I have a special affinity for pumpkins. Maybe it’s because I’m a fall baby or because I love making pumpkin pie from scratch, but there’s just something about those cute orange gourds. They’re one of my favorite vegetables to grow (and turn into pie!) because they’re really quite easy to care for. The only problem with growing pumpkins, though, is how much space they require.
Most people don’t have a whole field to dedicate to just one crop, which is often what pumpkins need. Even the compact bush varieties I grow end up consuming half my garden with their long, twining vines. Then I came across a simple solution to the pumpkin problem.
Last summer I built a cattle panel trellis for my pumpkins and freed up so much space in my garden, I struggled to fill it with other plants. Here are the top reasons why you should try growing on a DIY pumpkin trellis, plus some tips on how to do it.
Check out the C-Bite Monster Plant Support Kit in the Gardening Know How Shop. Give your tomatoes that support they need and save space at the same time.
Benefits of Growing Pumpkins Vertically
When I first saw a cattle panel arch online, I was impressed. This seemed like the ideal answer to the question of how to grow pumpkins vertically. Then I started seeing cattle panel trellises popping up all over town. As a gardening editor, I thought I better try this out for myself and see if it’s really worth the hype. It is.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of growing pumpkins vertically in your garden.
1. It’s beautiful
My DIY squash arch totally changed the look and feel of my garden. I was able to put in a path that leads through the center of my garden under the arch. Walking under the lush, green vines makes even mundane garden tasks like watering so much more fun. The vines growing on the arch also provide some much-needed shade in my totally sun-soaked garden.
2. It saves space
Incorporating an easy vertical gardening element in your landscape, like an arch, not only makes your garden look and feel bigger, but it actually increases the square footage. Two years ago, I grew four (supposedly) compact pumpkin plants. They were huge and filled up almost a quarter of my whole garden. Last year with my pumpkin arch, I grew six plants in about a third of the space.
Sure, the underside of the arch is shaded so you can’t grow any vegetables there. But instead you have a lovely path where you don’t have to worry about accidentally stepping on tender vines, like I did the previous year.
3. It keeps plants healthy
One of the biggest benefits of growing pumpkins vertically is that it can help prevent pests and diseases. Powdery mildew on pumpkins is often caused by overcrowding, but growing plants vertically provides plenty of necessary air flow. It also keeps rabbits and other small critters from nibbling on your plants.
This type of trellis also makes it really easy to examine your plants from every angle. I don’t have to worry about what pests or diseases might be lurking in the piles of foliage on the ground. I’m able to look over my pumpkins from both sides to make sure they’re healthy and the fruits are developing well.
4. It grows better looking pumpkins
I’ve tried growing pumpkins vertically using other methods. One summer I made an obelisk from timbers and chicken wire and another year I made a vertical trellis using branches and leftover metal fencing. But neither of those methods were able to stand up to the weight of the heavy pumpkin vines and fruit. They ended up collapsing or not being big enough to contain all the vines.
A cattle panel trellis, however, is rigid and strong enough to hold up my pumpkins without bending at all. If you guide your gourds through the holes in the panel when they’re small, it also helps fruit develop more evenly. There’s no flat, dirty side like you get when growing pumpkins on the ground.
Get the Look in Your Garden
Build a cattle panel trellis yourself with this simple step-by-step guide or buy a solid metal garden arch that provides the same benefits and beauty.
This arched trellis and raised bed bundle from Vego Garden comes with two durable metal beds and a large, sturdy arch that’s perfect for growing pumpkins. The Titan Squash Tunnel from Gardener’s Supply is a great budget option for money-conscious gardeners.
This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop. Keep in mind that our plant inventory is limited—so if you’re thinking of purchasing, don’t wait!
