How to Build a Trellis for Chayote

Mark off a 5-foot by 9-foot rectangular area in which to grow your chayote in full sun. Plan for the 5-foot widths of the rectangle to be the “entrance” to the tunnel area, and position the rectangle accordingly to make the entrance to the trellis accessible.

Drive the 4 U-channel posts 3 feet into the ground at each corner of your rectangular area. Drive the rebar pieces 2 feet deep every 2 feet along the 9-foot length of the rectangle. Leave the 5-foot sides of the rectangle open.

Lay the 2 pieces of cattle panel side by side with the 16-foot sides aligned. Cut 17 pieces of 6-inch-long bailing wire. Loop the wire around the sides of the panels where they touch, and twist it together to connect the panels every foot to form one 9-by-16-foot unit.

Move the panel to the base of one of the 9-foot-wide sides of the rebar and channel rectangle. Align the 9-foot length of the paneling with the rebar and channels. Stand the cattle panel upright, and have one to two people hold the base of the panel to the rebar and channel posts.

Cut 20 lengths of wire, at least 6 inches long. Secure the panel to the rebar and channels with the lengths of bailing wire spaced every foot along the supports from the ground up.

Bend the panel over the 5-foot-wide space between the rebar and channeling to form an arch or tunnel. Bring the unattached 9-foot side of the paneling to the ground on the other side of the rectangle. Secure the panel to the other set of rebar and channeling as in the previous step to complete the project.