This spring, we made a cattle panel arbor for our vining vegetables, and I LOVE IT. We used 3 cattle panels that we bought from the local farm supply store. They’re 16 feet long by 50 inches wide and somewhat bendable. Getting them home could become a feat in itself, but we bent them around the inside of our stock trailer.
Once home, we bent the panels into a U-shape and anchored the sides to the ground with sturdy stakes. I planted pole beans and cucumbers along the inside of the arbor and wound them through and around the metal squares to encourage their vines to grow up, instead of along the ground. I also found some hay that must’ve fell out of someone’s truck along the road and spread it on the dirt to discourage weeds.
Now, we are just enjoying the fruits of our labor. The kids and I enjoy walking through the arbor shade to pick the veggies that are hanging all along the sides. It’s co convenient!
Sable Creek Farm 