I want to utilize more space in my already large garden. I plan to cut down some saplings on my property to make tall trellis's. Last year we planted cantelopes on the ground and with a wet summer they were rotting. I thought I would try them and melons on a trellis if those of you here didn't think they would be too heavy. I have seen large gourds grown on a trellis but did not know if the weights were similar. Anyone with experiences out there that has grown melons on a trellis? How did it work out? Any opinions welcomed.
Can you grow cantelopes on a trellis?
- Thread starter Kricket
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boggybranch
Deeply Rooted
Have seen where other gardeners have done it, with success. Just be sure the trellis is strong enough and, if I'm remembering right, support the melons and catalopes with mesh, attached to the trellis, for extra support.
wifezilla
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I am trying Collective Farm Woman melons this year and I am tempted to trellis them. I have a small yard, so anything I can do to save space is a good plan.
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- #4
My vision is to chop down some older saplings about 4-6 inches diameter and 8-10 feet tall. Then chop down a bunch of smaller saplings. I would erect them in a step ladder fashion but wider across. I know I want it tall enough so that I can get in under it to stand and pick any fruit that may grow there. Just not sure if it would get enough sunshine though. I have chickens so they can always eat any that are not growing good. I do use cattle panel for my cucumbers but I don't want to buy any if I can do it this way. I can use my baling wire that I get off the hay bales to tie all the saplings together. So, what do you think?
Ladyhawke1
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I heard you could use old nylon stockings or old pantyhose to make slings to support the fruit. :/ Yep! that's what I heard. 
boggybranch
Deeply Rooted
Sounds like a plan to me. The first thing I thought was...."wow, it be great if some of the larger salplings were close enough to use as supports".Kricket said:
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- #7
We live on 80 acres and timber is not scarce here. Truthfully, I came up with this natural resource because my young son has been chopping down some saplings to make a fort. I thought......Hmmmmm. He said that he would chop down some for me some but it might go faster if he could use Dad's chainsaw. *lol* I told him to have Dad do it and he could help.
boggybranch
Deeply Rooted
80 acres with timber.......sounds like you could work some magic, there. If you get a chance, check out a copy of "A Gentle Plea for Chaos". Think you would enjoy it, especially, given your description of your property.
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- #9
vfem
Garden Addicted
Yes you can, I did it last year, worked GREAT! I grew them next to my cucumber and I used knee highs to put the melons into when they started to get big and then tied them to the trellis with the knee high to support the extra weight. I got about 2 good melons per plant, and using the trellis I was able to get about 8 melons total on one trellis they shared with cucumbers. All in a 4'x3 1/2' raised bed!
P.s.- When I saw Kricket, I thought you were my best friend finally checking out this site... but alas... you are not my Kricket!
but WELCOME!!!
P.s.- When I saw Kricket, I thought you were my best friend finally checking out this site... but alas... you are not my Kricket!
but WELCOME!!!
