Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

I have a little area in my back yard with lattice that is 8ft high.
Last year we tried to grow some climbing vegetables there, but they didn't really take. My wife and I would like to plant some kind of climbing plant that will offer a little privacy for us.

Hopefully something extremely low-maintenance, (I have a fair size gardent to tend to already) and something "pretty and green".

In this part of Canada we get about 6 months of summer.

Any suggestions?

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

how about some Grapes

one of our neighbors has a trellis setup that looks similar to the picture below
on the side of their house.
It is a fantastic place to sit/party on a hot summer day/or night.
At fall harvest time they fill dozens of baskets with mouth watering grapes.
I like their setup so much that I plan to build one.

http://www.usefilm.com/images/5/2/2/...522-medium.jpg
http://blog.silive.com/homegarden_im...-HM-GRAPES.jpg
http://chictrib.image2.trb.com/chine...4/46607617.jpg

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Zilver, that looks like a nice set up. I think one half that size would do me fine....
uhhhh another project added to the list.....

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

I was going to suggest grapes too. I've got a wild grape on my property and I've been actively trying to kill it for the last 10+ years. Haven't managed yet. Property isn't all that big either. I tear out a huge chunk of it, think I've finally got it licked ... and it pops up elsewhere. Grows (no lie) feet per week. This one's got small sour grapes that are precious little use for anything but birds. Even the squirrels want nothing to do with it. There's something in the area that I haven't caught yet that eats the leaves, but I encourage orb weaver spiders on the property and they keep whatever it is well in check. Well enough that nothing else on the property 'cept the raspberries ever gets touched.

But I repeat. This stuff could give kudzu a run for it's money. It just won't die. It's the herpes of the plant world.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

That looks really really nice, but my Lattice is just like a section of wall, about 8fy by 8ft.

You think they would take to that? Do you think they would handle the harsh winters?

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Try some cold hardy kiwis. I have a friend whos father used to grow them in Minnesota.

www.raintreenursery.com

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Grapes will train well to what's available. But they won't offer any privacy or act as a windscreen when they drop their leaves for the colder months. Which side of the house is this screen? If it's tending towards the south, then deciduous would be better to allow in winter sun. If it's north side of the house, evergreen will protect against north wind and give year-round privacy...but not sure what will grow all year in your region.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Sounds like muscadine vine.... do you live in the south?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscadine

They make good jellies.....

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Actually, it is a divider between my back yard and my neighbors backyard.

I know it will shed in the winter, and that's OK, but in the summer it would offer a little more pivacy for us. Nothing major, more decoration, but also blocking us from looking at our neighbors yard, and vice-versa.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

How beautiful.

CC

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

I worked with a physician who was wheel chair bound that would ask me to pick wild grape leaves for her. She used them to make stuffed grape leaves...she said that they were much better than store bought leaves. What kind of GIMMER are you trying to kill survival food???? Joking...

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Montreal. These start green, ripen to blue-purple and stay that colour.

then avoid (wild) grape. Very invasive. unless you really want to piss off the neighbour, then go right ahead.


The leaves are edible? News to me. When it starts to grow this year (before I start the reign of destruction) I'll photograph it and post the pics. Who know, maybe the missus would like some in her salad. What do they taste like? (and don't say grape leaves).

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Yes, they are edible, they don't really have much of a flavor, the greeks eat them though. Try googling stuffed grape leaves.I think they are better to eat cooked, think something like stuffed cabbage. Make sure you pick them before they yet too leathery and before they get bug bites. I don't know about eatting them raw or in a salad....I never thought of it. I do know that the doctor washed them, dried them off and put them in the freezer in freezer bags.:ok::coolbeer:

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Dolmades! Yum!

Dolmades are delicate parcels made from grape leaves (also known as vine leaves) stuffed with long-grain rice, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs and seasonings

Be careful if you have a dog, though. Grapes are very poisonous to dogs.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

hops are easy,considered invasive to some; but u can't eatem. good to brew though.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

it's possible you already have the seeds in your food preps stash.

pinto beans, for example.

i tried sprouting some of the cheap-o pinto beans that i've been eating. i bought a 20# bag about a year ago and have been getting a lot of mileage out of it.

anyway, they sprouted, they're vigorous, and they're definitely vine-ish.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

If you don't hear back from me, it's probably because the missus stiffened me for spending the last 10 years hacking that thing to bits.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

You might consider bitter melon. It is in the cucumber/gourd family, but the plants are much more hardy and not susceptible to cucumber beetles.

The vines grow like crazy. I planted them on the south wall of my living room to cast some shade for the summer (as well as the fruits for cooking, of course!). They grew up all eight feet of the supports I had for them and then kept looking for somewhere to grow next.

Strong, sturdy plants, great climbers, hardy, beautiful, and good for you.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Hops maybe? Green and climbs. Just a thought.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Yeah I mean, I don't even care if it bears any fruit or vegetable. I just want some greenery growing on the lattice, but I want low maintenance stuff.
I want to plant it and walk away, and do nothing else other than water it when I water my veggies.

Something simple. I am attracted to the grape idea so far. Any other suggestions?

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Margarita jasmine is what you want. I planted mine on a 8 foot by 8 foot trellis a year and a half ago. Stays green and keeps its leaves through the winter here in zone 6 no problem . I spent over a year researching this .

I wanted a vine that kept its leaves year round, and i did not want it to be invasive. It blooms beautiful yellow flowers 3 times a year. My vine has not only lived thru 2 cold winters, but it has remained completely evergreen.

Trust me, this thing is hardy as hell. Oh and it is dear resistant.

Its common name is Carolina Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens 'Margarita'

It can be found here among other places. http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Vines/vines.htm

And here
http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=2010

Here is some info from the website at Lazyssfarms

INTENSELY FRAGRANT form of the species. May repeat bloom in Fall. Semi-evergreen in colder zones. A PHS Gold Medal Award winner. 'Margarita' is a superior seedling selected by Don Jacobs of Eco Gardens in Decatur, Georgia. With its more prominent, much larger flowers, it is superior in every way to the species so Jacobs named it for his wife. He had no idea that it would survive winters to minus 25 F. as it has in Pennsylvania. Styer Award Winner from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Soil: Any but wet H: 10-15' W: Varies w/ support B/M: Yellow/early spring

Here are some pics of my vines

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Margarita jasmine looks like a great choice,
does it grow quickly?

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) would be a good native vine for your area. It's not edible, but would be very low maintenence and has good fall color.

http://media.growsonyou.com/photos/p...ia_Creeper.jpg

Edit: I like the grape idea also if you could find a strain appropriate for your climate.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

Mine grew to ten feet in one season. The plants were 10 inches tall when i planted them. Im telling you, this stuff is awesome. Stayed green all winter long.

Re: Advice on Climbing vines plants
 

The Margarite Jasmine looks a little too sparse for what I want. I want something a little thicker, of you know what I mean. I appreciate the input though!


I like the look of the Virginia Creeper! Nice and thick. That might be just what I'm looking for...