I originally designed this squash arch for my garden way back in 2010. It turned out even more beautiful than I imagined, and it’s been the main centerpiece in my veggie patch ever since.
It’s also become an internet sensation, with hundreds of thousands of shares, and tons of people have built one of their own! If you want to add one to your garden, below I’ll give you exactly what you need to make your own.
How I Designed This Squash Arch
When I first set out to design this project, the biggest challenge I had was constructing an arch that would be strong enough to support the vines once they became heavy with squash.
I knew I wanted to use metal garden fencing, but that alone isn’t strong enough to hold up, especially around the top of the arch. So I came up with a design that uses PVC piping to support the fencing.
To make it tall enough, I needed two pieces of pipe for each side. I glued them together using a special PVC glue, and then weaved them into the fencing.
Once my squash arch was up, I spray painted the PVC black to make it look like metal. You can paint it any color you want, be creative.
Just make sure to use a plastics spray paint, and do it before you plant any seedlings so they don’t get sprayed with paint.
Planting Your Squash Arch
My favorite types of squash plants to grow on my arch are Sugar Pie Pumpkins, Butternut, and Delicata. But you could choose any variety that you want, as long as it’s not a bush-type.
Once you have your arch set up, you can plant your squash on the inside or the outside of the arch, that doesn’t matter. I have mine in a raised bed, so I plant the squash on the inside of the arch.
And, if you’re not a squash person, you could grow any type of vining, climbing plant that you want to on this arch – it doesn’t even have to be a vegetable.
Amazing right? Who knew squash could be so gorgeous. I’m super excited about this arch, I absolutely love it! So many people rave about it, and want to make one for their garden.
Well, the great news is that you can get my detailed step by step instructions to learn exactly how to make one!
So, if you love my unique DIY squash arch design, and want to build your own, click the button below to download the full plans and instructions today!
Interested in building your very own Squash Arch?
Click the “Buy Now!” button to purchase your step-by-step instructions.
Building A Squash Arch – Step-by-Step Instructions
More Posts About Squash
- How To Trellis Squash For Growing Vertically
- How To Grow Winter Squash
- How To Grow Summer Squash
- When & How To Harvest Squash
- How To Hand-Pollinate Squash For Maximum Production
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- How To Make Sturdy DIY Tomato Cages
- How To Build A Pea Trellis Arch
- 20 Excellent Trellis Plants For Your Garden
- 15 Types Of Vertical Gardening Systems & Supports
- How To Build A DIY Greenhouse
Leave a comment below and let me know what you think of my squash arch design.
Fred Reeve says
What size pipe did you use for this? Thanks.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I used 1/2″
Carrie McColl says
I used a cattle panel to make an arch for my garden, seems to be working well but I really like the idea of the woven fence , we always have a section left over from fencing around here… it will be put to good use this time. I use it mostly for melons , I will do some winter squashes this way this year. Great timing as I am getting ready to plant everything.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome Carrie! I love it!
Julee Celeste says
What a super idea, and so decorative, too! When my husband and I finally close on the house we’re buying and I am able to plant a garden, I will definitely be building a squash arch. Thanks for posting it!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great! Congratulations on your new house and garden.
Amy
Sue Gilmore says
It looks beautiful–and the arch looks big enough to walk under. I think it would be so lovely with roses too!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, I made the arch tall enough to walk under. Though it could be a bit taller for my husband, he has to crouch down a bit. 🙂
Help! Mama Remote... says
Looks absolutely amazing!!!! I can't wait until next year now.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thank you! I can't wait to see pictures when you build your own squash arch. 🙂
Amy
LindaCTG says
Fabulous! I'm going to try it. It was just so great to meet you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great! If you end up building it, I would love to see pictures. It was great to meet you too!
Amy
wheatberri says
Amy,
Thanks so much for your inspiration!
My husband and I have reclaimed an abandoned city lot for our veggie & herb garden this year, and we constructed a squash arch for it today, based on your blog.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope it holds up…time will tell 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this. It will hold up, and you will love how it looks when it's covered by squash vines.
Anonymous says
I made this today – thanks for the inspiration! Did you plant the squash inside the arch or outside? Do you think it would work to plant them in pots on the outside and train them up the arch from there?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh fantastic!! I'm so excited! You are so welcome, thanks for letting me know. I planted the squash seeds both on the inside and the outside of the arch, staggering the seeds, You could probably do pots, but they should be pretty large. Good luck!
Cheryl says
Use a dusting of diatomaceous earth around the stems of your squash. That should take care of the borers.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great tip Cheryl! Eggshells would work too… Eggshells as Organic Pest Control
Amy
Kelly says
Love this beautiful arch! Does the PVC come rolled up or in straight pieces?
Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Kelly,
Thanks, glad you love it! The PVC comes in straight pieces, you can find it in the plumbing section at HD or Lowe's.
Crystal says
Can you give the specs on the PVC? I have been thinking of trying this, love how your arch adds interest to the garden!
Amy Andrychowicz says
The PVC I used is 1/2". Basically, I took a piece of the fencing to HD with me to see what size of PVC would fit. So, if you use a different type of fencing to build your arch, the diameter of the PVC might be different for you.
Nancy says
Amy,
Love all the wonderful ideas! The tubing you used is called “FlowGuard.” Home Depot sells it in 10 ft. lengths. Here’s their description: Charlotte Pipe 1/2 in. x 10 ft. CPVC SDR11 Flowguard Gold Pipe. We’ve used it to make mini hoop houses for my eggplants and the potato grow bags, as Colorado Potato Beetles are rampant around here. After creating a base of larger rigid PVC pipe, we drilled 5/8″ holes all the way through the pipe and fastened the 1/2″ pipe by pushing it through the 5/8″ pipe and anchored it in the dirt. We covered ours with AgriBon to make it insect proof. Makes it very sturdy AND you can break it down and reconfigure it a number of ways.
Amy Andrychowicz says
That sounds great Nancy, thanks for sharing how you protect your garden from nasty potato beetles. Yuck!
Anonymous says
I'm a new follower and I've seen many design's for trellising squash and the like and this is the 1st one that has actually jumped out at me. It's to late for this year but next year I'll be in the know, I love your squash arch design. My cucumber's has over taken my bamboo teepee's this year and are going wild. Thank's for sharing this and have a great weekend!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi, thanks for the new follow! Glad you like my squash arch, I'm happy with the way it turned out. Isn't it fun when stuff starts to take off and grow like crazy. I figure in a week or two, it will be hard to walk through the vegetable garden. I love this time of year!
Susan says
I love, love, love this! Can't wait to try it next year. This summer I built a similar structure, but it was to protect blueberries and strawberries from the deer and rabbits. I used PVC pipe and wove it through chicken wire–thought it was an original idea! 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thank Susan! Funny, I guess great minds think alike! 🙂
sara montour says
I live in an apartment right now and am putting a garden on my roof this year. I was just thinking about building something like this for all of the squash I started; so glad I came across this post and can't wait to follow along and see how it works for you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
A garden on the roof, that sound very cool! Glad you found my post, and thanks for the nice comment! Good luck building your squash arch, I'd love to see your results too.
Amy
RandomGardener says
What kind of squash are you thinking of planting on them? Zucchini/yellow squash that I plant are bushes.
Amy Andrychowicz says
All of the types of squash I have are vine varieties. Let's see, I have delicata, butternut, pumpkin, acorn, sweet dumpling and I think I have a zucchini too. It's going to be a full arch (I hope)!
Amy
Janette Porter says
Can you use orange snow fence instead of metal mesh? It can be doubled.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wouldn’t. I don’t think the plastic snow fencing would be sturdy enough for building the squash arch, and the center of the arch would likely collapse.
Cindy tilley says
Would spaghetti squash work?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it will work with any type of squash that is a vine (rather than a bush) variety.
El Gaucho says
I've used this method before with cucumbers and squash and it works really well. Pumpkins need extra support so that they don't rip off the vine when they get too heavy but you can just use some old clothes or fabric scraps to "swaddle" them for extra support. Good luck, I'm eager to see your results.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for the tip about swaddling the pumpkins. I will definitely try that if the variety of pumpkins I have get large.
Amy
KathleenW says
For smaller squash or melons, you can use an old bra! I did it this past summer and it worked perfectly for my Uzbekistan melons. Pumpkins I guess would be too large, hee hee! But it would be easy to use a long sleeve shirt by pinning the cuffs together along with a pinch or two of the hem, pinning all together up at the top of the frame to make a cradle for the pumpkin. Nice blog, thanks for the squash arch instructions!
Kimberly May says
Ha hahahahahaha! I can’t wait to use my old bras on this project!
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, love it!! You better send me some pictures! 🙂
Bruce Maynard says
how about using mesh bags for support?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I think mesh bags would work great for swaddling the squash that are hanging down from the arch.
Tyra says
I use Pantyhose !!!
Mita says
Or recycle some old mesh bags from when you buy fruit or veggies at the grocery store. If you don’t have them, ask friends for them.
Mita says
And then I saw your comment! LOL!
Linda says
cut the leg off old nylons. Place fruit/vegetable that needs support into leg and ties to trellis… works great to suspend/support squash growing vertically.
Louis Dugas says
For those of you living near a fishing community, try a supplier of fish net, they would most likely give you the left over trimmings.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great idea!
Kelly says
I had some of my pumpkins climbing last summer and I sat 5 gallon buckets or outdoor tables under them for support. I am planning my garden and am blogging on this very topic soon — thanks for the ideas! I’ll be putting a link to your article in my post…and it looks like you have TONS of great posts to dig through — Hooray!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great idea! Thanks for the link back. 🙂
Michael Moore says
I think this is a great idea, and I bet it helps with vine borers too.
Do the squash and pumpkins climb it themselves, or do you have to continually train them on it?
I look forward to seeing the results.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks! I don't think my squash arch will help with the borers, but that's what the raised bed is for. I dig out the borers when I notice damage. Then I add some dirt to the bed, burying the borer damaged part of the vines. The squash plants will grow new roots as the stems are buried with dirt. I did this last year, and it worked great! I was harvesting squash until the cold killed the plants.