When it comes to gardening, one of my biggest influences is my nonna (Italian Grandmother). She utilizes all the space that she has, and she doesn’t grant aesthetics any undo importance. (Her garden is the one place where appearances don’t matter to her.) She has a cucumber plant growing in a mini bed on the plot of grass between the road and the sidewalk and tomatoes and fava beans flourishing in the flower bed beneath her front windows. It doesn’t matter to her that vegetables are traditionally absent from view from the road. She’s taught me to value functionality in gardening above all else.
So when it comes time to give my beans something to grow up, I don’t waste money purchasing a trellis. Instead I create my own, using materials we have on hand. My father and I keep a collection of sticks, that we collect when they fall from trees during storms; these sticks plus some twine make a perfectly functional trellis.
To make the trellis, plant the beans (or other vine/ creeper) in two long rows. Then place a row of sticks on the outside of each row and one row of sticks between the rows. Then weave the twine around the sticks to create a web, on which the beans can grow. Some people might describe my trellis as trashy or cheap, but I adore its old country, rustic appeal. Besides, when the beans begin to take over, the trellis will disappear into one giant bean bush.
How do you feel about store-bought trellises versus DIY? Do you plant vegetables in your flower beds, or other unusual places?
very functional indeed! I have a bunch of small vines which are already needing support, and was wondering how I could raise them upwards in an aesthetically pleasing manner. This is brilliant! Thanks for the tip!
You’re welcome. It’s super easy, and you don’t have to weave the twine all the way to the top right away, you can add to it as the vines grow
Love your garden helpers, too!
Hehe, thank you. Neither were particularly helpful, although the company is always welcome.
We have a couple of similar garden helpers. They’re excellent diggers, if nothing else.
Yes! And seedling tramplers. They are good at that too.
I think that’s awesome. Functionality all the way! I also love your Nonna’s attitude about gardening.
It’s the one thing she and I can agree on. One day, I’m sure there will be tomato plants in my front yard, but for now we have enough room out back
ha, that’s funny. No one SAYS you have to do it that way… I guess she figures if it grows well there, well, let it grow!
haha that’s exactly what she figures. She also won’t pull out plants that grow back from last year, even if they’re in the way.
I love this. I think it would be great for my cucumbers.
It definitely works for cucumbers! I’ll do it for them too, when the time comes!
I love the natural look to your garden. Being in the city it is hard for me to find sticks to do this sort of thing. So I use store bought metal cages instead. Otherwise, I think that I’d rather do something similar to what you are making here.
Thanks! I think it’s pretty nifty, but I do know not everyone agrees!