On the southern side of our house, which is sundrinking chocolate brown, we have a large area at the second story level up which I would like to train some thing edible and sunloving -- evergreen if possible, but I know that's probably asking too much. I was thinking grapes of some sort, but my problem is that right up next to the house the dirt is pretty dead and so I have been growing things like tomatoes & oregano & nasturtiums in containers next to the side of the house. I need something that will grow up to the second storey. Do grapes have deep root systems? What high climbing vines are there that don't have deep rots, or is that a contradiction in terms? (I should have put a big round window in the big blank spot but it's too late now.)

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 07, 2002

Answers

Well, ivy does ok, its evergreen and will grow in AWFUL soil, including northern facing walls. BUT, it comes with a price. It attaches itself to the wall via tendrils and these in turn hold water and soon rot the wall. If it is a concerte/ brick wall, the tendrils drill right into the mortar and make things rough, the mortar will eventally give out. My personal sugggestion: Peas. Train them there on trellises, and eat em all summer long. They will help to shade the wall, but arent evergreen, so you will have to replant/ fertilize. Edible landscaping AND shading the wall are the obvious benefits, plus pretty flowers in spring.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aaol.com), February 07, 2002.

Have you considered hops?

-- joj (jump@off.c), February 07, 2002.

PS if you made some sort of progressive boxing in which to plant the (whatever you decide on) that might work out. But, may I ask, how do you plan on harvesting anything at the second story level once it attains that height. Ivy, incidentally, isnt edible. I did come up with one other possible. Honey suckle. Its edible/ usefulness is as follows: (I am guessing a tea is prepared) stems and flowers treat diarrhea, flu, swollen glands, food poisning, and the flowers are supposed to be good in omletes. It is evergreen, at least here in NC. Hummingbirds also enjoy it, if you like watching them.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 07, 2002.

snoozy, I am thinking maybe Kiwi? Where are you located? I would also check with your County Extension Service. They often have handouts for Vines and climbing plants which might help you out. And they are sure to have a roster of Master Gardeners to answer your questions I have a question about support for this vining plant. It will need to be substantial for it to stay up. It is, as mentioned above, not that hard to build a strong planter box for a perinnial or are you thinking annual like the peas mentioned? If you plant some type of annual you will need to clean off the dead vines from the year before and that would be a pain. Good luck with this. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 07, 2002.

KUDZU! It's edible, grows like wildfire, and definately cares not for the ground quality. Okay, so it's not evergreen, but this is not always a bad thing :P Okay, okay...I'm going, I'm going. You don't have to twist my arm so hard, Ken.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 07, 2002.

KUDZU! That's illegal to plant here in Missouri! Will peas grow on a north side?

-- CJ (cjtinkle@getgoin.net), February 07, 2002.

Another annual that might work for you is scarlet runner beans. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), February 07, 2002.

I thought peas were cool-climate plants...i mean, they grow great here int eh Pac NW, but I have this chocolate brown wall that gets as much sun as we get here. I'm not all that fond of kiwis. What else you got?

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 07, 2002.

As for harvesting anything growing up at the second storey, we have ladders of all types, and if it whatever it was we grew up there were bountiful on a regular basis, we could build a catwalk.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), February 07, 2002.

snoozy, it's not edible, but if you lived closer, I'd give you some Virginia creeper! I've got the stuff everywhere and it climbs on everything. Rocks, trees, stumps you name it. One good thing...it turns a beautiful red color in the fall!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), February 07, 2002.

you could try Chinese Yam(also known as cinnimon vine)..not evergreen but the tuber is edible and the leaves are glossy and heart shaped and the tiny flowers smell nicely of cinnamon...if you live south enough the Painted Lady runner bean is a perineal and the beans are edible both as snaps and as shell beans...and all beans improve the soil over time by fixing nitrogen. Probibly best to avoid something woody like grapes because of the possibility of invasive roots in your basement....trumpetvine and wisteria are the bloomers(not edible) that I would choose..heheheh but they are almost as bad once they get a hold as the kudzu!

-- Bee White (bee@hereintown.net), February 08, 2002.

Snoozy-grapes need a lot of air flow around them to prevent mildew and such and so may not be good close to the house. I'd think carefully about honeysuckle-I love it it smells great, but get it going and it will take over. Don't even mention the K-word-it will take your house! I have the same situation and I'm planting hops I havn't tried it yet, but I think it will be good-vines grow to twenty five feet-besides, husband homebrews, so thats my suggestion.

-- Kelly (KY) (homearts2002@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Ooh, Annie! I've been wanting some Virginia creeper but I don't know when I'll be in your neck-of-the-woods again.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), February 08, 2002.

Climbing roses. A trellis of sorts of short lengths of 1x1's installed occasionally would work for support and direction. Could be spectacular.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Couldnt you take a half-barrel planter and bury it halfway into the ground, fill the bottom with manure and to the top with good soil... you could have your grapes, it seems to me!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Peas would most likely do OK in missouri on a north facing wall. I grow PLENTY of spring and early summer peas in NC on a west facing trellis. They quit production, but are still green about mid july. In more northerly climates, I have heard they produce all season long. There is nothing better than fresh raw peas. Mine attained heights of over 8 feet (last year) in my first year garden in fairly poor soil. Im hoping for even better results this year. FORGET KUDZU!!! Its ugly in the winter, anyways. It can grow several inches in a week, maybe several in a day! It can kill healthy full grown oaks here. Roses might be nice though. They are- to a minimal point- edible. And evergreen to boot.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 09, 2002.

I just thought I would let y'all know that we've bought a couple of fuzzy kiwi vines for that space. I know I said I wasn't all that fond of kiwis, but when I saw the vines at the nursery they were just SO beautiful! Twisty-gnarly vines with green leaves bronzed with reddish fuzz...just gorgeous! It will look fantastic against the chocolate brown wall. I'll learn to love kiwis -- I do like them to start with anyhow.

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), May 03, 2002.