Every year, as summer slips toward its golden end and the gourds begin dangling like ornaments from the arches of the gourd tunnel, I inevitably get questions from guests. They want to know two things: how the tunnel was built, and what is growing on it.
The second answer is easy. Nearly every season, I plant dipper gourds, which are delightfully eager climbers and happily scamper up and over the tunnel. On the outer edges of the raised beds, I like to tuck in leftover plants from other projects. This year’s patchwork included a whimsical Gaura, a bright green mounded sedum, and the ever-popular ‘Silver Falls’ Dichondra. A drip hose on a timer handled the watering, while a layer of mulch kept most of the weeds in check, though, as any seasoned gardener knows, weeds have a flair for the dramatic and will always make an appearance.
Now, on to the tunnel. The structure stretches a full 20’ x 16’, beginning with raised beds framed from sturdy 4×6 timbers. Into these, I dug two-foot-deep holes for 6-inch round fence posts, setting them in concrete to prevent the leaning and heaving caused by Ohio’s notorious freeze-thaw cycles. The arches were the real test of patience. Armed with a tree, an eye hook, and a questionable amount of determination, I hand-bent ¾-inch metal conduit into graceful curves. Once bent, the pieces were fastened together with metal cable ties. For the finishing element, I draped cattle panels across the top and secured them with more ties.
To my surprise, it worked beautifully, and the tunnel has stood proudly ever since. For home gardeners who want the look without quite as much wrestling, you can achieve a similar effect by using T-posts as supports and simply bending cattle panels into arches. It’s quicker, far less acrobatic, and every bit as enchanting once the vines take hold.
(Tip: If you plant a mix of gourds and climbing beans, you’ll get the same lush canopy plus a few tasty snacks along the way.)
Your Design Director,
Jordan
