When you know how to sling vertical growing melons your garden will meet High Performance Garden Characteristic #10, utilize all space available. Join me in the Abundance Garden for a sneak peek of the Abundance Garden Course weekly episode, the Vegetable Journey to learn how to save space in your garden by growing vertically. This simple trick is a great tool to have in your back pocket when you begin to grow your melons vertically. By supporting the weight of the melons you enable them to reach full maturity away from all of the bugs on the ground. We will learn how to sling our melons as well as get them off the soil so that you can enjoy them instead of the roly-polys. Are you ready to begin? Let’s get started!

How to Sling Vertical Growing Melons

Suppplies

• No-Tools Easy Trellised Melons
• Tomato clips
• Twine
• Pantyhose (you can use: bras, vegetable sacks, footies etc…)

Vertical Melon Sling Directions

If you want to learn more about vertical growing check out our Easy Tomato Trellising video training series. When your melons are about 3 pounds it is time to give your plant some support. To grow your melons vertically simply follow the directions for tomato trellising. Once your melons are ready take your pantyhose and cut the leg into 12 inch sections. Take a section (if it is not the toe tie it off at the bottom) and slip it over your melon. Remove any leaves around the stem and then tie the pantyhose into a know at the top of the melon. Tie your string below this knot and attach it to the support line for your melon vine with a tomato clip. Repeat for the rest of your melons. If you have any that are resting on the ground simply place a brick underneath the melon to keep it away from the roly polys and other insects that enjoy to chow on your melons!

How is your garden utilizing all the space available? I love to grow as many of my plants vertically as possible so that I can save all the time and space possible. My sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, peas and melons do incredibly well when they are grown vertically. Anyone can do this no matter your gardening skill! If you are not already growing vertically I look forward to hearing how it goes for you in your garden when you begin.

Have you heard about the Rocky Mountain PBS show, Chef Driven, filming at the farm last month? Or our latest project, Help a Farm to Help a Family? Get involved with what has been happening on the farm by exploring our recent projects. You are a part of our community and it is our pleasure to share our adventures with you!

Until next time, may your garden be easy, fun, productive and always organic!

Lynn Gillespie

Email me any questions you have about vertical growing or any type of gardening question.