I am going to try and trellis my melons this year. I live on a farm and we have several old rusted gates that I was going to use for trellises since they will be able to hold the weight.

My question is should there be any concern about the rust on the gates when it comes to consumable crops? I've added a photo of what I am going to use.

I wouldn't worry about the rust at all - cool idea!

Great idea! Post photos (on this thread) when your melons get going. I want to see...

One concern: Those are old stock gates. You may have to find some rusty hog wire to mount on the gates to get the melons to climb.

In Oregon everything has that special patina uh... rust. Be sure to wear gloves, some rusts can cause tetanus. Same from working in horse manure..I recycle horse manure a lot in my garden. my vet said its always a good idea if working around manure or oxidized metals . Rust is a bacteria and to be sure your up to date on tetanus or booster. Rust is not toxic to plants it is naturally in soils which gives it a distinctive reddish color.

The fencing will make a great trellis. Recycling is always a great way to go. Good luck.

Rust will not cause tetanus. It is oxidized iron not a bacterium. Horse manure can have tetanus bacteria in it as can most soil. Fortunately most of us have been immunized by vaccination.

Thank you to all who replied. Here is ultimately what I came up with. I drove 1/2in rebar about 2 to 3 foot into the ground to support the gates. I cut and attached wire fencing so that vines could more easily grow. Now to plant!

Nice work!

it looks great!!

ScottJeff... looks like it will work and perhaps adding smaller wire for the tendril to climb up on...then it will roll thru the larger areas better.

Keep us posted as they grow.

ScottJeff, That looks great!

Bumplbea, you don't think the hog wire on the gates is enough?

The hog wire is plenty good enough. We use that around here with nothing extra and it works. The gate is in the middle of several rows of the hog wire as well so it will have that to attach to as it goes up.

It looks top heavy...
Get weight on those gates... A little wind... Over they go!

Suggest sturdy posts on each end before planting.

Those metal posts should work.... Or maybe some nice locust / osage orange?

People up in east TN use a lot of honey locust for that kind of thing... Not sure about Nashville area... You may have to stick with cedar...

ScottJeff said:

Hmmm...

Do y'all board horses?

Here is a small update. Obviously no fruit yet. The hardest part has been training the plants. But it seems to be working.

Looks good!

The end result is great.