--- title: "1 Growing Plants Quotes By Mel Bartholomew" description: "1 Growing Plants quotes by Mel Bartholomew. Plus more from Mel Bartholomew and more Growing Plants sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/mel-bartholomew-27001_different-types_through-the-years-i-experimented-with-al_1778761.jpg" --- > [“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and inexpensive to use that it was almost ridiculous. Then I began growing all different types of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of-2/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/mel-bartholomew-27001_different-types_through-the-years-i-experimented-with-al_1778761.jpg) ## More by Mel Bartholomew > [“After many experiments, I found that three of my favorite ingredients made the perfect mix when combined in equal portions: 1/3 Peat Moss—Available at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/after-many-experiments-i-found-that-three-of-my-favorite-ingredients/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Installing a Vertical Frame MATERIALS To construct a vertical frame, you need: two 5-foot electrical conduit pipes (1/2-inch diameter); one 4-foot conduit pipe (1/2-inch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/installing-a-vertical-frame-materials-to-construct-a-vertical-frame/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“I recommend, especially at the beginning, that you plant only what you want to eat. Occasionally try something new, of course, but especially at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/i-recommend-especially-at-the-beginning-that-you-plant-only-what-you/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Keep in mind that we harvest many of the crops continuously, if possible. For example, a leaf lettuce is not allowed to wait until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/keep-in-mind-that-we-harvest-many-of-the-crops-continuously-if/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Attaching Vertical Frame Netting To attach the trellis netting to your frame, first hook the netting on the two corners. Next, cut the netting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/attaching-vertical-frame-netting-to-attach-the-trellis-netting-to/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“The second inexpensive material is wood lath, which is sold in home improvement centers. Believe it or not, they already come 4 feet long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/the-second-inexpensive-material-is-wood-lath-which-is-sold-in-home/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Did no one ever think, “Let’s just plant a few seeds every 3, 4, or 6 inches?” I guess it took someone outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/did-no-one-ever-think-let-s-just-plant-a-few-seeds-every-3-4-or-6/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large Think of these plants as if they were shirt sizes. Shirts come in all four sizes: small, medium, large,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/small-medium-large-extra-large-think-of-these-plants-as-if-they-were/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“TEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL SQUARE FOOT GARDEN METHOD 1. Location—Close to the House 2. Direction—Up, Not Down 3. Soil—Mel’s Mix 4. Box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/ten-major-improvements-to-the-original-square-foot-garden-method-1/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“So, let’s review how to figure volume. Volume is merely: area × depth = cubic feet. In other words, square feet (the area) times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/so-let-s-review-how-to-figure-volume-volume-is-merely-area-depth/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Now that the vertical frame has been constructed, it is time to add something for the plants to grow on. I used to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/now-that-the-vertical-frame-has-been-constructed-it-is-time-to-add/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“So, in summary, if plants should be thinned to 12 inches apart, plant one per square foot. If plants should be thinned to 6…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/so-in-summary-if-plants-should-be-thinned-to-12-inches-apart-plant/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“To make the vertical frame extra strong for watermelons, squash, and pumpkins, drive a steel fence post into the ground first instead of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/to-make-the-vertical-frame-extra-strong-for-watermelons-squash-and/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) > [“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of-2/) [Mel Bartholomew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bartholomew/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-plants/mel-bartholomew/#itemlist", "name": "1 Growing Plants Quotes By Mel Bartholomew", "numberOfItems": 1, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. Finally, I settled upon one that was so simple, easy, and inexpensive to use that it was almost ridiculous. Then I began growing all different types of plants vertically. I originally thought I would need to design some special way to hold up and accommodate heavier fruits such as winter squash and pumpkins, but as it turned out, these plant vines seemed to understand the situation; the stem supporting the heavy fruit grows thicker and heavier as the fruit becomes larger. If you have a framework and support that will hold the plant, the plant will hold the fruit; it is as simple as that! Mother Nature always seems to know best. Pea and bean netting can be stretched taut across a box frame and held in place by four metal posts. Plants will then grow up through the netting and be supported. Best Material I use the strongest material I can find, which is steel. Fortunately, steel comes in tubular pipe used for electrical conduit. It is very strong and turns out to be very inexpensive. Couplings are also available so you can connect two pieces together. I designed an attractive frame that fits right onto the 4 × 4 box, and it can be attached to the wooden box with clamps that can be bought at any store. Or, steel reinforcing rods driven into the existing ground outside your box provide a very steady and strong base; then the electrical conduit slips snugly over the bars. It’s very simple and inexpensive to assemble. Anyone can do it—even you! To prevent vertically grown plants from shading other parts of the garden, I recommend that tall, vertical frames be constructed on the north side of the garden. To fit it into a 4 × 4 box, I designed a frame that measured 4 feet wide and almost 6 feet tall. Tie It Tight Vertically growing plants need to be tied to their supports. Nylon netting won’t rot in the sun and weather, and I use it exclusively now for both vertical frames and horizontal plant supports. It is very strong—almost unbreakable—and guaranteed for twenty years. It is a wonderful material available at garden stores and in catalogs. The nylon netting is also durable enough to grow the heavier vine crops on vertical frames, including watermelons, pumpkins, cantaloupes, winter and summer squashes, and tomatoes. You will see in Chapter 8 how easy it is to train plants to grow vertically. To hold the plants to the frame, I have found that nylon netting with 7-inch square openings made especially for tomato growing works well because you can reach your hand through. Make sure it is this type so it won’t cut the stem of the plant when it blows against it in the wind. This comes in 4-foot widths and can easily be tied to the metal frame. It’s sometimes hard to find, so call around.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mel Bartholomew" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bartholomew/through-the-years-i-experimented-with-all-different-types-of-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/mel-bartholomew-27001_different-types_through-the-years-i-experimented-with-al_1778761.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/mel-bartholomew-27001_different-types_through-the-years-i-experimented-with-al_1778761.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/mel-bartholomew-27001_different-types_through-the-years-i-experimented-with-al_1778761.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Through the years I experimented with all different types of materials and frames. 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