CUISINE & CULTURE
ELLEN PEFFLEY
What do cucumbers, winter squash, and melons have in common? Yes, both are members of the Cucurbitaceae family; yes, both are warm season vegetables; and yes - both have a vining growth habit. Left to sprawl on the ground, one plant can take up to 10 feet of growing space.
One solution to make the most of garden space is to train vining plants to an upright support. Training vegetables to grow vertically saves many square feet in a garden.
Plants trained to upright structures optimize light penetration and air circulation, increasing number and quality of fruit while reducing incidence of disease pathogens; keeps fruit free from dirt versus laying on the ground; provides vertical elements to the garden, adding visual interest; and the obvious of maximizing garden space.
Trellises are upright or vertical structures constructed from wood, plastic, metal, or even from branch prunings from trees. They are a framework for vining plants that have a rambling prostrate growth habit on the ground but that can be trained to grow upright if supported.
Trellises can be purchased from nurseries, box stores or on-line suppliers such as Gardeners Supply or make them as “do-it-yourself” projects.
A sturdy and simple trellis is the DIY teepee trellis:
• The finished trellis should be place in full sun so that every side of the teepee is exposed to the sun as it moves across the sky.
• Finished dimension is about 4 foot square or sized to accommodate available garden space.
• Start by placing one post in the center of the square. The height of the post needs to be the length of the plants’ stems as they grow; add an extra foot for the portion of the post that will be buried in the soil. Bury one foot as an approximate depth; bury the post deep enough to bring stability to the finished structure.
• Use at least three poles that are the same length or longer as the center pole.
• Angle the poles equidistant around the center post in the form of a teepee; bury poles at least 8 inches deep so tips meet and cross the center post.
• Wrap wire or strong twine around crossed teepee poles to stabilize them.
• String twine around the teepee poles starting at 6 inches from ground level, then a row every 12 inches to support stems as they extend.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
