anney,

You're over thinking it. There is no need to cut the vines.

You should never make a trellis more than a foot higher than you can reach. The vines will simply fall back down and climb up again. Voila!

Well, Violet, when I set that trellis up, I had no idea that Crenshaw vines would grow to be so tall, and I even asked here much earlier how long the vines would grow. Nobody seemed to know for sure. The 4-ft. width of the 8'-tall trellis was just right to fit into my 4' x 8' raised beds and keep most things growing upward without reaching the top! My Brandy Boys did over-top them last year but set no fruit that high. None of my melons climbed more than five feet. This year's different!

I've already planned to set the trellises up next year the long way -- 4' tall and 8' long. I can elevate the cattle panel about 2 feet on the stakes and have a 6-ft. height available for climbing plants or tomatoes.

But I'm still wondering about these Crenshaws. If the vines normally grow more than 12 ft. long, they'll eventually be crawling on the earth anyway if I give them 6 feet.

I grew them (Sugar Shaw) last year but on the ground with the vines inter-mixed making it difficult to tell just how long were the vines. But I would not bet against 10-12 feet. Of greater concern is the large size of the melons; certainly larger than my canteloupes. I wonder if these might be a problem on the trellis.

billv

Yes, the fruit-size is somewhat a concern. I grew Ambrosia cantaloupes last summer and they were heavy enough in the slings. Crenshaws are bigger and heavier. I guess I'll do SOMETHING to support them!

I'm guessing you will as well. On the bright side, the vines look great. Seem to take to climbing unless you have spent a lot of training time with them. I constantly fight cukes to climb a trellis they seem to not like. Good luck.

The Burpee Crenshaw is often 10 pounds.

If you don't want the vines sprawling on the ground, cut them off from the main stem. Problem solved. There will be no harm to the plant.

If you're worried about melons you can't reach, then cut off those female blossoms that are producing fruit with loppers:
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OR, just ignore them and let them do what they may or decide to borrow a step ladder from a neighbor to harvest.

Crenshaw or not, it doesn't matter what melon vine is in question or how long it gets. Whether it's an Asian winter melon, pumpkin, hubbard, cantaloupe, casaba, Santa Claus melon, crenshaw melon, honeydew melon, Persian melon, golden pershaw melon, mango melon, pineapple melon, snake melon, watermelons... (the list goes on) the length of the vine does not matter whether it's four feet or 80 feet. The vine will literally just go up, fall back down, and go up the trellis again. If you can watch stray vines every couple of days and weave them thru the trellis, they'll go up too. You can tie them with pantyhose rings you cut from an old pair of hose.

So long as the weight of the trellis can support the weight of the melon, then despite what many gardeners think, you do not need to create a hammock. The vine knows via nature's genius how thick the stem needs to be in order to handle the weight of the melon. I've had 40 and 50 pound winter melons hanging five feet off the ground off a solid wood pergola. So long as you harvest at the proper time, they shouldn't fall. But by all means, sling them if it makes you feel better.

Oh... and the key to Freecycle is patience and persistence. Don't ever expect anything right away if you're looking for it (though you may be surprised).

For instance, I've known for a long time that I have plenty of use for any decent lumber I can get for free. So whenever it comes up, I try to respond as quickly as possible to the offer. Even if it's only a few pieces here and there, they accumulate over time - until I have enough to do what I want to with them.

Heck, you can even ask for old wood fencing material that people throw away all the time. Or you can use tree branches, the possibilities are endless.

Anney, I had also posted a thread somewhat like what Ya want know. I did wonder in years past, why my sprawling melons did better than my climbing ones, but sometimes its reversed? Your melons look great! Do you have the all male blooms problem like I do this year? Or visa-versa? and Good Gardenen to Ya, Ill sit back and read.......

BG

There seem to be more male than female blossoms, but there are plenty of females. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen as many melon blossoms as this year. Fortunately there are lots of pollinators visiting them during the day.

I'm glad to hear your unsupported melons have done well. I used to never stake anything but find now that less soil prep. is needed for concentrated beds and trellising than row-planting. I guess a lot of folks agree since it seems to be such an efficient and labor-saving way to garden. Still, there's something to be said for letting plants sprawl if you have the room.