I installed the cattle panel trellis shown below to grow cucumbers, cantelope, etc. Last year when I tried to grow these crops they were destroyed by cucumber beetles. The advice I got was to keep them covered with a floating row cover for the early stage of growth (until they begin to flower). So this was the plan. However, after I planted I couldn't figure out how to cover the plants but yet allow them to start climbing the trellis. I came up with a very labor intensive solution - I brought two pieces of row cover together on opposite sides of the trellis and took a needle and thread and sewed them together on the trellis and along the sides. (lower photo). I'm sure my neighbors thought I was crazy! I'll probably end up wishing that I had it a little higher. Anyway, this took a long time to do and I'm wondering whether anyone has come up with an easier solution to this problem. Please let me know as I am not looking forward to doing this much sewing in my garden every year!
{{gwi:145788}}June 1, 2012
{{gwi:145789}}June 1, 2012