Weave some magic into your garden with an edible garden arch!
Jodie from @derivedfromnaturenz shares her top 5 edible crops for a stunning arch that will elevate both the aesthetics and productivity of your space.
Beyond their visual appeal, an edible garden arch is a clever space-saving solution. In smaller gardens, every inch matters, and by utilising vertical space you’ll free up valuable real estate for more plantings on the ground, and ultimately increase your harvests.
When growing vertically opt for climbing varieties. Some of my favourite vegetables and fruits that thrive when grown vertically:
Pumpkins
These trailing vines aren’t just for Halloween decorations. With proper support and training, pumpkins can gracefully grow up the arch, providing a charming and unusual sight. Choose smaller pumpkin varieties to ensure they don't overwhelm the arch.
Tomatoes
A staple in many gardens including mine, tomatoes are perfect climbers. Their luscious fruits hanging down add a delightful pop of red, yellow, or even purple, depending on the variety you choose.
Scarlett Runner Beans
Known for their scarlet red flowers and green pods, these vigorous and prolific climbers bring a burst of colour and dense foliage to your arch. They also fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting neighbouring plants.
Grapes
For a touch of elegance and a delectable treat, train grapevines along the arch. Imagine walking through a lush grape arch, plucking juicy bunches of grapes as you go!
Passionfruit
If you live in warmer climates, let passionfruit vines weave their way around the arch. Their beautiful flowers and evergreen foliage create a lush dense and hardy garden arch all year round. In cooler climates, you may lose some of the foliage during the cooler months of winter.
Celebrate edible garden arches this spring and summer and let your imagination run wild with the possibilities! Whether you're an experienced gardener or a budding enthusiast, consider adding this whimsical & practical design element to your green sanctuary and watch your garden flourish!
Jodie tending to her productive patch
Tomatoes growing up an arch in Jodie's patch
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Edible garden arches Comments
What a fantastic idea!!!!! Really love it! Brilliant!
Martyn Curran
Arches will be something I will definitely try this year!
June Marie McGregor
Where can I purchase these Garden arches please? Thank you.
Julie
Hi Julie, these garden arches are available from garden centres and DIY stores, usually they are kit set and come in a box requiring assembly. Other wire products that can be used is reinforcing steel wire mesh that goes into concrete, this can also be purchased from DIY stores.
Lianne
Very interesting, love that idea. Can you tell me where I can buy the arches or are they homemade ones. I would like to make them from twigs or wood so you can entwine them together if it's possible.
Margaret Medley
Hi Margaret, the arches or similar looking ones are available from garden centres and DIY stores. Mitre 10, Bunnings, Trade Tested, and The Warehouse, are showing stock available on their websites, they come as a kit set and require assembly. You can create arches using bamboo or manuka stakes and grape vine prunings (autumn or winter) are also good for intertwining, willow tree is also good for creating a climbing frame work for trellis.
Lianne
I am considering erecting an arch for fruit and veggie gardening over the warm months, but wondering what to do with it over winter. Any suggestions for edible climbing crops to grow in the cold season?
Amber S
Hi Amber, consider planting climbing peas in autumn as temperatures start to cool. Consider using the arch as support for broad beans which can be planted in March through to July, they are similar to peas and don’t like the heat either. Hang a bird feeder or nectar feeder off the arch in winter to help the hungry birds or dismantle it and store it behind a shed until spring time.
Lianne