Melon Hammocks Can Save Your Harvest from Rotting, a Gardener Says

09.08.2024 - 11:25 / thespruce.com / Melissa Epifano

It's a huge bummer to see a nearly-ripe melon that's fallen to the ground or one that's developed an unsightly layer of mold from resting in the dirt.

Cultivating these summer fruits and getting them to reach their full maturity can be tricky, but there's one interesting tool that you might not have considered: a melon hammock.

You may have contemplated this netted swing for another part of your backyard, but probably not for the melon patch. However, this special kind of hammock fit for your fruit is just the support it needs from breaking off the vine or gathering up too much moisture on its underside.

Up ahead, a gardening expert explains the benefits of using a melon hammock, where to get one, and tips for using it in your patch.

Jo Parker is a gardening expert and founder of JoGrows, a site dedicated to helping other people understand their gardens and how to grow their own food.

A hammock for your melon sounds great, but what does this tool provide for your fruit?

Gardening expert Jo Parker says that the melon hammock is used to support the weight of the melon you are growing and therefore, prevents the melon from snapping off of the vine.

To use it, you'll wrap the netting around the fruit and it will take the heft off of the vine. It also holds the melon up off the ground.

These tools are a breeze to set up as well and only need to be hooked up to a trellis, fence, or bar overhead.

Amazon

This melon hammock from Belit is a gardener's favorite. It's made from sturdy nylon that's still «very soft» and «will not damage your fruit,» according to one reviewer.

Other customers mentioned that these hammocks are reusable through many growing seasons.

Using this thicker nylon rope hammock is also more durable