Vines: Landscaping with Edible Plants

Vines add a unique element to a garden or landscape by spilling over arbors, climbing fences, and curling around trellises. They work amazingly as screens, adding interest to your outdoor areas, and providing some shade when trellised over an arbor. Adding a few well placed vines can really transform an outdoor living space. Many vines will also do well either in the ground or potted making them even more versatile. This list will include both annual and perennial vines so bear in mind the seasonality of some of these selections and choose according to your needs. There are also some that are not true vines but they can still be trained to trellis up a support structure.

Gourds 

It may seem odd but many gourds are great to grow up on a trellis or over an arbor during the summer. They are all annuals so keep this in mind when planning. Also be aware of the type of gourd you select to grow. Please do not try to grow pumpkins or large squash on a trellis. If it sets large fruit, best to not train it up where heavy fruit could break off and fall damaging the plant and potentially anything underneath. Several good options that I do recommend include luffa, birdhouse gourds, and cucumbers. Smaller pumpkins and squash can be trained vertically to save garden space but bear in mind the placement of these varieties. Certain varieties do get bigger than others so keep in mind the size of the vine. For instance cucumbers will not cover an arbor but the luffa will quickly blanket it. 

Grape

Grapes are a classic and with good reason.  They are deciduous but in my opinion grapes are just as beautiful in winter when bare and you can see the elegant branches as they are in the summer in full leaf. They add a lovely architectural element in winter that is whimsical and attractive. This is a great replacement for vines like wisteria that are very aggressive growers. While not as fast growing as some vines, do make sure you have a really strong support for grapes as the trunk and branches get very thick and heavy with age. 

Passionvine

Typically the type of passion vine you will find sold in nurseries is the fruitless kind though the flowers are still edible. However, I have on occasion seen fruiting varieties sold so if you’re after one ask your favorite nursery if they can find one for you. The flowering varieties grow very well here preferring east facing walls with protection from frost in the winter. As I already mentioned the flowers are edible as well as being very unique and beautiful so consider planting one of these even if you aren’t a fan of passion fruit. 

Thornless Berries

These make a great cover for a fence or a living barrier or temporary privacy screen. They are deciduous and the canes have a two year growth cycle. The branches will grow one year and fruit the next then no produce so cut them off to make way for the next season's fruiting canes for the highest yield. A good way to remember what canes to cut down in the fall is if the stalk is brown, cut it down and if it is green, let it be seen. Another easy way to handle the pruning is to let the canes that grow that season stay on the ground, don't trellis them up yet. Once last years canes have fruited and are beginning to die (late summer) cut them down and then trellis up that years growth to fruit in the following season. There are a few that grow a bit differently but all cane berries can all be pruned this way.

Pole Beans & Peas

Great annual vine option. These won’t cover an arbor but they can be grown on a trellis to cover a fence or create a barrier. Plant varieties that provide unique flowers or pods like scarlet runner beans or red noodle beans for some added interest. Remember that peas are best in the cooler months of late winter and spring, while beans survive our valley summer heat a bit better. For best results with the beans start them while the weather is still a reasonable temperature and allow for space to do successive plantings. This will allow you to plant new seeds before the first plants get tired from the heat and have a longer harvesting period. 

Hops

To be fully transparent from the start, hops may not be a good option for the Central Valley. They are widely produced in Oregon with much cooler summers and are listed as a zone 8 plant. We are 9b. That being said, I am trialing a plant right now to see if under the correct conditions they will succeed, so stay tuned for an update or send me a message if you’re curious! So far here at the end of July they are doing ok and beginning to produce the cones! Either way hops are a beautiful plant to grow. Not technically a vine but they do need a trellising system for support. They will die back to the ground every winter and will require afternoon shade in the summer heat, so bear this in mind if you want to be adventurous and try a plant. 

Get creative with what types and where you plant vines in your garden! There are many ways you can tuck in these plants and others to create a uniquely beautiful space all your own. If you need help with design and location send me a message! I would love to help you create and implement the vision for your space.