How to Grow Watermelons on a Trellis

Watermelons are perhaps the most iconic fruit of summer: their sweet, juicy flavor is a welcome respite during the blistering months of July and August. These days, as gardeners are becoming increasingly creative with space in the garden, watermelons are being grown on trellises. It is a little more work, but the space saved in the garden and the quality of the fruit more than makes up for the sweat.

Things You'll Need

• 4 2-by-2 boards per every 2 watermelon plants, minimum 4 feet long
• Mallet
• Watermelon seeds
• T-shirts, socks, or towels

Instructions

1. Build a trellis in a simple criss-cross pattern. A height of at least 4 feet is recommended to accommodate the lengthy vines of the watermelon. The legs, which will be hammered into the ground, should be cut on a bias so that they can penetrate more deeply. Use sturdy material such as 2-by-2 boards because your watermelons will be much heavier than the tomatoes, squash, or cucumbers that are typically trellised.

2. Set the trellis firmly in the ground where you intend to grow the watermelons. You'll need well-drained soil with plenty of access to sunlight. Use a mallet to pound the trellis frame into the ground for stability. The deeper the trellis is, the more it will be able to withstand winds and storms.

3. Plant the watermelon seeds near the base of the trellis. A typical criss-cross trellis design can support two watermelon plants so long as the growth of each is directed outward and the trellis is firmly set in the ground.

4. Train the watermelon vines up the trellis as they lengthen and grow. Watermelons are not natural climbers, so fix the vines to the trellis with string. Save yourself the trouble of repeating this process later by using a sturdy string that can withstand the weight of the fruit later on.

5. Support the watermelon fruits with "hammocks" of old T-shirts, towels, or nylon stockings. These will be affixed to the frame of the trellis and carry the weight of the fruit as it matures.

6. Monitor your watermelon plant from time to time to make sure that it is stable. Check hammocks to ensure that they are relieving the pressure off of the vines, and ensure that the trellis is firmly in place as the watermelons reach maturity.

7. Harvest the watermelons at the usual time. Trellising will not change the growth pattern of your plant, although it can protect the fruit from diseases and pests usually encountered on the ground.

References

• Vegetable Gardener
• My Balcony Jungle