Since melons “travel” quite a ways when they grow, I decided to give them a trellis and grow them vertically. Once the fruit start gaining some weight, I plan on fixing them to the trellis with something like pantyhose that will expand with the melon and keep it from falling off the vine under it’s own weight. After doing a bit of research in homesteading books and whatnot, I chose to construct a sawhorse style trellis. It’s strong and was easy to build. Here is what I did…
These metal sawhorse hinges/joints can be bought at yr local big box store for about $7
First, I must apologize for my hair. Please do not pay attention to my physical appearance in this blog or you will lose focus.
Second, I bought a metal sawhorse hinge and a few 8′ pieces of 2x4s from a crappy big box store. I cut four 3′ ‘legs’ and one 5′ section for the top.
Wire was rolled out 56 inches long and secured to each side of the sawhorse.
Next I took some leftover fencing I had laying around and attached it to the legs of the sawhorse. I made the sawhorse 56″ as to overlap my 4′ box by 4″ on each side. This allowed me to place the trellis over the garden box without the legs sitting in the soil.
Finished trellis on top of Hale's Best Cantaloupe (left) and Charleston Grey Watermelon (right)
The final step was attaching the center/top 2×4 to the two sawhorse hinges and placing the finished trellis over the garden box.
One week after adding the trellis, the melons are attaching themselves with their cool tendrils
I took the above photo today, one week after building the trellis. Check out all the blossoms! I saw many bees doing their dirty pollinating on these suckers this morning…melons coming soon!
Planted and Enchanted 
June 13, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Peeve would like you to put down the trellis and throw her ball, please.
June 16, 2009 at 2:59 pm
you need your own show
Pingback: Your Twistin’ My Melon, Man « Planted and Enchanted