I finished off the first set of 3 arches for the Morning Glory's I'll be growing using the Masonry Ladders. I did one complete set to discoverer and fix any problems before I tackled the rest of them and to watch it for a week and see if anything comes apart, bends or bows. The first and pretty much only problem so far turned out to be that one post per masonry ladder side was not going to hold them because these are a foot higher than the old ones so I used 2 posts per side and I might even put in a 3rd.

Treated 6' pickets for a privacy fence were for the border boxes which are 4' x 1'. I found cheap swiffer knock offs at the dollar tree in which the metal poles were the right height and the swiffer part came off easily. At one buck a pop it was the cheapest way to go.



For those not familiar with my MG Project for this year, I'm planning to grow 24 different cultivars of MG this year. Here is the key for what I'll be growing

I'm thrilled for you that you're growing all those Glories this year! I keep thinking the same thing....need to grow a LOT of different ones. I think it's the obsessive gene in me, coming out, huh? If I like something, then surely I need to grow ALL of them. I'm looking forward to seeing them in flower.

Lol .. I was hit by the MG Virus years ago .. it took just one, Double Blue Picotee with the mutant genes and I was hooked and have never looked back. I grow a minimum of 20 different cultivars/species each year .. Because of a severe rust problem I've been fighting for 4 years I finally said no more and had to think up a new way to grow bunches in virgin territory. Every other place I've grown them is infected with the rust spores and there is really no way to get rid of them since the spores aren't in the soil but in the surrounding area. I used to grow them in caged containers with a pot in a pot so each year all I had to do was lift the old pot and plop in a new one, a split rail fence and 3 large containers with pvc frame. Everything I'm using for the MG arches is brand spanking new so hopefully no rust spores are present.

Since the Passiflora isn't affected by this rust I'll turn the frame fence and cages over to them.

Here are pictures of the cages and frame & one end of the Split Rail

I've been happy with my perennial MG which is horribly invasive and most sane people out here would tell you not to grow it, but I don't have much trouble since the gophers and rabbits like it and keep it under control...plus it's much drier here...BUT, the MG bug has been calling to me so I think I will have to venture there and like you, see growing them individually with each in its own space. I won't even talk about the passiflora since I love them and really have not had adequate spots for them to grow on and would not be able to settle for just one. I'm being much more restrained now in not bringing something home unless I know where I can plant it and when you love the vines, well, you know...I brought p. quadrangularis home and finally lost it since it would have needed a really strong arbor. However, we will be selling and moving and one of my prime considerations will be building in supports for the climbers....like the vitis 'Roger's Red' which is still languishing in a large pot....sigh..

Thanks for sharing your pics....

The cages with pots in pots might be a way for you to go with your MG's and passies .. they really work out well and don't take up that much space

I've thought that also. The last couple of years I've been growing my French Filet beans in 5 gal pots and strawberries in pots...up on wire mesh tables that I have left over from doing the nursery...since I've been out cutting back stuff and weeding this a.m., I'm loving the stuff I have in trouble-free pots and raised to waist height....these were not considerations 5 years ago...lol..

They are really easy to put together .. just don't make a complete circle with the cage part or you'll have fits lifting the inner pots in and out. For the first month of growth you'll want to train the vines to go horizontally. I bury the pots half way into the ground which makes it easier to mow and trim around - plus the fact if you need to move the plant just lift the main pot and go where ever. It's a great system for plants the climb and vine and superb for growing tomatoes.

I've done the same sort of thing with this vine and very large pot that sits above ground.....


and my tomato cages stand in 15 gal pots...works quite well...

I haven't done anything that large .. yet ... but they sure do work out well and aren't too much of a pain to clean off like chicken wire.

I have to take a closer look at the vine on that wire...there's still green there, but some dead also. I had some surgery several months ago and a lot of stuff suffered under the DH's care...in his defense, he's not a gardener and there's a lot to take care of. It's a vigna caracalla, and now that I'm thinking of it, I think my seeds for that came from you 3-4 years ago....lol...

Xeramtheum, love those blue streaked MG. I got a pack of red with white on the outer rim seeds from Ace a few weeks ago. I am going to go back and see if the blue ones are still there. Mike

okay.. i've been trying to find something like this to make for my kids. I am looking to do a shorter one. How did you put yours together? I'd like it to be a hide out for them.. and an excuse to plant some more morning glories.. lol

I use a 12 gauge galvanized steel wire to put them together.

That sounds easy enough. Great idea!! I went to Lowes and couldnt find the masonry ladders.. any advice on where to get them. I possibly could have just missed them, I had my son along and was a bit distracted.

I've never seen them at Lowes .. I got mine at Home Depot next to the rebar. If your home depot doesn't have them then you can get them at masonry supply stores .. just check the phone book and call first.

thank u so much!

I haven't planted morning glories before, but I picked up quite a number of seed packets this year. I've been wondering how to support the climbing vines, and am so glad I saw this thread. Both the masonry ladder arches and the pots sunk into the ground look like great ideas. I've also thought of running 8' tall deer fencing between those tall, thin metal fencing posts. Question - how high do morning glories usually climb? Are the japanese morning glories shorter than the more familiar old-fashioned morning glories? About how high are your arches and in comparison, how high are the cages around the pots sunk into the ground? One more question - do you start your seeds indoors, or do you wait and just sow them directly into the ground (or pot) outside? I know, a lot of questions - Thanks! Terri

Hi, I've never noticed a difference in height of MG's and to be honest have never measured. My arches are a little under 6 feet tall from the ground to the top. The cages come up to about my hips, maybe 3 feet? with about half a foot buried. the MG seeds are always the last to be started indoors because they come up fast and want them in their permanent home before they get to the twining stage - a few weeks after true leaves start appearing.

Thanks for the feedback. MGs have captured my interest for a few years, and I've picked up seeds last year and this year, but haven't actually gotten started with anything yet. I'm hoping to do something with them this spring/summer, so the vine support ideas are most welcome.