Growing Melons

GardenMama 2/19/2012, 11:35 pm

Hi,

I have a square foot garden, 3' X 8' with 8' trellis on both ends. The trellis is made out of General Purpose Field Fence (Cow Panels). The frames are made from conduit pipes. Also we brought some fittings and made a trellis canopy for the box. I plan to grow some watermelon and cantaloupe in the box. A couple of years ago I got a couple of cantaloupes but had problems supporting the fruit hanging from the trellis canopy. Does anyone have any ideas of what can be used to support hanging cantaloupes?

Please help me

Thanks,

GardenMama

littlejo 2/19/2012, 11:39 pm

Old panty hose!

GardenMama 2/19/2012, 11:56 pm

Thanks for your help,

I thought about panty hose but didnt know how to use them properly. Last time I just cut the legs off, placed the cantaloupe in one of the legs and tied it to the trellis. Don't know if I did it right or not. Obviously, I did something wrong because I couldn't get enough support to keep the fruit off the ground. How do you support hanging fruit?

Garden Mama

**sfg4uKim** 2/20/2012, 6:56 am

This slide came with my Teacher Certification. This sort of looks like t-shirt material to me.

Growing Melons Panty_11

littlejo 2/20/2012, 7:59 am

Really any material that stretches some so the melon can grow more. Tie each end to the trellis, and lay melon on the hose.

JK 2/20/2012, 3:05 pm

Im not trying melons my first year but I had thought about it in the future given Mels description in the book. Looks/sounds like it isnt quite the way he said in the book. Do all melons need extra support like that?

In ANSFG I remember him talking about pumpkins and melons growing up the trellis and in the air because the trellis was strong material and because as the fruit got heavier nature 'knew' to strengthen the vine so it cold hold it.

GardenMama 2/22/2012, 8:28 am

Thanks Everyone,

I'm going to try T shirt material this time and place the melon in a sling. I was surprised that the melon got so big. sfg4uKim I like the picture you posted. Can't wait until melon season comes around again. Very Happy

Garden Mama

elliephant 2/22/2012, 9:19 am

JK wrote:Im not trying melons my first year but I had thought about it in the future given Mels description in the book. Looks/sounds like it isnt quite the way he said in the book. Do all melons need extra support like that?

In ANSFG I remember him talking about pumpkins and melons growing up the trellis and in the air because the trellis was strong material and because as the fruit got heavier nature 'knew' to strengthen the vine so it cold hold it.

Some melons (like cantaloupes) "slip" from the vine when ready, so it's a good idea to have something there to catch them.

JK 2/22/2012, 1:59 pm

Oh. Thanks elliephant Smile

.

Squat_Johnson 2/22/2012, 3:00 pm

I garden on a slope. When cantelopes get ripe, they roll out of the garden. I can see them when I pull in the driveway...

**sfg4uKim** 2/22/2012, 3:45 pm

LOL SJ

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