If you are excited about growing a pumpkin archway today, then maybe it’s time to start thinking about securing your structure so it won’t fall down. Check out these mistakes to avoid when growing a pumpkin archway!
Pumpkins, even smaller varieties, are big plants. They are heavy and so your structure needs to be strong enough to support them. The last thing you want is the whole plant crashing down to the ground halfway through the growing season.
The two archways I use are from Amazon. They are fairly flimsy and have a ladder like structure, so extra support is very much needed. Pumpkins need something to cling onto in order to pull themselves up, such as garden mesh, chicken wire or even strong netting.
However, getting the structure right is the most important thing as this is your base for the pumpkin plants. It’s definitely worth spending some time on the main structure so as not to end up with a disaster later on in the year. It will be much harder to fix the structure once it has plants hanging onto it.
First of all, once you’ve constructed the archways, dig them into the ground as deep as their first horizontal ladder. This will not only add immediate strength but also ensure the archways are the same height!
Next I always think it’s best to add some chicken wire or garden mesh over the entire archway. Firstly, because pumpkins need something to cling onto, but also because the wire will act as a way of strengthening the structure and turning it from two archways, into one.
Now I’m not an architect, but I do know that one longer archway is less likely to fall over that a smaller thinner one!
To add more strength, try digging in some metal poles or canes around the legs of the archways and secure with cable ties or twine. Press them into the ground really deep and tie tightly!
You can also use pegs over the bottom horizontal ladders and even bricks to hold it down.
Once your structure is full of giant pumpkin plants, you may find it gets pretty heavy and can sway. Swaying isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes if a structure is too strong and unmoving, it can end up snapping or bending in strong winds causing irreparable damage. However, a little movement can actually stop it from being totally destroyed.
In terms of the pumpkins, smaller varieties such as Jack be Littles and Baby Boo don’t really need extra support. They are small enough to hang happily and not snap off. They are also light enough to not cause any bending of the archway.
To get them to hang through the mesh, gently pull them through the holes when they are little and then allow them to grow bigger once on the other side! If you don’t catch one on time, leave it to rest on the top of the mesh.
For this reason, it’s always a good idea to allow a little bounce in the mash wrapped around your archway. If it is pulled too tight, it can dig into the pumpkins causing grooves in their skins.
I hope this has given you some ideas as to how to create a strong pumpkin archway. Let me know any questions in the comments and happy Pumpkin growing!
