Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?

greenmama 4/6/2011, 4:00 pm

So, here's what I am having trouble arranging in my garden. I'm doing (2) 4x4 boxes, and *trying* to keep it all in the boxes and not to have to do any pots, because I'm running out of money for more Mel's Mix.

I am going to trellis on the North side of each box.

Tomatoes (prefer 4 squares all the way across)
Green beans [pole beans] (2 squares)
Peas (2 squares)
Cucumbers (2 squares)
--------------------------
So I'm short 2 squares!

What needs to be trellised the most, what can do with a stake, and what can do with a cage? (are there cages small enough for one square foot?).

Should I do one whole 4 square across trellis of tomatoes. Then the other trellis with 2 sq. of peas, and 2 sq. of green beans? Can the cucumbers be caged or staked in their own 2 squares?

I wish the had the money to just do a third box & trellis. That would solve the problem. Maybe next year!

elliephant 4/6/2011, 4:06 pm

When you build that 3rd box you might think about making it a 2x8 instead of a 4x4. That's what most of mine are since most of what I love to grow needs trellis space.

I do think cucumbers might be ok growing up a cage. I've grown them on a chain link fence before.

Squat_Johnson 4/6/2011, 5:12 pm

I have been known to let a plant just sprawl out of the side of the box. I am in fact, planning on two squares of cucumbers, one on the trellis, and the other sprawling out of the bed.

**Furbalsmom** 4/6/2011, 8:07 pm

GreenMama, you may want to consider bush green beans. Some peas also come in a bush variety.

I am growing green, yellow and purple bush beans this year.

greenmama 4/6/2011, 9:15 pm

Thanks. I should have gone with bush beans and peas, but got my heart set on a particular type of each and already bought seeds. I think I'll cage my cucumbers. I just Googled it, and it looks like a pretty popular method, so it should work! Yeah!

**Furbalsmom** 4/6/2011, 9:35 pm

Just so you know, I am growing pole beans too. Found some Scarlet Emperor, Anasazi (old, old, old type from the Anasazi Natives in Mesa Verde) and Asparagus Beans. Not sure how I will get them all trellised, but some may go into my bed at the community garden.

Lavender Debs 4/7/2011, 10:21 am

I've posted this video once already for zucchini. I am going to try this myself for cucumbers and zucchini this year Take a look at the web page AND the video.

Cucumbers grown up a stake

Bottom line....
1 Secure a 4 foot stake in the ground when you plant or transplant your cucumber.
2 As the vine grows tie it to the stake.
3 When the vine flowers, remove the leaves below the flowers (it will end up looking rather like a palm tree)
4 When you harvest fruit, remove the leaves to the next fruit.

The blog owner does say the yield from this system is slightly less than a sprawling vine but that she can plant three vines in one box (3 squares) and take less area than one sprawling vine yet get an equal amount of fruit.

It looks to be more work, but I'm out putzing everyday anyway.

The video is a little long and rambling, the guy in the video is a row gardener (the blog owner is a SFGer) but he has a lovely accent.

Debs....who plans to try this in both a bucket and in the SFG.

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Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?

Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?

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Re: Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?

Re: Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?

Re: Which plants to trellis versus cage or stake?


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