Edible vine plants are perfect for small gardens because they can be grown vertically and don’t take up too much space, especially when trained to grow on a trellis or fence. There are many different fruit and vegetable vines which won’t consume your garden’s precious space. There are many different plants that can be grown to create a kitchen garden at home.
Some of these edible vines will even come back year after year, but they require more work and care than your typical flowers or shrubs. Here is my list for 10 great choices:
10 EDIBLE VINES FOR SMALL GARDENS
FRUIT VINES
1. Grapes
Grapes are a perennial, easy to grow fruit vine. They look great growing on top of pergolas and arbors with bunches of grapes hanging down for you to pick when ready! Grapes need plenty of space in full sun. New grape vines can take up three years from seed before they produce any fruits but it’s worth the wait because home-grown juicy grapes taste so much better than store bought ones! Grape vines also require regular pruning which helps control their growth and produces quality fruit that tastes amazing fresh off the vine this time next year!
2. Passionfruit
Passionfruit is a delicious and unusual fruit that produces small green fruits with orange pulp, edible seeds (which are sometimes crunchy!), and grows best in warm subtropical climates. Passionfruit vines can grow fast but may take between 12 to 18 months before producing any passionfruits! Plant bare-root passionflower canes in the springtime or you’ll be waiting awhile for your harvest.
3. Raspberry
Planting raspberry plants has a natural advantage for gardeners. For those who are short on time, growing raspberries requires little maintenance and provides an easy harvest to suit your needs. Summer fruiting varieties of the fruit will produce berries in late spring; whereas fall-fruited types provide ripe goodness from mid summer into October – giving you a constant supply of fresh fruits all year long! If you’re looking for something different than traditional red or black raspberries, plant yellow or even rarer blackberry plants that come with their own unique flavors and benefits not found elsewhere in nature!
4. Blackberry
Blackberry vines are a favorite for many gardeners because they can be grown in so many different ways. Blackberry vines grow on thorny plants that, when left unchecked, take over an entire area with their prickly thickets of blackberries and thorns. When you’re done pruning the plant though it will produce more fruit than before! As long as your raspberry vine has full sun to soak up all day then it should also provide numerous berries just two years after planting them into your yard or flowerbeds.
5. Kiwi
Kiwis are small, fuzzy fruit with an interesting skin and sweet flesh. They originate from a vine that needs space to spread out on trellises or pergolas since they can grow up to 20 feet (6 m) long. These vines typically do their best in warm climates but still need protection during the winter months for colder regions of the world such as New Zealand where these fruits originated.
6. Melons
Ever tried growing a melon in-between your window and curtains? Well, if you’re feeling particularly creative then try adding some fruit to the mix by installing an old piece of clothing or pantyhose as a hammock for it. There are many different types of fruits that we can grow on our windowsill with this funky technique including cantaloupes (rockmelons), honeydew melons and watermelons!
VEGETABLE VINES
7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a great beginner crop for those with limited space and time. Tomatoes can be grown up trellises, stakes or cages to save room in your garden while still getting the best growing conditions. The larger varieties of tomatoes like beefsteak will need strong support since they get very heavy when full of fruit!
8. Cucumbers
Growing cucumbers vertically is a great way to take advantage of less ground space. Planting them up against a trellis will help you harvest the vegetables easier by pulling on it from below rather than trying to reach over or around for any leaves that might still be hidden in the foliage. Cucumber plants are very susceptible, so make sure your neighbor’s cat doesn’t sneak into your garden and leave behind an unwelcome present!
9. Pumpkin
Pumpkins are great for gardens because they don’t need a lot of space and can be trained to grow vertically on a trellis, which saves you gardening time. There’s also an array of small pumpkin varieties that will fit well in your garden when it comes to size!
10. Bitter melon
Bitter melons are related to cucumbers, watermelons and squash. They grow best in full sun and prefer a tropical or subtropical climate but can be grown anywhere you have the space for them! It takes between 12-13 months before they will produce fruit which is very small with one seed inside that tastes extremely bitter so it won’t suit everyone’s taste buds.
Growing your plants vertically means you can save lots of space in your garden. Placing them on a wall, fence or trellis will give the illusion that they are taking up less room and allow for more planting area to grow food!