or outside). You can produce more fruit with the same amount of space because the vines can take up vertical space instead of horizontal.
Avoids Soil Borne Disease
Many crops fall victim to disease. Sometimes, they can be saved; other times, the entire plant must be ripped up and disposed of. As vertical tomato gardens do not rest in the soil (apart from the plant’s roots), the soil-borne disease becomes less likely.
How To Grow Tomatoes In A Vertical Garden?
Now that you know the many benefits of a vertical garden, let’s see how the growing method differs from traditional tomato gardens.
You will need to build a system to attach the plant to. This could be a trellis, a cage, or simply posts stuck into the ground. The material is not too important, though we recommend wood or metal for longevity.
Decide The Number Of Plants
The number of tomato plants you decide to plant will depend on your available space. The good news is that you can grow vertical tomato plants with limited space. However, you need a large enough pot for the plant to grow freely with enough holes to drain correctly.
A pot of around 8 inches per plant should suffice. Each plant will need a stake or trellis to attach to and should have anywhere from 2-4 feet between them so they have room to grow. Ensure you choose the number of plants with this in mind.
Determinate Or Indeterminate
Determinate tomatoes such as San Marzanos and Goliaths grow in bush-like formations. Thus, these are not ideal for vertical gardens.
Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, grow in vines and are perfect for vertical gardens. The vines can be easily attached to stakes to promote vertical growth. Cherry tomatoes are an example of this type.
Pruning And Training
As previously mentioned, pruning will allow for a better crop. Tend to your vertical crop frequently so it grows as best it can. Ensure the vines are safely secured to the stakes or trellis so the upright shape is upheld as the plants grow heavier with leaves and fruit.
Indoor Vertical Tomato Gardens
If you’ve ever worked with tomatoes, you must know they require lots of sunlight. So, if you intend to grow your vertical tomato garden indoors, you must be sure to find a spot with ample sun exposure or install growing lights to replicate this sunlight.
In addition to the proper lighting, you must ensure the room in which you’re growing your plants is at a sufficient temperature. Tomato crops typically thrive around room temperature, anywhere from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The container where you plant your tomatoes should be around 12 to 16 inches deep. You must also be sure to leave enough space between each plant so that air can still circulate when they grow larger.
Finally, you may consider a heat mat, as tomato seeds germinate most successfully when the soil is warm.
Outdoor Vertical Tomato Gardens
Growing an outdoor vertical tomato garden follows the same rules as growing regular tomatoes outdoors. Direct sun exposure is a must for nearly all tomato varieties. Soil that is well-drained and packed with nutrients will produce the best crop.
Outdoor-grown tomatoes are often superior to indoor-grown ones; however, the short harvesting season and weather (such as early frosts) can complicate a crop.
The Best Type Of Tomato Plant To Grow In A Vertical Garden
As mentioned, indeterminate tomatoes are far better to grow vertically than determinate. Their vines are ideal for attaching to stakes to train the plant to grow upwards. Names like Early Cascade, Sweet Million, and Supersonic all fall into the indeterminate tomato category.
These tomatoes also grow until they cannot grow anymore. So if the season is long or you have planted indoors, your vertical garden of indeterminate tomatoes could produce plenty of delicious fruit for many months.
Do You Still Need Inspiration?
If you are not convinced yet and would like a bit of inspiration, I recommend the following video from Next Level Gardening! Tons of tomatoes in very little space.
Final Words
Now that you know the ins and outs of growing vertical tomato gardens, why not put your knowledge to the test? Remember to plant a suitable tomato variety to ensure you have left ample space for them to increase and adequately secure the vines to stakes so they grow upright. Happy planting!