Cantaloupe is one of my most favorite things to grow in the garden. The taste is unbelievable, so sweet and juicy.
In years past, the plants took over my garden and spilled into the yard, so I changed my planting strategy for the melons this year and planted upward, not at ground level.
I followed the method taught in my Square Foot Gardening book and I built a vertical trellis back in May.
It is now the middle of July and I am seeing the benefits of vertical gardening for vine plants. The plants looks healthy and there are at least 5 melons growing.
Two of the melons are actually growing on the ground at the base of the trellis.
My main concern is that the plants won’t hold the weight of the melons as they grow to maturity. I referred to my book for guidance and Mel states that the stem supporting the melon grows thicker as the fruit grows larger and if I have the right support to hold the plant, the plant will hold the melons.
So far, the Square Foot Gardening Method has not disappointed me one bit, so I’ll wait patiently and nervously and let you know how it works out.
Do you plant melons vertically? Does your trellis properly support the weight of the fruit? Let us know in the comments.
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Square Foot Gardening is a wonderful way of gardening, isn’t it? I use make-shift trellis and poles. I really should MAKE the trellis he recommends. I’m terrible at growing melon though. SIGH! I will just watch yours and imagine how yummy it is. 🙂
Take care,
Dee
I love cantaloupe from the garden too! I have never grown them vertically though – we have the space to let them roam on the ground. I hope it works for you – they are looking good!
This is my first year growing cantaloupe and I do have some regrets with not building them a trellis to climb on. Lesson learned! Your cantaloupe looks great!!!
I am struggling with my my tomato plants. One is upright and is so small that it looks like a bonsai. One of my upside-down tomato plants “broke” and I wondering if it will bear tomatoes.
I plan to plant more vertically next year. This year I have these huge pumpkin and squash plants taking over my back yard. lol!!! Your garden looks great!
I’ve not grown melons, but I’ve read that people will make a “sling” out of old nylons when the melon gets large- just to make sure it doesn’t fall off too early.
Good luck and thank for sharing!