There are many trailing vegetable varieties that produce an abundance of crops, even in compact spaces. Left to their own devices, plants such as pumpkins, watermelon and rockmelon can quickly sprawl across the garden and take up a lot of room. But if you’re short on space, you might be wondering — can you grow pumpkins in pots? Or can you grow pumpkins in small spaces? The good news is yes, you can! With the right variety and growing techniques, pumpkins can thrive in containers or small garden beds.
And if you’ve ever asked yourself, can you grow watermelons in a small garden? — the answer is also yes! With a bit of clever planning, these vigorous trailing vegetables can be trained vertically or contained in raised beds, producing an impressive harvest without taking over your yard. Read on for our top tips on how to make trailing crops like pumpkins, watermelon and rockmelon thrive in small or container gardens.
Firstly, let’s look at some of the most popular trailing varieties on offer at Fothergill’s:
- Watermelon
- Rockmelon
- Honey Dew
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin
These varieties have a few things in common: they’re all Spring and Summer sown crops that thrive in full sun and warm, frost-free weather. During the heat of summer, their growth can explode, quickly taking over an entire patch of your garden. But don’t worry, there are plenty of space-saving tricks to keep them productive in smaller gardens.
Train Along a Fence Line
This method is super simple, use a long fence line to guide your trailing crops. As stems begin to creep out onto the lawn, gently redirect them back towards the fence. Once the crop is established, prune any runners that grow beyond the fence if there’s no more room. For fast-growing varieties like pumpkins, you may need to do this every couple of days during the growing season.
Benefits of this method:
- No special equipment required
- Covers the soil, shading out weeds
- Quick and easy to manage
Check out this bumper crop Dana grew from her fence-line pumpkins last year!
Choose Compact Varieties
If space is really tight, select varieties bred for smaller gardens. Some favourites include:
- Sugar Baby Watermelon
- Patio Snacker Cucumber
- Golden Nugget Pumpkin
- Jack Be Little Pumpkin
These compact crops can be grown in larger tubs or containers, allowing their vines to spill over the edge and across sunny patios or garden beds.
Grow Vertically with a Trellis
Many gardeners think trellis growing is only for climbing beans and tomatoes but with the right setup, you can grow pumpkins and watermelons vertically too.
Tips for vertical growing
- Use strong materials such as galvanised steel mesh panels secured with star pickets or heavy-duty hardwood stakes. A common approach is to bend large metal mesh panels into an arch, securing each side with star pickets. Once covered in crops, this can become a fun archway to walk or sit under during the warmer months.
- Support heavier fruits as they develop. Fruits growing off the ground can break the vine if left unsupported. Use a small “hammock” made from old t-shirts, netting, or fabric shopping bags to cradle developing fruit.
Benefits of vertical growing
- Improved airflow reduces risks of diseases like powdery mildew
- Fruits are kept off the ground, protecting them from some pests
- Maximises garden space while creating a striking visual feature
We hope you give these ideas a go this year and enjoy the bounty that trailing fruit and veggies produce!
