growing squashes up

[gan heather]

I'd like to try growing some squashes over an arch this year to save space (really to save space so I can grow more squashes!). How do people do this? I have an arch like this one that I plan on using to grow runner beans this summer. Would something like that be suitable or is it not strong enough? What does everyone else use?

[Dianne1234567]

I used one like that last year to grow runner beans up, and it collapsed - we actually attached guy ropes to it to hold it upright in the end, and these are still there on it, but the arch is really wobbly. I suppose my point is that squashes I would imagine would be even heavier so arch more likely to collapse. Hope this helps.

[taff]

I've got a couple of those and they are a bit flimsy, but I was thinking of taking off about a third/half of it and using it for the same thing,and straddling them across two beds.

[susieq100]

I was going to have a go at growing potimarron squashes over an arch just like that. The trouble is I have no plan B.

[Bigmallly]

I'm not taking any chances, my butternuts are gonna grow over the pergola.

[gan heather]

I used one like that last year to grow runner beans up, and it collapsed - we actually attached guy ropes to it to hold it upright in the end, and these are still there on it, but the arch is really wobbly. I suppose my point is that squashes I would imagine would be even heavier so arch more likely to collapse. Hope this helps.

Now I'm worried about the runner beans! How many plants did you have growing up it? I've never grown them before and I don't want a huge amount - I just thought it would be decorative.

[Jillyreeves]

Now I'm worried about the runner beans! How many plants did you have growing up it? I've never grown them before and I don't want a huge amount - I just thought it would be decorative.

I too am worried now, as I have 3 to use for beans :-(

[womble]

I used 2 a couple of years ago to grow lots of french beans up.

Put them next to each other (sideways on, about a metre and a half apart) and tied horizontal canes between the two, I had canes stuck into the ground between them and the horizontal canes tied to them, I also had 5 foot long canes stuck in at about 30 degree angles to the sides and tied those in as well.

Although the arches themselves are flimsy rubbish things, the whole thing was sturdy and fine.

I grew one or two beans up each cane and upright.

[selfraising]

I've got a couple of those and they are a bit flimsy, but I was thinking of taking off about a third/half of it and using it for the same thing,and straddling them across two beds.

I did that last year and grew some mini pumpkins across, it worked very well!

[gan heather]

Ok, I feel a bit better now. So while the arches aren't very strong, there are things that can be done to them that will improve them...

[Two_Sheds]

Just my tuppence-worth about climbing squashes: my Bonbon (a big, heavy pumpkin) decided to grow up the debris netting that was covering my sprouts (the sprout cover was about 3 foot high)

The pumpkin climbed right up and over it, curling its little tendrils in the net as it went.

[gan heather]

Just my tuppence-worth about climbing squashes: my Bonbon (a big, heavy pumpkin) decided to grow up the debris netting that was covering my sprouts (the sprout cover was about 3 foot high)

The pumpkin climbed right up and over it, curling its little tendrils in the net as it went.

My brain is spinning. Do you think if I took some nylon pea netting and strung it up on bamboo poles placed every six inches or so, that might be strong enough to hold smaller squashes?

[Two_Sheds]

It might work for something like Hooligan (softball size squash).

Make a strong bamboo structure: I've found that four canes tied at the top is the strongest. Then wrap your netting all over it.