How to Grow Melons in a Sling

Growing melons in a sling has benefits compared to leaving the vines trailing across the ground. With vertical gardening or trellising, you don’t have to stick to varieties that need less growing space. Weeding around your plants without damaging the vines is easier and increases their sunlight exposure. There is less water on the foliage and what does get wet dries faster, prevent fungal disease issues. A strong trellis for vertical melon gardening.

Things You'll Need

• Trellis
• Supports
• Melon seeds or plants
• Cheesecloth or panty hose
• Scissors
• Twine

Instructions

Trellis

1. Select the type trellis material for use. Materials vary from wire strands and mesh of varying gauge to wood lattice. A medium- or heavy-gauge wire allows better airflow than lattice and offers more strength than chicken wire.

2. Anchor your trellis supports deeply, at least a foot in the ground, to prevent wind damage to the trellis and your crops. While the trellis itself may not weigh much, the weight of developing fruit will increase the load. If you can’t dig on your site, the New Mexico State University Extension recommends using concrete-filled buckets to hold the posts or base of your trellis. Allow no more than 5 to 6 feet of trellis between your supports.

3. Attach the central portion or ends of the trellis to an existing fence or other structure for added strength. The type and number of attachments will vary depending on the weight of the trellis, the number and type of melon plants you expect to grow along the trellis, and what structures are available in the area to act as supports.

Melons

1. Purchase melon seeds or transplants that develop fruits weighing 3 pounds or less. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends this as the size limit for successfully vertically growing heavier fruits and vegetables.

2. Plant your seeds and transplants applying the same spacing as if gardening horizontally. Place hills 2 to 3 feet apart with two to three plants in each hill for muskmelons, and space plants 6 to 8 feet apart for small watermelons. Plant the seeds for either type of melon one-half to 1 inch deep.

3. Space your rows closer together if using a trellis system. You can space rows as close as 3 feet apart when growing vertically, whereas on the ground, muskmelons require 5 to 6 feet between rows and watermelons need rows 7 to 10 feet apart.

4. Train the vines onto the trellis as they grow. Check the plants two to three times per week making adjustments and guide their growth. Free any developing melons from being caught in openings in the trellis material.

Slings

1. Select a material for your slings. Cheesecloth and panty hose are good options. Avoid cotton, as it retains water. While the trellis itself allows air circulation, fabrics holding moisture may promote fungal diseases.

2. Cut a rectangular length of material as a sling. The exact length of the material depends on the potential size of your melons. Include enough extra material to tie the sling to the trellis and leave a loose pocket into which individual fruits are placed.

3. Attach the pairs of corners of the short ends of the material to the trellis near the point where each melon hangs. Tie the material to the trellis or knot the material, securing the corner to the trellis with twine. Check that the material remains slack in the center. Place a melon inside each sling.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Trellises and Cages to Support Garden Vegetables
• University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Melons (Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Honeydew) in Minnesota Home Gardens
• New Mexico State University Extension Service: Vertical Garden Watermelon on Trellis
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Cantaloupe & Honeydew Melons
• Arizona Cooperative Extension: Arizona Master Gardener Manual: Vegetable Garden: Selected Vegetable Crops: Melons
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Cucumbers, Melons and Squash

Resources

• Purdue University Horticulture Department: Cucumis Melo L.