Zucchini and squash grow like weeds in a vegetable garden. They are prolific and rewarding! So why mess with something that requires so little and rewards so well? By growing squash vertically on a pole or steak, it allows you as a gardener to squeeze more plants into a smaller space or raised bed. When I stick my squash plants, they only need to be about 9 to 12 inches apart and they grow up rather than all around the ground.

Tying the squash plant to a pole also makes it a lot easier to harvest and prune. The more you prune and remove the older spent leaves, the healthier the plant is. Growing the plant on the trellis pruned allows for more airflow between the leaves, the fruit, and the flowers in the stem. The active leaves above the flowers and fruit can also shade the young fruit. And keeping the zucchini off the ground prevents rot.

Train your squash early and often

To grow squash vertically, start when you plant the small plants you get from the nursery or you grow from seed; this process starts when your squash plants are small. Add a bamboo support like these here or these sturdier stakes when the roots are small.

I like to use this velcro tape, but any gardening tape will do. About two inches up the stem, secure the plant to the pole.

It is important to upkeep this so once or twice a week, cut off the lower, dead stems and support the plant further up the bamboo pole. If you stay consistent it is a small task to teach the plant to grow vertically.

You will find it is easier to harvest, that you have less disease, and you may even find increased pollination levels when you grow your squash vertically!