SWEET POTATOES
About two seasons ago, a farmer told me, “Sweet potatoes don’t do well in small spaces. You need open fields.”
He was convinced yield only comes from hectares of land. So, we tried something different. Sack farming.
Instead of the traditional flat beds, we planted sweet potatoes in horizontal grow bags, trained the vines upward on a simple trellis, and let the tubers develop inside a controlled soil column.
At harvest, we didn’t dig. We simply opened the side. Clean, well-shaped tubers. Minimal soil disturbance. Easy harvest. Better space utilization.
THIS METHOD WORKS ESPECIALLY WELL FOR:
• Limited land spaces/urban areas
• Controlled production systems
• Urban or semi-urban farms
• Farmers who want easier harvesting with less labor/ easier weed control
• Useful where soil quality is poor
It’s not magic; it’s system design.
But like every system, spacing, soil composition, vine management, and irrigation timing make all the difference. Do it wrong, and yields drop. Do it properly, and the results speak for themselves.
Many farmers focus only on planting. Few focus on structure. If you were to implement this on your farm, what would be your biggest concern: cost, soil mix, irrigation, or yield expectations?
HOW IT WORKS
• Fill a sack with soil mixed with compost or manure
• Plant your crop
• Water regularly and ensure proper drainage
• Harvest without digging
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE
• Use well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
• Make holes for drainage
• Avoid overcrowding
• Water consistently
You don’t need more land to start. You just need to start with what you have.
WATERMELON
The first time I saw watermelons hanging in the air, I thought something was wrong.
Watermelons are supposed to crawl across the ground… right?
But in this farm, the fruits were suspended in slings, supported by a trellis system, turning vertical space into productive farmland.
And it completely changed how I think about growing melons.
Instead of sprawling across the soil, the plant grows upward, turning empty vertical space into productive growing area.
HOW IT WORKS
Watermelon vines are trained onto a trellis structure made from bamboo, wood, metal, or strong ropes. As the vines climb, each developing fruit is placed inside a sling made from cloth, mesh, or netting. The sling is then tied to the trellis so the fruit’s weight is supported as it grows.
This prevents the vine from breaking and keeps the fruit suspended safely until harvest.
WHY FARMERS ARE ADOPTING THIS METHOD
• Better use of space: Ideal for small farms, urban gardens, and greenhouse production where
land is limited.
• Cleaner fruits: Since the melons don’t touch the soil, they are less likely to rot or develop soil
stains.
• Reduced disease pressure: Good air circulation around the vines can help reduce fungal
diseases.
• Easier monitoring and harvesting: Farmers can easily inspect fruit development, pests, and
diseases.
• Improved fruit shape: The fruits develop more evenly when properly supported.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT
1. Install a strong trellis system before planting. Watermelon fruits become heavy, so the
structure must be sturdy.
2. Plant seedlings at the base of the trellis with adequate spacing.
3. Train the vines upward by gently tying them to the support as they grow.
4. Once fruits start forming, place them inside fabric or mesh slings and tie them securely to the
trellis.
5. Maintain proper irrigation and nutrient supply since vertical systems often intensify plant
growth.
LIMITATIONS TO CONSIDER
• Labor intensive: Training vines and installing slings requires additional time and effort.
• Structural strength required: Weak trellises may collapse under the weight of mature fruits.
• Variety selection matters: Smaller or medium-sized watermelon varieties perform better than
extremely large ones.
• Initial setup cost: Materials for trellising and support may increase upfront investment.
Despite these challenges, vertical watermelon cultivation is gaining attention among innovative farmers and urban growers because it maximizes productivity in limited spaces while improving fruit quality.
Sometimes, the biggest innovation in farming isn’t a new crop. It’s simply changing the direction in which it grows.
Chinemerem Emmanuel is from Nigeria. He has a B.Sc (Hons) in Agriculture and is a farm manager and expert in plant and animal agriculture. He helps farmers and agripreneurs design profitable, low risk farm systems.