I live in zone 5 and have a small yard.I already grow everything I can and I would like to grow muskmelons and delicata squash. I've heard about growing on trellises. Can anyone tell me how to do this and how big they would have to be?
Sure. Get you some good 5 gallon buckets from the dump or some grocery stores or whatever. Mix an organic potting soil mix of 50/50 compost plus whatever potting mix you like. Plant your seeds. Feed with fish emulsion, liquid seaweed tea, or good ole strong compost tea either weekly or twice a month. They love it!
Posts: 60 | Location: Birmingham,AL | Registered: February 11, 2002
Melons like to twine and some plants will wander all over the garden. I imagine a fence about 4 ft. tall and as long as you like would do the trick. You should support melons with a sling or the melons will get too heavy for the stems and break off. Make slings from stretchy material (women's nylons, t-shirt fabric) and make the sling big enough to hold the mature size melon.
I had a volunteer pumpkin a couple years ago that twined all over my fruit trees and grape vines, and surprised me with mid-air pumpkins. Once the pumpkins reached about 10 pounds, they broke off their stems.
I have a sunny patio that I grow peppers, cherry tomatoes, herbs, and lettuce in containers. Can I grow the melons in containers on a vertical trellis with slings or would the vines be too long? Would I have better luck with winter squash using this method? I,ve never grown either one and I hate the tasteless melons and squash from the supermarket and would really like to try to grow my own. Thanks for replying!
I have canteloupes and the "sugar baby" watermelons in my garden. They are in my big long bed that is designated for climbing plants. The bed is backed by a wood frame fence that we have hog wire stapled to (about 5 1/2 ft. tall) When the melons start getting larger (about softball size) you "sling" them for support. That's how we've done ours anyways Hope this info helps ya.
What a beautiful garden!! I have never tried growing viney things like mellons on a fence. I guess we could all use the room no matter how big the garden is.
Thanks Owl I can't believe how much it's already grown! I planted the transplants(from 6paks) April 17 & seeds April 18. I started planting seeds in the wooden raised beds (cutting flower garden) this morning, but I need to go and buy some more. Oh drat! That means going to the gardening store..hehehehe
I wish I had more room to have a garden like yours! I only have a plot for my tomatoes and cukes and a small raised bed for my herbs,carrots,beets and lettuces. Anything else I want to grow I have to squeeze in pots on the patio. I think I will try to grow the melons on a fence by the tomato plot. Or maybe Ill just dig up my front yard-you can never have too much garden! Who needs grass anyway. Thanks for replying!
I was planning to put something in like you describe and was wondering how deep you put your poles in the ground...I was going to use 4 x 4 concert reinforcement wire that I have left over from making tomato cages...did you place your tressles at the back of the box or in the middle so you can plant on both sodes of the wire... My box is 4ft wide 16 ft long...
Mine is at the back of the box..however my climbing bed is only about 2 ft. wide...it's 24 ft. long. The concrete mesh would be excellent...eventually that's what I want to use, the roll of hog wire was here in the garage when we moved in so figured I would use that for at least this year since I was shelling out $$ for the dirt and the concrete edgers...LOL
I wouldn't think the poles would need to be more than a foot deep, but I'll look and see what is in the book about that and get back with ya.
Being that your box is 4ft. wide you might want to place the wire wall in the middle for planting on both sides and easier harvesting.
