DIY Network

Squash Savvy and Trellis Tutorial Squash Savvy and Trellis Tutorial From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-201

Host Joe Lamp'l begins this episode by talking about the vegetables he is planting today: spaghetti squash and gourds (figure A). Since both of these vegetables grow to be fairly large and heavy, trellises are going to have to be used during the growing period. Joe builds two trellises, one for the squash and one for the gourds he's getting ready to plant.

Figure A

The finished trellises: complete building instruction can be found below!

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1. Squash is a very diverse group of vegetables that includes summer and winter squash.

• Winter squash has a hard shell and comes in lots of sizes and shapes.

• Spaghetti squash differs from the rest because the meat inside comes out like spaghetti noodles when it's cooked. Spaghetti squash grows and matures slowly, taking anywhere from 75 to 100 days to ripen depending on the variety you choose. Unlike summer squash, which is picked young and tender, spaghetti squash grows until the skin gets tough and thick. The hard skin is what makes this squash last a long time after it's harvested and also what makes it difficult for pests to get inside. This is important because spaghetti squash matures on the vine for a long time.

2. Squash are very heavy because of their size. They're mostly water, which adds to the weight. Since spaghetti squash ripen for so long, one vine can have 20 to 50 pounds of fruit at a time. To support all of this, you need a heavy-duty trellis that'll hold up all season.

3. Squash and gourds can be grown as annuals in zones 3-12 under the right conditions; check with your cooperative extension service or with a local garden center to determine which varieties and growing methods are best for your climate.

For all the materials and tools you'll need, see the lists below.

Digging holes isn't an easy job, but posthole diggers can help you get it done in less time.

Materials
Three 4x4 pressure treated posts, 10' long
Two 6' pressure-treated 2x4s
5-gallon bucket
Bag quick-setting concrete
Two 8' pressure-treated 2x4s
3" rust-resistant wood screws
28 rust-resistant eye hooks
Roll of heavy-duty plastic-coated wire or edger cord

Tools
Posthole diggers
Shovel
Pliers
Measuring tape
Laser level
Hammer
Post level
Pencil

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

1. The first step in this project is to install the posts, and that means digging holes. Make a hole at the center of the bed and one at each end of the bed. Bury 2'-3' of each post so they'll be really sturdy. Each of the holes has to be the same depth or the posts will be different heights. Use a measuring tape to get them even.

2. Once the holes are dug, place one post in each (figure B). Use the post level to get them plumb. Once they're where you want them, start backfilling the holes with dirt. Tamp down the dirt with the handle of the shovel, making sure there are no air pockets.

3. If the soil in your garden is so loose that the center post won't stand up, you can set the post in concrete: put the post in a bucket and then pour concrete around the post to make a moveable support (figure C).

4. To support the side posts, attach a 2x4 to the bottom corner of the planting box using a 3" wood screw (figure D). Then angle the board to the post to form a triangle. Attach the 2x4 to the post with three wood screws and then go back and add two more wood screws to the base. Add another support brace to the other end of the bed. A trellis full of foliage acts like a sail in a storm: make sure any trellis you build is supported to hold up under heavy winds and rain.

5. Screw the 2x4s across the tops of 4x4 posts using the same 3" wood screws you used for the side supports (figure E). Two or three screws per post are enough.

6. Once the boards are up, you're ready to install the trellis wires. Eyehooks are a fast and inexpensive way to secure the wires (figure F). Mark where you want each wire to go using a laser level so that the hooks will line up. There'll be seven on each side, starting from the top. The hooks screw into the wood until all of the threads are buried and the neck of the hook is just outside the face of the wood.

7. Once all of the eyehooks are in place, install the trellis support wires (figure G), starting at the top and working your way down. Thread the wires through the first eye and tie off by wrapping the wire through the loop several times and then twisting it to secure it. Pull the wire to the corresponding hook on the opposite post and tie it off using the same loop and twist technique. Once all of the wires are in place between one side post and middle post, go the other side and repeat the steps.

8. Once the squash trellis is complete, build a second one for the gourds. Each trellis covers a whole bed. Once you've built one of these, it's easy to duplicate the process; you can you can use as many posts and wires as you need to fill the space. You could use redwood or cedar posts instead of pressure-treated pine; you could also substitute plastic mesh for the wire lines. Always choose materials you feel comfortable working with and types that you can find easily.