How to Grow Melons in a Vertical Garden

Melons do well when you grow them vertically.

Ambitious gardeners with limited space easily attain their growing goals by making the most out of the space they have available. With some plants, such as melons and cucumbers, this means growing up instead of out. Even if you're on a budget you can take advantage of the vertical growing method by training melons and other vining plants onto existing fences or buildings. Using inexpensive privacy lattice is another way you can provide support for your melon vines. Also, when your melons grow above the ground, they will be safe from many harmful creatures such as snails and slugs.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Nails
• Purchased lattice
• Four 10-foot 2 by 4 boards
• Shovel
• Quick setting concrete
• Four 2 by 2 boards
• Ladder (optional)

Instructions

Using an Existing Structure

1. Plant melon seeds or starter plants 6 to 8 inches away from a fence or other structure such as a garden shed.

2. Drive nails into the fence or shed 12 inches apart. If your fence or shed is 8 feet tall or more, continue driving nails all the way to the top. Drive nails at 12-inch intervals along the entire length of your planted row. Tie string between the nails and tuck vines under the string when they grow long enough to reach the growing surface.

3. Attach purchased privacy lattice to your fence or shed to give your melon vines an attractive support on which to climb. When the vines reach the bottom of the lattice and begin to grow tendrils, train them onto the lattice by twining the tendrils around the lower part of the lattice.

Building a Free Standing Trellis

1. Dig holes 2 feet deep for the corner posts, and sink one 2 by 4 board, 10 feet long, into each hole. Pour in quick-setting concrete and wait for it to harden.

2. Nail 2 by 2 boards to the top of your four corner posts to construct a rectangular shape at the top of your posts.

3. Attach purchased privacy lattice to the top of your free-standing trellis, using nails or screws. Depending on the height of your trellis, you might need to climb a ladder to reach the top.

4. Plant melon seeds or starter plants around the base of each corner post. When vines begin to grow long enough, twist the melon vines onto the four corner posts. When they reach the top, they will cover the lattice and developing melons will hang through the holes in the lattice.

Tips & Warnings

• Your trellis can be the size you want: a workable trellis might be 8 feet long by 4 feet wide, but you can make it smaller if your space is limited.

• Privacy trellis is sold in 4 by 8 foot lengths, so if you build your trellis this size you can avoid cutting the lattice.

• When you build a free standing trellis for your melons, wait until after you complete construction before you plant your melon seeds or plants underneath it --- this prevents seedlings from harm while you are working in the area.

• You might need to guide small, newly forming melons through the holes in your lattice on a free-standing trellis.

References

• Washington State University: Vertical Gardening
• "The New York Times"; Gardens That Grow On Walls; Kristina Shevory; May 2010