Growing Tomatoes, Cucumber, Beans and even Cantaloupe -- vert

[LenoraForest]

Thanks. I love your videos.

[markhess]

@LenoraForest Thanks! glad you enjoyed it! - Mark

[ZennLa13]

Aaaah, such a cool idea for the canteloupes!

[markhess]

@ZennLa13 one of my best accidental discoveries! - Mark

[4micaman]

Great tip for caging the cantaloupe since I suffer the same affliction you do... small garden space. Thanks a lot!

[markhess]

@4micaman funny, now that I have 22 acres to play on, I was telling my wife that I think I am going to go back to growing my cantaloupe in cages as I did when I was space confined. They really seem to do much better, ripen better and less pest damage. One of my best accidental discoveries! - Mark

[4micaman]

@markhess The old me, would be envious of your acreage. ;) I'll just keep doing what I have to do, until I can do what I want to do. If that involves cantilevering my cantaloupes, then, so be it. XD Peace ~Anthony

PS, I'm still grateful you share, all that you share.

[ButterflyDragon9]

@markhess

Yes, that's the way to do it. Plus, makes weeding so much easier.

[nothingtoyouatall]

iv'e also seen people suspend the fruit in a netting bag , leggings or pantyhose. i'd probably be worried about the fruit rolling off the plank during a storm or high winds.

[markhess]

@nothingtoyouatall I've used pantyhose before and that worked well too; the planks were and after-thought that served as a quick fix that actually turned out to work better for me. The wind could be a concern as you mention; hasn't been an issue yet. - Mark

[antonios1024]

what a awesome idea with the cantelope thanks

[markhess]

@giantart Had I designed it better, that would have been a great idea. Unfortunately, I had the tops of the 1X1s screwed into the trellis frame to prevent them from blowing/falling off. Now, I just sink the 2 end posts of the trellis frame into the ground so the trellis is completely vertical. This seems to work best so far. - Mark

[hatstalker]

Tomatoes, just use 6foot bamboo canes and string. Cheap and cheerful and lasts for about 5 years.

[superfishle]

Really like your vids, very creative use of space, but I must say that for me, four fruits from a plant of that size equals "not worth growing" lol

[markhess]

@superfishle :) I agree (mostly) I do grow cabbage and things like that that only produce one item. However, I suppose I should have mentioned that while that was the 4th cantaloupe I gathered from that cage, I got a lot more, else it would be too much trouble. Also, each cage contains 2 plants (or should) so you get a lot more fruit for your effort

[superfishle]

@markhess Ah I see, well that tips the balance then! =)

[Itsjustbeau]

I used the stocking idea last year on a livestock fence panel and was able to grow some huge melons. Like your idea though.

[markhess]

@Itsjustbeau I have done that before too. I think, but of course I am biased, that this way is a little easier. Try them both and let me know what you think! - Mark

[Itsjustbeau]

I use the stocking idea last year on a livestock fence panel and was able to grow some huge melons. Like your idea though.

[Souls4Freedom]

Great Info all around ~ Thanks.

[graiminy]

Lol. It's such a love/hate situation when you've already harvested food from a plant that will last you a while and the plant keeps producing more food. I always feel rushed to eat what I have so what I'm growing does not rot while it's waiting.

[ballhitch2]

cantalope cantalever. you should patten that. very good

[markhess]

@ballhitch2 :) Thanks! It actually worked pretty well; I've used it on other stuff too.

[DreidMusicalX2]

How long does it take for a cantaloupe to get ripe? Mine just stared growing fruit and it snow about as big around as a baseball. I have it on a trellis also thinking they were my cucumbers? lol! NOT! haha!

[12quillemall5321]

I use old stockings to support my cantaloupes and watermelons, instead of the wooden planks. All you have to do is wrap the fruits in the stocking and tie it to the supports.

[markhess]

@12quillemall5321 I've done that before as well; that works good too! - Mark

[fatturdburger]

Why bother weeding, take away the weeds & bugs that could have eaten weeds will just eat you plants.

[markhess]

@fatturdburger the weeds will compete with my plants for nutrients; I actually, plant host plants for habitats for the good bugs that eat my bugs! You are thinking correctly! - Mark

[fatturdburger]

@markhess The weeds keep the ground covered & stop soil erosion & help to stop nutrient & mineral loss.

If you completely cover the ground with lettuce & poppys then you get no weeds & the poppys stop slugs eating the lettuce & you get loads of lettuce.

If you don't use all the lettuce you can give it away or leave it as ground cover or turn it in ike green manure.

[markhess]

@fatturdburger weeds don't stop nutrient & mineral loss, they cause it by absorbing the nutrients & minerals in their roots versus the crops you are growing. I do plant my lettuce in wide rows just for the very reason you mention, they crowd out weeds. Dick Raymond's book, "The Joy of Gardening" is great source about growing things in wide rows, creating a living (eatable) mulch, that prevents weeds. - Mark

[fatturdburger]

@markhess ok

[ilikealicia]

webcajun FTW!

[xxnoangelxx]

Thanks to you I am growing cantaloupe this year. The cage is doable as I also have limited space.

[markhess]

Cages work very well for cantaloupe; I actually stumbled upon this idea by accident when a volunteer melon grew in a tomato cage!

[yesmagic]

I had four straight necked squash in tomato cages and they produced lots and lots of clean fast growing fruit.

[markhess]

ahhh, I had not thought of trying this with squash! Great idea!

[yesmagic]

I was going to give up growing cantaloupe this year ,.but thanks to you I don't have too.

THANK YOU!!

[CanKaraoke]

What is a diameter of the metal wire case support that you have? thanks

[markhess]

Sorry for the slow response!! The diameter is approx. 2 feet and the cages are made out of concrete reinforcing wire.

[crewlla]

make sure the wood is not presure treated or has paint on it.

[markhess]

Michele, yes that is always good advice. I try to buy raw, untreated lumber to use. My trellis for my cucumbers is made from scrap wood that is untreated. By the way, I see you are from Calgary - I am writing this response from Calgary right now (go home this weekend)! Beautiful city but snow in June is a bit much for us gardeners!!

[Hopefl1]

How are you tieing the cantaloupe vines in the cage. I have to grow mine this way because of space.

[markhess]

Actually Steve, I didn't have to tie them to the cages; they have tendrils that latched onto the cage themselves. I only support the fruit. Good luck; it worked great for me - I'm doing more this year! - Mark

[Hopefl1]

Yep. I see the tendrils and thanks for the reply. Just need to keep an eye on the white powder that got on them including my cucumbers and zuchinni. Removing bad leaves and spraying with milk.

[MadBadVoodo]

Five Stars!!

[veryfuck]

i only just found out that tomatoes are poison if they are green just like potatoes.

[markhess]

Tomatoes and potatoes are in the same family and I know that tomato leaves are poisonous, however it doesn't seem to stop the deer from eating them. Fried green tomatoes are very popular here in the south; in fact, I had some last week without any ill affects. Perhaps the cooking changes something.

[WoundedEgo]

A tomato is a fruit. A potato is a root. Related?

[markhess]

Ironically, even though a tomato and pepper would be considered a fruit, while a potato is considered a vegetable, they all are in the Solanaceae or nightshade family along with eggplants.

[ericaj119]

can you grow watermelon like that??

[markhess]

Actually, I bet you could; especially, some of the smaller "ice box" watermelons. Perhaps I will try that next!

[ericaj119]

thanks i'll try it out with sugar babies

[webcajun]

Enjoyed your video Mark, garden looks great.  It's been raining down here in Louisiana for the past 3 weeks and it's starting to take its toll on the plants. Today was the first day I could get back in there. Couldn't get very much done because ...... you guessed it, rained again.

[markhess]

Same thing here Donald!! Rain, rain, rain . . . Of course, if you hear me complaining about rain in Georgia I deserve to be slapped :) However, a short dry spell would be nice so I could get back in the garden a little!

[anne2matthew]

very nice :)

[beutifullady]

Nice cantaloupe!! I was thinking about trying tomatoe cages next year on my cucumbers. Thanks for sharing.

[markhess]

I have been thinking of breaking down and actually buying a net trellis; I may do this next year for my cucumbers. It would be easier to cultivate around. If not, I may do the tomato cages for my cucumbers too. That would probably work just as well too