Channeling Big Mallly

[Yasai]

I'd like to make an arch for growing my squashes up. Do you think that the blue pipe would work? I was think of sticking metal posts, of some kind into the ground (2 on each side) and then curving the pipe to fit over the posts... and then covering the whole thing with netting. Has anyone tried this??? If I get 100% germination, I'll only have three plants but if I don't grow them upwards, I won't have space for even three. Other suggestions welcome...

[Bigmallly]

I think you will need something more substantial than netting, maybe chicken wire as the squashes will want to hang down & can be quite heavy. I would get a couple of the cheapo ones and fasten them together with chicken wire...........sommat like these:

[Bigmallly]

Then you could end up with something like this:

[Yasai]

Then you could end up with something like this:

Yes, this is what I was looking at. I love this. She used cpvc pipe to make it; I'm not even sure what that is. That's why i was thinking of using the blue pipe. The cheapo ones seem so flimsy, I'm not overly convinced they'll last two minutes. Having said that, they're so cheap, I have nothing to lose by trying, really, so I guess I'll give them a go. If I like the way it looks, I may try to knock up something sturdier when it falls apart [she said optimistically]. Thank you

[Guest]

Sorry, I am not Mallly but I will give my opinion

The cheap arches when used singularly for squash don't stand up to the job, I think a grape here manage to reinforce the bottoms but can't remember how. If you link arches together it certainly gives them a better chance.

I think you will have a wobble issue with blue pipe unless you can get tall sturdy rods (possibly reinforcing rods) for it to go over, then chicken wire as already mention.

[Yasai]

Sorry, I am not Mallly but I will give my opinion

Thanks for the reply. By "channeling Big Mallly" I meant trying to be resourceful, creative and, ultimately, knock up something useful for the garden rather than go buy a finished construction; just like BM would do. It wasn't a question directed solely at BM so I appreciate your input. Yeah, I have my doubts about their robustness, too. I may try them this time round and keep an eye out for anyone giving away pipe that might be usable in future. I finally tracked down cpvc over here and it ain't cheap. My garden ( and my next door neighbour's) is full of blue pipe that I got off Freecycle, so you never know your luck.