Yes its pumpkin question time of year. After a second year of growing pumpkins i'm slowly getting better. Last year i grew 1, this year i grew 2 and 6 butternut squash. Next year i hope to get more. I have a great spot at the back of the house that is sheltered and warm, with relatively full sun, and a section of the garden we rairly use, as its between the house and a hedge. My plan next year is to improve the irrigation with a drip system. But more importantly to have the pumpkins and squash grow up and over a a frame trellis. my plan being that the frame goes north to south. so one side gets the sun in the morning and the other side in the afternoon. With it being raised up it should have 3 benefits 1. more sunshine as the house and the hedge won't shadow it as much so more hours. 2. less contact with the ground, so fewer chances of fungal attacks to fruit and leaf. and less build up of disease in soil. 3. being up in the air better air circulation so helping to reduce powdery mildew. I've seen a few online gardeners who have used the method and it seems to work well. the plan is to build a 6ft+ aframe and run a 7inch mesh nylon net over it. Allowing the pumpkins to grow up over it and down the other side. just wondering if anyone else uses a trellis for their pumpkins/squash
That sounds like a great plan. Last year my Queensland Blue pumpkin decided to grow up and thru the weld mesh which was still in place from the peas. Thank goodness it was such strong mesh, as otherwise the weight of the pumpkins would have pulled it down. The fruit itself is very heavy, however the stalks for the unsupported fruits were about two inches thick! No support needed! Some actually grew thru the mesh and had to be cut off with an axe. Good luck with yours. Would love to see some pics when it's fruiting!
For smaller pie pumpkins it might work, if the frame is stout enough. For bigger fruited squash a net will be inadaquate to your need-or at least that'd be my concern.
Thanks guys, I'm thinking of putting cross braces for extra strength to support the nylon which has a huge break strength. however some panty hose will help for the big ones. that said it will mainly be for pie pumpkins and butternut squashs
Dan, pantyhose make great slings for squashes and pumpkins. If you can't beg, borrow, or steal enough hose, the stretchy mesh bags onions come in work, also.
