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Container Gardening

Spacing container cantaloupes under a trellis

18 years ago

I've never trellised cantaloupes before and am wondering what sort of space should be allowed for the foliage and fruit of each plant on a trellis.

I've planned to allow 2 feet of trellis width (height about 8-9 feet) for each plant, though the 5-gallon containers are not that wide. Will this be enough room for the vines (Ambrosia) when growing alongside the others? The vines grow to a pretty good length, 8-10 feet.

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Comments (7)

mea2214
18 years ago
I've been told that 5 gallon containers are too small to grow cantaloupes. I'm growing a honeydew melon this year and was told to stick with a 20 gallon container per plant.

I have the same question about the trellis though since this will be the first time I've grown these things.
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anney
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi, mea.

For the melons, each 5-gal. bucket has a large hole in the bottom through which the roots can grow down into the soil below, sort of like a raised bed. Theoretically it will work along the principles of square foot gardening -- "intense" spacing but with much attention paid to ensuring sufficient nutrients and moisture. The recommended space is one square foot per melon plant. Anyway, I'll report back on them after the season is finished.

The rest of the veggies that need support are tomatoes in self-watering grow-buckets.
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Digdirt, I guess I should specify that I am growing vertically in a limited space. So, I was planning to prune the laterals off of the cucumbers all the way up and then let laterals grow across and train it to go back down. But this is my first time with vegetables and I haven't read much on the cantaloupes. I had not planned to grow them, but my son made a request. So, I let him sow a few seeds in a container and they have been doing very well, although a bit early. Anyway, I will probably put it on a trellis as well. So, I didn't know if I should use the same method of removing laterals or just let it grow as it wants. This variety says that it will only produce around 6 small melons. To be honest my son will be pleased to just see a few, (he is only 10) and I just want to ensure that he gets at least 1 good one. Because it is in a container, I don't think that it will be likely to get more than that, so I was thinking that maybe I can direct the plants focus to just a few fruits and eliminate any excess growth. Again, I don't know anything about cantaloupes, so excuse me if my questions sound dumb. Yes, I'm blonde, but I have dark roots. ;-)
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The muskmelon family is subject to diseases, both of the roots and foliage. You shouldn't have too much difficulty with fungus diseases on leaves in Arizona (except during monsoon season), but you could have some problems with soil diseases. You might try a disease-resistant hybrid. We also have problems with aphids and whiteflies sometimes, but if the plants are healthy, usually there is not too great a problem (except in heavy white fly years). Soil salinity can also stunt or kill plants as the season progresses. Soil should be fertile, but avoid salty amendments like manure. If the plant you are growing in a container is the best-looking one you've had, maybe soil salinity is a problem. There is one part of my garden where I can't grow melons because of soil salinity. But if you successfully grow Armenian cucumbers (which are melons) there should be hope for you to get some "melon" melons too. Your muskmelon plants may not need as much water at your watermelon plants. Hope your container is large enough to support a mature plant through periods of restricted water (when ripeining). I have only grown smooth-skinned melons on a trellis. Can't vouch for netted melons, though I don't know why there would be a problem growing them off the ground, as long as there is a sling to hold them so they don't fall off when ripe.
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OUTofSPITE
18 years ago
I grew a cantaloupe in 2004. I used a tepee trellis and a 20" pot.
Here's the vine-
{{gwi:31080}}

When the melon got larger, I used a piece of cheesecloth as a hammock to support its weight.
{{gwi:31081}}

I was afraid the weight of the melon would bring the vine down.
{{gwi:31082}}

There wasn't enough time in the growing season for the 2nd melon to get larger & ripen, so I only ended up with one.
{{gwi:31083}}

It was a beauty!
{{gwi:31084}}

Here it is... just before eating.

{{gwi:31085}}

It was very juicy but it didn't have much flavor. But it tasted good anyway, 'cuz I grew it! LOL!
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mea2214
18 years ago
LOL. Getting one melon out of a plant does not inspire me at all to plant this honeydew melon seedling I have under lights right now. Last year I grew cucumbers in containers and had so many that I couldn't give them away fast enough. I kind of hoped that this melon seedling would produce more than one!
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anney
Original Author
18 years ago
mea

Melon plants produce 2-5 melons per plant -- that's all.
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jleek
18 years ago
mea2214 --I grew hubbard squash one year going up my pine tree. Something else also. They grew fine but sure did look funny. Tasted great. Never thought of cukes in a container, perhaps that will be a first for me this year.
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mea2214
18 years ago
Last year was a first for me with cucumbers too. I was too lazy to trellis them. They kind of grew on the rooftop and hung over the edge of the building. They did extremely well even though my soil was poorly aerated per that other article about container soils so these plants must be extremely hardy. Every week my refridgerator filled up with cucumbers from only 2 plants.

I put up a pic of one of last year's cuke plants taken on June 26 in the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:31079}}
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