Hinterland Homesteading: Garden trellises and archways great for protection
Keeping the fruit off the ground keeps some bugs at bay.
Hinterland Homesteading Column with Racheal Pascoe
Many plants in the veggie garden need a structure to grow well. Growing on a trellis improves air circulation, the amount of sunlight reaching the plant and makes the fruit a great height to pick. Keeping the fruit off the ground keeps some bugs at bay and also helps to minimise powdery mildew. A trellis or archway is a terrific structure to throw a net over to further protect your crop.
Growing on a trellis improves air circulation, sunlight and makes the fruit a great height to pick.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, loofahs and chokos are some of the plants which need to be supported. A trellis needs to be strong enough to carry the weight of the plant when it is laden with fruit and should be installed before the plants grow too big.
Make it yourself
A trellis does not have to be expensive. Ask the neighbour down the street for a few lengths of their bamboo or use an old gate or fence panel between a couple of star pickets. Hardwood stakes are also a good investment for your garden kit. Have a good look behind the garden shed to see what you can find. It is fun engineering something for the job from what you have around the garden.
Arches for a more interesting garden
Garden pathways leading to archways you get to walk under makes for an even more inviting garden walk. Making a garden arch can be as simple as 4 star pickets, some large black poly pipe bent over and mesh in between. It is really satisfying to walk under an archway you have built when it is covered with passionfruit or big loofahs hanging through.
A trellis might only be in the one spot for a season, then it might be moved to another location for a different fruit. It does not need to be permanently fixed in place. That is one thing I just love about the garden space, it is always changing and we are challenged to come up with new solutions each season.
Joining the components of a trellis can be done by wire, string, baling twine, old strips of fabric, zip ties and if you are married to a plumber like me – duct tape sometimes!
Once the trellis is in place, plant your seedlings or seeds along the bottom and keep them well watered and mulched.
When they are tall enough, encourage them to grow through the trellis, some might need some support hanging on. You can gently tie them up each time you see them reaching for the sky.
If you haven’t tried growing fruit or veggies on a trellis or archway, maybe you could give it a try!
Go and check behind the garden shed, I bet there are plenty of materials to make a start but if you are missing something, be sure to pop into the Nambour Produce Agency, they will be happy to help get your sorted with stakes, wire mesh etc. Happy gardening!