New veggie trellis
We love morning glories on the two trellises in the raised bed area. I almost gave up on them after our first year’s lackluster attempt, but everything was awful that year, before we figured out our irrigation situation. Since then the morning glories have been gloriously true to their name. It also helps that I soak the seeds for two days to soften them before planting!
Although I had forgotten actually doing it, it appears this year in addition to the normal morning glories, I also planted some beans on one side of one of the trellises. Montana and I love the way those beans just hang from the inside of the arch! So we decided since we had a few extra cattle panels and a little extra space in the middle of the garden that we needed a new cattle panel trellis next year just for vining veggies.
Today Steve and I manhandled two slightly bent unused cattle panels into place. Steve hammered in some stakes so the panels would keep their arch (a little trickier than last time, when we were bending the panels between two raised beds.) We added zip ties to hold the two panels together, which also helped maintain the arched shape.
Steve quickly tilled up each side so we could prepare the dirt a little for spring. I lugged compost to add to the dirt (where are the photos of that?) and broadcast winter rye seeds. Then we another layer of compost and water water water.
Steve will use his evil chemicals to kill the grass/weeds under the arch, and we will fill it with mulch so I don’t have to try to mow through the trellis. Fun addition for Garden ‘26!
This is the inspiration for the new trellis. I bought bean, cucumber, and mini gourd seeds so we can try them all out next year.
I swear we can do anything with cattle panels except fence in cattle!
Never met a zip tie we didn’t like.
These little steel “candy cane” style spikes are awesome - we use them for all sorts of projects. I got them on Amazon!
This time of year we do tiny bits of tilling at a time. One bed, one little area. So Steve leaves the tiller out in the garden. This unit works pretty good - two little passes, and then Steve rakes out the grassy/weed clumps.
This trellis is going to be pretty cool. And hopefully those grapes to the right will actually GROW next year! They haven’t died, but they also haven’t thrived.
Richly composted, winter rye seeds planted and watered!
This season isn’t even over, yet projects like today’s really get me dreaming about next year’s garden!
How can I resist taking a few more pictures of those baskets? I am so afraid we will come back from our trip next week and they will be gone.
