Fallen Arches

[muddled]

Not on my feet

I've got a couple of cheapo garden arches that I plan to join using horizontal canes and grow a variety of plants over (with kales growing in a line up the middle underneath).

However, I am (optimistically) concerned that the weight of all those squashes, cucumelons, tomatos and tall peas will lead to 'fallen arches'. They do seem pretty flimsy.

Bearing in mind that I'm short, broke and rubbish at all things DIY can anyone suggest ways to strengthen the actual 'arc' bit at the top please?
Will the six foot canes taped horizontally across the 'rungs' disperse the weight enough to stop the top collapsing inwards?

[Cadalot]

A sketch would be useful, post a sketch and we can post a strengthening solution but basically think timber or bamboo and triangles and a way of connecting ii.e holes in the timber batten and cable ties, wire etc.

[MissC]

Muddled I am planning the same thing. I think my plan so far is to duct tape each join in the arches (it's worked quite well on the blowaway) then tape a double set of bamboo canes to each bar, doubling up with a few cable ties. I'm hoping to build this tomorrow, weather permitting, so I shall take a pic once I'm done. Hoping to train my squashes over the arch with some brussels down the middle.

[Bigmallly]

I agree with Cad, cable ties or wire will be a lot stronger than tape, the more bracing you can include with the strongest materials you have at hand, then obviously the stronger the structure will be. If you get stuck, just come back.

[MissC]

What are you planning on growing over the arches muddled?

[muddled]

Rather too many things to be honest!

Winter Squashes I've got two Japanese black futsu, three trombocino, one butternut and one sweet dumpling.
Eight paris pickling cucumbers and three cucumelons.
Some tomatoes...about six or eight that I have nowhere else to put,

And my Munty frame fell down in a storm and I can't seem to make it stable again. If I can't get that sorted this week a dozen or more runners will be growing up the arch as well

Then there are the summer squashes growing nearby that might have little scramble to the lower or mid levels...
2 patti pans, one trieste white, one plain green and one golden long.

[Cadalot]

Showing how to brace and reinforce a Munty Frame is easy

Split the span of the front beam 1/3- 1/3 - 1/3 or 1/4 -1/2 -1/4 to reduce the span between supports indicated by little arrows. If putting in and 1/4 points I might tale the brace down to the bottom of the upright.

Sway Bracing on the sides either one or two braces

Sway Bracing on the rear and mid point depending on size as braces ideally 45 but between 35 - 55 degrees will be ok.

As I said before its all about forming triangles, something that anyone who had meccano as a kid will recall when their structures collapsed and nearly cut off the ends of their fingers will recall

[muddled]

Ahhh! Now the triangles make sense! Thank you cadalot!

The problem with my munty is the large metal 'goalpost' structure,,,(apparently gas barrel pipes in a former life?) fell down in a storm. It is very top heavy with the top bar being thicker and less rusty than the uprights.
It was just hammered in to the ground and stood there for years with no other support at all...not actually attached to anything apart from the strings for runnerbeans.
Now one rusty leg has buckled a bit, the ground is ridiculously hard, and when out of the ground this thing is nine feet high and very heavy!

It will be sorted, just maybe not in time for this year's runners which need to go out about now!

[MissC]

Finally got round to building my squash tunnel. It needs a further 'X' of canes across the bottom on either side but overall I'm quite pleased.

[Cadalot]

OK Under the weight it going to want to spread as I have shown on the diagram in Red.

The arch will drop and the supports will spread so you need to introduce ties at the bottom of the arch shown in green. I would use timber batten with two holes and a cable tie either end.

I would also put sway bracing in both directions across and along the frame as shown in blue.

[muddled]

Thank you cadalot!

That is exactly the info I need and with the diagram it all makes sense!

[MissC]

Thanks Cad! That diagram is excellent. I'll get on with the bracing over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, my squash plants are too tiny to cause any trouble at the moment.