Ideas for melon slings? - Page 2

Rockporter · July 9, 2017

I have come up with a solution that works for me. I have seen photos of people using nylons to trellis with and the melons getting so big and heavy they tear the nylon and they have to find something else to use. I've seen the mesh onion bags like above but I don't buy bagged onions because it is only hubby and I here and wouldn't use them fast enough.

A few weeks ago I went to dollar tree and bought some of those bath scrubbies to make slings with to use on the cantaloupes on my trellis. They worked for a while but they also tore under the strained weight of the cantaloupes, I added more layers of those to keep the cantaloupes up on the trellis. It did work and I didn't lose any of them but I did lose the one watermelon I had growing on the other trellis, because it's support tore, and it fell to the dirt below.

I ordered produce bags off Amazon thinking they would be big enough to use them on the watermelon but they are not big enough. I thought I could go ahead and make three slings for one watermelon but they are just too small. These produce bags are not a loss because they will be perfect for cantaloupes and small squashes I trellis next season.

So, my final idea seems to be the best one of all. I cut some white knitted shade cloth and cut it into large oblong pieces 16.5" x 18" and folded each corner to add a grommet to them. The knitted shade cloth doesn't unravel when cut. Hubby and I then very carefully pulled the at least 10 pound sugar baby watermelon away from the trellis, being careful not to break the vine connection, and slipped one long side of the new sling between the watermelon and trellis then let the watermelon rest on it.

I carefully added a releasable zip tie to both corners and secured them to the trellis. We then moved onto the other side and secured the watermelon to the trellis. This left all five of the other supports I had to keep adding onto the watermelon as it outgrew them, or the support was tearing from the weight. These layers were really tight because the watermelon kept out growing them. Even the new produce bag sling was extremely tight on the bottom of the watermelon. So hubby lifted the watermelon slightly from the new shade cloth sling and I cut all the zip ties to the other supports and removed them all. Then he set the watermelon back down into it's new sling and it seems to be doing very well out there.

Now I have 6 more watermelons to sling up that are growing real well. Tonight we will do that, hubby is currently adding the grommets to the new slings I cut for them.

imp · July 9, 2017

For smaller melons, I have used pantihose, for watermelon or other large melons, an old T shirt, wire tied at two corners closely to the trellis, the other side ( neck and hem) sometimes tied to the trellis with two or three wire ties. twine to gape a bit, for the melon to be able to grow.

Rockporter · July 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by imp

For smaller melons, I have used pantihose, for watermelon or other large melons, an old T shirt, wire tied at two corners closely to the trellis, the other side ( neck and hem) sometimes tied to the trellis with two or three wire ties. twine to gape a bit, for the melon to be able to grow.

I searched and searched for the huge bag of old cotton t shirts I knew I had bagged up but could not find it. So, I either gave them away or threw them away making them unavailable to me. I was surely wanting to try that mode of support.

Worth1 · July 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockporter

I searched and searched for the huge bag of old cotton t shirts I knew I had bagged up but could not find it. So, I either gave them away or threw them away making them unavailable to me. I was surely wanting to try that mode of support.

Never ever throw old tee shirts away.
Their last duty here is shop rags.

Worth

Rockporter · July 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Never ever throw old tee shirts away.
Their last duty here is shop rags.

Worth

LOL, I asked hubby if he wanted them for shop rags, nope!

Rockporter · July 28, 2017

Update:

Picked the 17 pound sugar baby watermelon that hung very well on the trellis using my knitted shade cloth hammock.

Gerardo · July 29, 2017

I've got orangeglo, Ali baba and sweet siberian in need of support.

Tshirt it shall be.

imp · July 30, 2017

I am sure this has been said before in a different context, but them's some big melons!

July 9, 2017	#16
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	I have come up with a solution that works for me. I have seen photos of people using nylons to trellis with and the melons getting so big and heavy they tear the nylon and they have to find something else to use. I've seen the mesh onion bags like above but I don't buy bagged onions because it is only hubby and I here and wouldn't use them fast enough. A few weeks ago I went to dollar tree and bought some of those bath scrubbies to make slings with to use on the cantaloupes on my trellis. They worked for a while but they also tore under the strained weight of the cantaloupes, I added more layers of those to keep the cantaloupes up on the trellis. It did work and I didn't lose any of them but I did lose the one watermelon I had growing on the other trellis, because it's support tore, and it fell to the dirt below. I ordered produce bags off Amazon thinking they would be big enough to use them on the watermelon but they are not big enough. I thought I could go ahead and make three slings for one watermelon but they are just too small. These produce bags are not a loss because they will be perfect for cantaloupes and small squashes I trellis next season. So, my final idea seems to be the best one of all. I cut some white knitted shade cloth and cut it into large oblong pieces 16.5" x 18" and folded each corner to add a grommet to them. The knitted shade cloth doesn't unravel when cut. Hubby and I then very carefully pulled the at least 10 pound sugar baby watermelon away from the trellis, being careful not to break the vine connection, and slipped one long side of the new sling between the watermelon and trellis then let the watermelon rest on it. I carefully added a releasable zip tie to both corners and secured them to the trellis. We then moved onto the other side and secured the watermelon to the trellis. This left all five of the other supports I had to keep adding onto the watermelon as it outgrew them, or the support was tearing from the weight. These layers were really tight because the watermelon kept out growing them. Even the new produce bag sling was extremely tight on the bottom of the watermelon. So hubby lifted the watermelon slightly from the new shade cloth sling and I cut all the zip ties to the other supports and removed them all. Then he set the watermelon back down into it's new sling and it seems to be doing very well out there. Now I have 6 more watermelons to sling up that are growing real well. Tonight we will do that, hubby is currently adding the grommets to the new slings I cut for them. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~ Last edited by Rockporter; July 9, 2017 at 12:40 PM.

July 28, 2017	#21
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	Update: Picked the 17 pound sugar baby watermelon that hung very well on the trellis using my knitted shade cloth hammock. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

July 9, 2017	#17
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	For smaller melons, I have used pantihose, for watermelon or other large melons, an old T shirt, wire tied at two corners closely to the trellis, the other side ( neck and hem) sometimes tied to the trellis with two or three wire ties. twine to gape a bit, for the melon to be able to grow.

July 29, 2017	#22
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	I've got orangeglo, Ali baba and sweet siberian in need of support. Tshirt it shall be.

July 30, 2017	#23
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	I am sure this has been said before in a different context, but them's some big melons!