Can You Use Trellises for Growing Squash?

Members of the squash family, which includes cucumbers, melons and pumpkins, often form long, sprawling vines that take up room in the garden. Trellises provide one way in which to save space while growing squash.

Types

• Whether squash can grow on a trellis depends on the type of plant. Bush or determinate plants remain compact and cannot grow on a trellis. Vining or indeterminate types sprawl over large areas and will climb a trellis.

Benefits

• Squash vines that are to be trellised may be planted closer together, using more than one trellis if necessary, generating more yield on less land. Trellises also help keep the fruit off the ground, reducing the likelihood of rot. Leaves on trellised plants dry more quickly after rain or irrigation, decreasing the chance of fungal infection.

Considerations

• Pumpkins and some larger squash varieties are too heavy to grow on a trellis and must be grown on the ground, the University of Minnesota Extension notes. Mid-size fruits like melons, however, may benefit from extra support provided by a sling made of old rags or pantyhose.