Horizontal Trellis- need help choosing plants.

10 years ago

I saw this idea on Pinterest re: supporting tomatoes. Last year we grew San Marzanos, Better Boy and Early Girl- all huge plants that broke all manner of stakes and cages. This year I was determined to do better and lose less crop. Hence the "horizontal trellis."

Here's where I need help: I don't need quite this many tomatoes. What can I plant that will appreciate the support but is large enough to fill the space without extra supports? I don't think beans or peas will work because their vines are so fine and prefer to "wind" rather than bush out. The boxes are 12" square.

Cucumbers? Brussels sprouts?

Should be tall and annual (no asparagus unfortunately) because I like to rotate crops in raised beds. Full sun (10 hrs).

Thanks!!

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Comments (7)

bdot_z9_ca
10 years ago
Oh boy thst is a sturdy trellis! Hmm, how about melons or vining squash?
terry_neoh
10 years ago
Hi, neighbor! How about corn? You don't get much yield for the space, but it is tall.
-Terry
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loribee2
10 years ago
Yes, I trellis cucumbers just like I do my tomatoes.
BlueBirdPeony
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, guys. No idea why I didn't think of corn! We're literally surrounded by a cornfield (but feed corn, not sweet corn). It doesn't really need the support but would look kind of cool being tall I guess.

BDot, what kinds of squash and melons do you grow? Are they pretty easy?

Lori, do you tie up your cukee? How tall do they get?

Terry, hey neighbor!
loribee2
10 years ago
My trellises are about 7' and consist of rabbit fencing secured by t-posts. The cukes will grow all the way to the top and then some. I don't tie them because I weave the shoots through the fencing, often horizontally if that's the way they want to grow. It sends out tendrils also that will wind around the wires. Don't know how they will secure themselves with such a large trellis. You may need to tie them.

Will be fun to see pictures later in the year when you've got the plants growing.
gardenper
10 years ago
That's a very sturdy frame. You could probably fence it off with chicken wire and raise chickens.

But as for vining veggies, many would still need finer things to vine on than a 2x4. If you can add that, then I would definitely suggest one of the large melon or pumpkin/squash families, since that is so strong. Canteloupe or honeydew would be something you could grow on there.
terry_neoh
10 years ago
I will say that the sturdiness of your frame is just about right. Last fall, we had a large Bradford pear tree get spapped off in a wind storm, as well as half a Norway maple. Each of my next door neighbors lost a spruce. All tress over 20 years old. And this was not a tornado, or even a thunderstorm. It's now part of the "Hauntd Ohio" lore.

(I know, the lawn needs some nitrogen, and the tree was not rotted or insect infested. The wood is as soilid as a baseball bat.)

On second thought, you might want to add some flying buttresses.

This post was edited by terry_neoh on Fri, Apr 25, 14 at 12:10