Growing vegetable plants in vines are way easier than growing them in plant pots or ground, especially for beginner gardeners. You don’t need to kneel, till, or muddle with dirt!
However, there are a few growing requirements you should know for growing healthy and productive climbing vegetable plants.
Read on to learn: 15 easy-to-grow climbing vegetable plants, their nutritional benefits, and growing requirements.
1. Malabar Spinach
| Scientific name: | Basella alba (Green leaves), Basella rubra (red leaves) |
| Other Names: | Indian spinach, Malabar nightshade, Ceylon spinach, climbing spinach, Vietnamese spinach (English), Lo Kwai (Chinese), Paag-Prung (Thai), and Gendola (Indonesian). |
Used in:
Malabar spinach is widely used as a delicious leafy vegetable sauteed with chopped onions or mushrooms and a little mustard oil both in Asia and the United States. It is also used in soups.
Nutritional Benefits:
Malabar spinach has high nutritional and medicinal values as it is rich in minerals (magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium), vitamins (Vitamin A and C), and essential amino acids and antioxidants
Growing Requirements:
Sunlight:
Prefers a hot, humid growing temperature and full sun. Malabar spinach grows ideally when the ambient temperature is at least 26°C or even exceeding 32°C
Soil Type:
Although Malabar spinach can grow in a variety of soils, it prefers soils with good drainage and high organic matter content with a pH between 5 and 7.
Our recommended Malabar spinach seeds on amazon
2. Climbing Tomatoes
| Scientific name: | Solanum lycopersicum |
| Other Names: | Vining tomatoes, Indeterminate tomatoes, cordon tomatoes, and climbing tomatoes. |
| Climbing Tomato Varieties: | Cherry tomatoes (Gardeners Delight, Sungold, Black Cherry, and Blondkopfchen), grape tomatoes, and beefsteak tomatoes. |
Used in:
All varieties of climbing tomatoes can be eaten raw or as a garnish for salads and appetizers. They are used in various meat, vegetable, fish, and pasta dishes. They can also be used in soups, sauces, and stews.
Nutritional Benefits:
All varieties are rich in vitamins (Vitamin C and A), carotenoid content (beta-carotene and lycopene). Tomatoes also have small amounts of potassium and Vitamin B.
Health Benefits:
Significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer, muscular degeneration, blood glucose, cardiovascular disease, and maintain healthy blood pressure.
Growing Requirements:
Sunlight:
Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day for proper growth.
Soil Type:
Prefers loamy, well-drained soil enriched with high organic matter and nutrient content.
See our recommended Climbing Tomatoes seeds on amazon:
3. Rocoto Pepper
| Scientific name: | Capsicum pubescens |
| Other Names: | Rocoto chile peppers (Peru and Ecuador), Chile Canario (Mexico), Chile Caballo Peppers (Spanish), Locoto peppers(Bolivia), Peron Peppers, and Red Manzana Peppers |
Used in:
It can be eaten raw as well as roasted, grilled, or baked. Rocoto peppers are also used in salads, sandwiches, sauces, and burgers.
Nutrition Benefits:
Rocoto peppers are rich in vitamins (Vitamin A, C, and E), minerals (calcium, and potassium), antioxidants, and folic acid.
Growing Requirements:
Sunlight:
Place it in a very warm sunny position where it can get four to five hours of bright sunlight.
Soil Type:
Rocoto peppers can grow in a variety of soil. However, they prefer well-drained or moist soil.
See our recommended Rocoto pepper seeds on amazon.
4. Bittermelon: (Carili)
| Scientific name: | Momordica charantia |
| Other Names: | Balsam pear, bitter gourd, bitter squash, Fu qua (Cantonese), melon amer (French), Ku gua (Mandarin), Niga uri (Japanese), and Karella (Pakistan & Indian.) |
Nutritional Benefits:
Bitter melon contains vitamins (Vitamin A and C), minerals (potassium, zinc, magnesium, and iron), antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Growing Requirements:
Bitter melons prefer hot, humid climates. They thrive best in tropical and subtropical climate conditions.
Sunlight:
Provide them at least six hours of bright direct sunlight for a quick yield.
Soil Type:
Prefers loamy, well-drained soil enriched with a high organic matter and a pH between 5 to 7.
See our recommended Bittermelon seeds on amazon.
5. Pumpkin
| Scientific name: | Cucurbita pepo |
| Other Names: | Jack-o’-lanterns, Squash, autumn squash; musky gourd, and Calabaza (Spanish), |
Used in:
Pumpkins are used both as a fruit and a vegetable. These are also used in bread, desserts, and soups. Not to forget, almost all Americans add pumpkin pie to their Thanksgiving celebrations.
Growing Requirements:
All varieties of pumpkins are warm-season plants. They are super sensitive to frost or cold weather. Pumpkins grow ideally in hot weather.
Temperature:
All pumpkin varieties grow best when the ambient temperature is between 23°C to 29°C during the day and 15°C to 21°C at night.
Sunlight:
Grow it in a very warm sunny position where it can get five to six hours of bright direct sunlight.
Soil Type:
Pumpkins grow ideally in well-drained soil with very low clay content or sandy loams.
See our recommended pumpkin seeds on amazon.
6. Ridge Gourd (Chinese okra)
| Scientific name: | Luffa acutangula |
| Other Names: | Vining okra, Chinese okra, angular loofah, Vietnamese gourd, vegetable gourd, silk gourd, fluted loofah, Sinkw towel sponge, and vegetable sponge. |
Used in:
Ridge Gourd is a common ingredient in several Chinese and Vietnamese soups and stir-fried vegetable dishes.
Health Benefits:
Ridge gourd helps reduce hyperacidity, swelling of the lymph glands, purifying the blood, and preventing the premature greying of hair.
Growing Requirements:
Like other members of the Cucurbits genus, the ridge gourds are warm-season plants. They grow best in warm weather with an ideal temperature between 25°C to 35°C during the day.
Sunlight:
Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day for proper growth.
Soil Type:
Although Ridge gourd can grow in a variety of soils, it prefers soils with good drainage and high organic matter content with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
7. Bodi (Yardlong bean)
| Scientific name: | Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis |
| Other Name | Asparagus bean, snap beans, pea bean, Chinese long-bean, long-podded cowpea, bora, and snake beans. |
Nutritional Benefits:
Yardlong bean is enriched with vitamins (Vitamin A, C, and K), B vitamins (Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic acid), and minerals (manganese, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
Like other beans, bodi is also a warm-season plant. Yardlong beans thrive best in warm weather with an ambient temperature of at least 15°C to 21°C.
Sunlight:
Grow Yard Long beans (bodi) in an area where they can get at least six hours of full sun.
Soil Type:
Yardlong beans can adjust themselves in a variety of soil and pH; however, they thrive best in well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7.
8. Pole Beans
| Scientific name: | Phaseolus vulgaris |
| Other Names: | Vining beans or climbing beans |
Used in:
Pole beans have a sweet and starch taste and are widely used as vegetables. They are also a common ingredient used in soups, stews, and casseroles.
Nutritional Benefits:
All varieties of pole beans contain vitamins (Vitamin A, C, and K) and minerals (manganese, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
All varieties of pole beans are warm-season crops. They are super sensitive to frost or cold weather. Pole beans grow ideally in warm weather and ambient temperature at least 15°C to 21°C.
Sunlight:
Require at least six to eight hours of direct bright sunlight per day for a quick yield.
Soil Type:
Prefers soils with good drainage and high organic matter content with a pH between 6 and 7.
9. Chayote
| Scientific name: | Sechium edule |
| Other Names: | Custard marrow, mirliton, vegetable pear, pipinola, mango squash, Christophine, chouchou, chouchoutte, and Choko |
Nutritional Benefits:
Chayote is a good source of sodium, potassium, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin C & K, iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc.
Growing Requirements:
Chayote thrives best in tropical and subtropical regions with a hot and humid environment.
Sunlight:
For a quick yield, provide it with at least six hours of sunlight per day.
Soil Type:
Chayote can grow in a variety of soils. However, it prefers soils with good drainage and high organic matter content with a pH between 6 and 7.
10. Snowpeas
| Scientific name: | Pisum sativum var. saccharatum |
| Other Names: | Edible-podded pea, sugar peas, Mennonite peas, pois mangetout (French), and Chinese peas. |
Nutritional Benefits:
Snow Peas are a good source of vitamins (Vitamin A, C, D, E, and K), B vitamins (Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic acid), and minerals (manganese, manganese, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, zinc, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
Snow Peas thrive ideally during the fall and winter seasons when the temperature is low.
Sunlight:
Provide them with a couple of hours of direct sunlight to boost the yield.
Soil Type:
Snow peas can grow on a wide range of soil types. However, it prefers soil with good drainage with a pH range between 6 to 7. For growing snow peas, the soil temperature should not be less than 10°C.
11. Luffa (Luffa aegyptiaca)
| Scientific name: | Luffa aegyptiaca |
| Other Names: | Luffa cylindrica, climbing okra, smooth loofah, sponge luffa, dish-cloth gourd, rag gourd, dishrag gourd, and vegetable sponge. |
Nutritional Benefits:
Luffa contains protein, vitamins (Vitamin A, C, E, and K), B vitamins (Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic acid), and minerals (manganese, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, iron, zinc, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
Luffa thrives best both in tropical and subtropical regions with a long warm and humid season.
Sunlight:
Provide at least six to eight hours of bright direct sunlight to maintain a temperature between 30 and 35°C.
Soil Type:
Luffa can grow well in a variety of soil and pH. However, it thrives best in well-drained soil or sandy loams with a pH between 6 and 6.8.
12. Cucumber
| Scientific name: | Cucumis sativus |
| Other Name | Pepino (Portuguese), krastavac (Croatian), Khirah (Pakistan & India), and komkommer (Dutch). |
Health Benefits:
Cucumber is 95% water and, therefore, it’s very low in calories. Cucumbers also contain antioxidants and a small amount of minerals (manganese, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
Cucumbers are temperamental when it comes to tolerating prolonged exposure to temperatures below 12°C or above 32°C. They thrive best in the warm season, between 18°C to 25°C. Growing cucumbers on a trellis will help prevent burrowing worms from causing unsightly holes in them. See our article on what causes holes in cucumbers.
Sunlight:
Provide at least four to five hours of direct bright sunlight.
Soil Type:
Prefers well-drained fertile soil with low clay content.
13. Winter Squash
| Scientific name: | Cucurbita maxima |
| Common Varieties of Winter Squash: | Hubbard squash, Queensland blue squash, banana squash, buttercup squash, Hokkaido squash, winter marrow, Atlantic giant pumpkin, and mammoth pumpkin. |
Nutritional Benefits:
Winter squash contains protein, vitamins C, B vitamins (Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), and Pantothenic acid), and minerals (manganese, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium).
Growing Requirements:
Sunlight:
Grow it in a very warm sunny position where it can get five to six hours of bright direct sunlight.
Soil Type:
Like other squash, Winter squash prefers soils with good drainage and high organic matter content.
14. Cucamelons
| Scientific name: | Melothria scabra |
| Other Name | Mouse melons, pepquinos, Mexican sour cucumbers, Mexican miniature watermelon, and Mexican sour gherkin. |
Growing Requirements:
Cucamelons grow best in hot climates and are super sensitive to frost.
Sunlight:
Cucamelons love the sun. They thrive ideally in full sun. Provide them at least six to eight hours of full sun.
Soil Type:
They can grow in a wide range of soils; however, Cucamelons grow vigorously in well-drained soil.
15. Cucumber White
| Scientific name: | Cucumis sativus |
| Other Name | Salatgurke (German) and white-skinned slicers. |
Growing Requirements:
Like other cucumber varieties, White cucumbers can’t tolerate long seasons with temperatures below 12°C or above 32°C. They thrive best in the warm season, between 18°C to 25°C.
Sunlight:
Give them at least six to eight hours of full sun to see a quick yield.
Soil Type:
Prefers well-drained fertile soil enriched with organic matter content.
