# How to Stake Melons
Placing stakes in a garden to support melon vines helps keep the plants -- and fruits -- clean and disease-free by lifting them away from the ground and harmful insects. Even short-vined, bushy varieties of melons benefit from the support of a stake, especially when combined with the use of old pantyhose to bear the weight of the growing fruit. Stakes can be made of wood or metal, as long as they are at least 3 to 5 feet in length. It's helpful if they have holes or nubs for the vines to "grab" on to, as well.
Things You'll Need
- Mallet
- Stakes
- Twine
- Scissors
- Several pairs of old, clean pantyhose
Instructions
-
-
1
Hammer a stake firmly into the ground with a mallet. Make sure the stake is vertically straight and deep enough in the ground (usually 6 to 8 inches) so that it is sturdy if you place light pressure on it.
-
2
Repeat Step 1 for each stake, spacing the stakes evenly, approximately 1 to 2 feet apart, down the row where you will plant your melons.
-
3
Plant your melons, spacing them so they are at the foot of each stake.
-
4
Tie the vines up to the stake as they grow with small lengths of twine.
-
5
Clip off the feet of old, clean pantyhose, and place each growing melon inside a foot. Tie the end of the hose to the stake using twine.The thin mesh of the pantyhose will hold the weight of the melon and allow it to receive sunlight and air.
-
1
Previous:
Next:
Groundcovers & Vines
