vertical zucchini: tradition meets modern gardening
I remember summers in my childhood, when my grandmother’s garden overflowed with zucchini, sprawling across the yard in wild, tangled vines. Back then, the idea of growing zucchini any way but flat on the ground would have seemed almost disrespectful to family tradition. But now, as I walk through my own suburban backyard, I see neighbors tying their zucchini plants to tall stakes and trellises, reaching for the sky instead of sprawling out.
Some say vertical gardening is the answer to our shrinking yards and changing climate—less space, fewer pests, and easier harvests. But I can’t help but wonder: are we losing something by trading in the old ways? My grandmother believed that letting plants sprawl was nature’s design, and that the earth itself gave flavor to every fruit. Yet, my daughter, with her busy schedule and love for tidy rows, swears by vertical growing.
Here in North America, especially with our unpredictable summers and sudden storms, vertical zucchini seems both practical and risky. The wind can snap a trellis in a heartbeat, but the old method can lead to rot and wasted space. Some in our community argue that vertical gardens look too artificial, disrupting the natural beauty of our neighborhoods. Others say it’s the only way to keep up with modern life and environmental needs.
I’d love to hear your stories. Do you stick to tradition, or have you embraced the new vertical trend? Have you faced resistance from family or neighbors? And how do you balance the old wisdom with today’s challenges?
#verticalgardening #zucchini #familytradition #Gardening
