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Grow cucumber on trellis


Why You Should Grow Cucumbers on a Trellis • Gardenary

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Published March 22, 2022 by Laura Christine

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How

Not to Grow Cucumbers

Instead of starting this off with a list of the many reasons why you should grow cucumbers on a trellis, I'd like to instead paint a picture of what happens when cucumbers don't have a trellis to grow on. 

It was early on in my gardening experience, and I decided I would grow all of my vining plants on the ground. I traditionally put my cucumber plants in the back of the garden on a trellis, but I was taking a more "let's wait and see" approach to my gardening that year.

I planted my seeds and watched with excitement as my cucumbers began to grow so well in their own designated space. Then, it happened: We had rain several days in a row, and when I finally ventured out to the garden, all I could see was this sea of cucumber vines.

At first, I was happy because they had grown so much, but then I realized I had a problem. The vines had attached themselves to anything and everything in their path! Neighboring plants were ensnared in the cucumber vines, creating one huge tangled mess.

Cucumbers Are Natural Climbers

Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Many members of this family are trailing or climbing vines. Cucumber vines have tendrils (specialized leaves) that are specifically designed to climb up objects in order to take advantage of sun exposure. 

In my "let's wait and see" approach experience, it was the tendrils that made things difficult because they were searching for something—anything—to attach to in order to climb. These little tendrils will grab onto fences, string, wire, and even other plants in their search for something to cling to, so do them a favor and give them a nice, strong trellis to climb.

Advantages to Growing Cucumbers on a Trellis

Here is a list of several advantages to growing cucumbers on a trellis:

-A cucumber growing up a trellis adds beauty to your garden.  

-A trellis provides a solid structure and space for cucumber plants to grow on. Cucumbers produce better-quality fruit with less disease or damage when supported on a sturdy trellis. 

-A trellis makes the harvesting process a lot easier. 

-Cucumbers love to climb, and trellising promotes better pollination and increases crop production. 

-Growing your cucumbers vertically opens up space for more plants underneath, increases air circulation, and makes it easier to water your plants. 

The 3 Simple Steps to Trellis a Cucumber Plant

There are a few simple steps to take in order to trellis a cucumber plant. 

step one to trellis a cucumber

Position the cucumber plants and trellis as close together as possible. Keep this in mind whether you are planting cucumber seeds or transplants. This will allow your plants easy access to a growing surface. 

step two to trellis a cucumber

Training cucumbers to grow on a trellis is easy. Straighten out the vine as it grows and gently wrap or weave it around the trellis. Garden twine can be used if needed.

Note: If you notice that your cucumber plant has some tendrils starting to sprout, gently wrap them around the surface of the trellis too! Tendrils will often help you out and grab onto their trellis for support on their own.

step three to trellis a cucumber

Check your cucumber plant on a daily basis. This habit will help the cucumber plant stay within the confines of the trellis. 

How Many Cucumber Seeds to Plant Per Hole

I would classify cucumber seeds as larger vegetable seeds. In general terms, the larger the seed, the smaller the amount of seeds that should be planted in the same hole or cell. Larger seeds, like cucumber seeds, take up more space and grow roots very quickly once germinated. I would recommend not planting more than two seeds per hole. 

Located in the Kansas City area, Kitchen Garden Expert is a pioneer in offering gardening services that focus on design, coaching, and maintenance. They're inspiring the garden life one cucumber plant at a time!

visit Kitchen Garden Expert

How Many Cucumber Plants to Plant Per Person

As you're planning your garden, keep in mind that you'll need two or three cucumber plants per person if you'd like to eat fresh cucumbers straight from the garden or use them in salads or juicing recipes. If you're planning on pickling the cucumbers, I would suggest at least three or four plants for each quart of pickles. 

I generally expect to get about 20 cucumbers per plant, depending on the variety I'm growing.

How Many Cucumber Plants Per Square Foot in the Garden

A square foot in gardening is a square area that is measured out to be one foot on each side of the square, or a 12 inch by 12 inch square. You can comfortably grow two cucumber plants, spaced 6 inches apart, within a square foot.

You may think that's not much, but take into consideration that cucumber plants are vigorous vines that can produce approximately five pounds of fruit per plant. In other words, you can expect to harvest about ten pounds of fruit from a 12 inch by 12 inch square, which is phenomenal! 

Need a trellis for your cucumbers?

How Much Water Do Cucumber Plants Need?

Cucumbers are very vigorous growers that need at least one to two inches of water per week. Deep watering should take place at least once or twice a week. Cucumbers like soil that is slightly moist. Always water at the base of the plant until the top few inches of soil feel moist. Check the moisture of the soil on a daily basis. 

The Health Benefits of Cucumbers

Now that you know how to grow cucumbers, let's talk about a few of the many health benefits of eating your wonderfully homegrown cucumbers! 

I love cucumbers because they are not only very low in calories (45 calories per 11 ounces), but they contain high amounts of water and fiber, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. 

Cucumbers are made up of 96 percent water, and their skin contains insoluble fiber. The combination of water and fiber supports healthy digestion, while the high amount of water promotes hydration and can count toward your required daily amount of fluids. Some of the vitamins and minerals include vitamin K, B vitamins, copper, potassium and manganese, in addition to the antioxidants of vitamin C and beta-carotene. 

Cucumbers are delicious on their own, in various recipes like fresh salads, or in juice. My favorite cucumber recipe is a tzatziki sauce that I put on top of chicken shawarma, and I also love adding cucumbers to my green juice that contains celery, green apple, and lemon juice. 

Laura Christine — Kitchen Garden Expert

Laura is a Gardenary-certified garden coach with a background in naturopathy and over 40 years of gardening experience.

Her love of gardening started as a child, when she and her mother would garden together and she'd experience the rush of excitement that comes with picking that first cucumber for making pickles. She's passionate about using her garden experience now to teach others about growing their own food and how gardening can impact their personal health.

Her business, Kitchen Garden Expert, helps gardeners in the Kansas City area experience the joy of growing their favorite herbs, fruits, and vegetables in an organic and sustainable kitchen garden.

Follow Kitchen Garden Expert on Instagram and Facebook to see what Laura's growing now!

Located in the Kansas City area, Kitchen Garden Expert is a pioneer in offering gardening services that focus on design, coaching, and maintenance. They're inspiring the garden life one cucumber plant at a time!

visit Kitchen Garden Expert

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Laura Christine

I love to help, support, and inspire others in learning how to successfully grow their own healthy and organic food.

Growing Cucumbers On A Trellis Vertically

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Growing cucumbers on a trellis is easy, looks awesome, and has tons of great benefits. In this article, I’ll show you how to grow cucumbers vertically, give you techniques for training the vines, and tips for choosing the right type of support for them.

I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely hooked on vertical gardening! I grow as many of my vegetables vertically as I can, and cucumbers are no exception.

Several years ago, I decided to experiment with trellising cucumbers instead of letting them take over my garden. It was such an awesome experience that I’ve never looked back.

There are so many great benefits, and it’s very easy to train the vines. Below I’ll show you everything you need to know about trellising cucumbers vertically so you can have healthy, highly productive plants, and beautiful crops.

Here’s what you’ll find in this guide…

 

Table of Contents

Do Cucumbers Need A Trellis?

Do cucumbers really need a trellis to climb on? Well, technically the answer is no. But, let me tell you a little story…

When I first started gardening, I always let mine just sprawl along the ground. Since I was a newbie gardener, I didn’t know there was any other option.

The problem with this method is that, once the vines start to get really long, they take up a lot of space. And, when left to sprawl naturally, they can quickly take over the garden!

I’d always plant them in a long row, and then train the vines to twine into each other. I tried my best to keep them within their row.

This worked pretty well, for a time. But by the end of the summer, I could barely reach some of the fruits, or walk on that side of the garden because the row became so wide.

Plus it was very difficult to find my crop because they were hidden under all that foliage. It became extremely frustrating for me.

Then one year I decided to try growing cucumbers on a trellis like I have always done with my beans. And let me tell you, that was the best gardening decision I ever made!

So, should you trellis your cucumbers vertically? Well, if I haven’t convinced you yet then keep reading…

Growing cucumbers up a trellis

How Do Cucumbers Climb Vertically?

By now you might be wondering “how do cucumbers climb?”. I mean, do they grow on vines or what? Well, kinda…

The climbing types actually have vining tendrils, which are basically side shoots that come out of the main stem. These tendrils will reach out and grab onto anything they touch.

Growing Cucumbers On A Trellis

If you’ve never tried growing cucumbers on a trellis, you’re missing out. Not only does it save tons of space, there are lots of wonderful benefits too.

But before I go on and on about how awesome it is, let’s talk about the different varieties. Because not all types of cucumbers are climbers.

Using a tall trellis to grow cucumbers vertically

Best Climbing Cucumber Varieties

At a very high level, there are two kinds of cucumber plants: bush and vining. The vining varieties are climbing plants, and the bush types are not.

So, if you want to try growing cucumbers on a trellis, you need to make sure you buy the climbers, and not the bush types.

How can you tell the difference? The seed packet or plant tag should tell you what kind it is. A few of my favorite vining ones are Homemade Pickles, Sumter, Lemon and Marketmore.

Related Post: How To Grow Cucumbers From Seeds & When To Plant

Growing cucumbers vertically in the garden

Benefits Of Growing Cucumbers Vertically

Ok, now that we know the best types of climbing cucumbers, I can tell you about all of the awesomeness that comes with trellising them vertically.

Not only does it look cool, but there are lots of benefits too…

Straight, clean, and beautiful cucumber grown vertically

What Type Of Trellis Is Best For Cucumbers?

You can use any type of support to grow cucumbers vertically. But there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re choosing the perfect one.

Vining cucumbers climbing a simple support

Cucumber Trellis Ideas

Like I said above, there are tons of options to choose from, so get creative with it. You can use any kind of vertical support, but it’s always fun to find new ideas. Here are a few of my favorite types.

Get my full list here: 13 DIY Cucumber Trellis Ideas For Small Or Large Spaces

Climbing cucumbers growing on a small garden arch

Using Chicken Wire For Trellising Cucumbers

If you use chicken wire for trellising cucumbers, or a similar type of material that has small holes, you’ll need to keep an eye on it.

Baby cucumbers can easily poke through the holes in the fencing, and become wedged or stuck in it when they get larger.

So, check on them every few days. If any of them start poking through the fencing, be sure to move them out before they get stuck.

Don’t worry. If you do find one wedged in, you can still pick it. Take a sharp knife and cut the cucumber open to remove it from the fencing. No biggy, you’ll just have to eat that one right away.

Using garden fencing to trellis cucumbers

Caring For Cucumbers On A Trellis

Once they start getting taller, you might find that your cucumber plants are not climbing the trellis on their own. If that’s the case, you’ll need to do a little work to get them to cooperate.

Related Post: Why Do Cucumbers Turn Yellow & How To Prevent It

How To Trellis Cucumbers

Vining cucumbers will attach to a trellis, but they aren’t always great climbers on their own. Sometimes they need your help to find the vertical structure.

Gravity is working against us, and the vines tend to prefer to sprawl along the ground. Other times, they can start climbing on nearby plants instead of their dedicated support.

So, you’ll need to check on them regularly, and train the unruly vines when they start going rogue.

The good news is that you don’t worry about giving the fruits any extra support. Cucumbers growing on a trellis won’t get too heavy and rip off the vine. The vines are plenty strong enough to support the full weight of the mature fruit.

Cucumbers dangling down from the vertical support

How To Train Cucumbers Up A Trellis

Don’t worry, training cucumbers to grow on a trellis isn’t hard. Simply straighten the vines and attach them to their support.

They don’t always need to be tied up though. Many times you can gently wrap or weave the stems into the trellis, and the tendrils will eventually grab it on their own.

But, you can help them out by tying the vines onto the structure using twine, choose-a-size metal twist ties, plastic flexible ties, or plant clips.

Just be sure to tie them on very loosely. Otherwise they can strangle the stems as they get thicker. Learn more about training vines here.

FAQs

In this section I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about growing cucumbers vertically. If you can’t find yours here, then ask it in the comments below.

How tall should a cucumber trellis be?

Your cucumber trellis height should be tall enough so the vines have plenty of space to spread out, and proportionate to the size of the variety you have. In general, I recommend something between 4-6′ tall.

Is it better to grow cucumbers on a trellis or on the ground?

Whether it’s better to grow cucumbers on a trellis or on the ground is really personal preference. But with all of the benefits that come with training them vertically, I think trellising them is definitely better.

How much space do you need to grow cucumbers vertically?

You don’t need as much space to grow cucumbers vertically as you otherwise would. They only need as much space as your trellis takes up, as long as you keep them trained, so it depends on the footprint of the support.

Do cucumbers need to climb to grow?

No, cucumbers do not need to climb in order to grow. However, trellising them will help keep them healthier and producing beautiful fruits.

How close can you plant cucumbers vertically?

You can plant cucumbers fairly close together when growing them vertically. I recommend spacing them at least 4″ apart along the base of the trellis.

How do you get cucumbers to climb a trellis?

In order to get cucumbers to climb a trellis, you need to train them on a regular basis. Check on them every few days and weave or tie the vines onto the support as they get longer.

Growing cucumbers on a trellis is easy, and there are lots of great benefits. Not only will trellising cucumbers save a ton of space in your garden, your plants will be healthier, prettier, and harvesting will be a snap too!

Do you want to learn even more about growing vegetables vertically? Then you need my book Vertical Vegetables! It has all the information you need to be successful, plus two dozen step-by-step projects that you can build for your garden. Order your copy today!

Learn more about my new Vertical Vegetables book here.

More Posts About Vertical Gardening

Share your tips for growing cucumbers on a trellis in the comments section below!

Materials

Tools

Instructions

    1. Choose a location - Find a sunny spot in your garden that has well-draining soil.
    2. Prepare the soil - Amend the soil with compost and slow release fertilizer, and remove any weeds.
    3. Install the trellis - It's best to install the support before planting to avoid damaging the delicate starts.
    4. Plant your cucumbers - Plant either seeds or starts along the base of the trellis, spacing them 4-5" apart.
    5. Train them vertically - As your cucumbers get taller, train the vines to grow vertically. You may need to secure them to the trellis using twist ties, flexible ties, or plant clips.

Notes

types of structures, methods and schemes of planting in open ground, photo and video

Traditionally grown and grow cucumbers in open ground in spreading, but now gardeners are increasingly growing cucumbers on a trellis. After all, the yield obtained in this way is much higher.

Contents

What is a trellis

A trellis is a vertical structure for growing vegetables. These can be wooden or metal posts dug into the ground. A wire or mesh is stretched between them, and sometimes slats are attached.

This bed looks neat, it is convenient to harvest on it, because all the vegetables are clearly visible.

However, not all types of cucumbers need a trellis. So, bush cucumbers, due to their compactness, grow well even without trellises, but their yield, compared to trailing cucumbers, is much lower. Therefore, if it is important for you to harvest a large crop, you will have to purchase or build a support for your cucumber vine.

Types of trellis for growing outdoors

If earlier vegetables were grown on a trellis mainly in a greenhouse, now they are increasingly used in open ground. Tapestries come in various shapes - in the form of a wall, a rectangle, a square, a tent, a circle. They are made from almost any material - wooden slats, beams, bicycle wheels, metal tubes, metal or plastic nets with different mesh sizes. Consider the most convenient and easy-to-manufacture designs:

Such a rectangular trellis not only helps to grow cucumbers, but also serves as a decoration of the site

Ways of planting cucumbers on a trellis

There are various ways to grow tasty and healthy cucumbers. Consider the most convenient of them.

Outdoors

Seeds or seedlings of cucumbers are planted either in one or two rows. When planting in one row, the distance between rows should be 1.0–1.3 m, between plants in a row - about 25 cm. When planting in two rows, the distance between rows is 50–70 cm. The distance between plants in a row is 25– 30 cm. If you plant cucumbers too close to each other, they will interfere with each other's development, which means that the harvest will be weak.

Above each row, attach a batten or stretch trellis wire at a height of about 2 m from the ground. The gap between the posts is 1.5–2.0 m. Between the posts under the top wire or rail, 2 more wires are pulled (at a height of about 15 cm, 100 cm from ground level), for which a mesh with cells 15–20 cm in size is attached. Instead of a net, a rope can be tied to the top bar for each shoot, around which the stem is wrapped as it grows.

In order for cucumbers to yield faster, they are planted in seedlings. And if you decide to plant with seeds, then prepare a temporary film cover for young sprouts.

At 3-4 weeks of growth, when the stem is 31-35 cm long and 5-6 leaves have formed, tying can begin. It is more convenient to tie up young shoots of cucumbers, because they are more elastic than the stems of a mature cucumber. The trellis is installed before planting seedlings. Tie plants under the first leaves should not be tight, but loose, without interfering with their development and growth.

The next step is pinching, i.e. removing the top of the main stem (carrier of male flowers that produces barren flowers) above the 5th or 6th leaf, in order to activate the growth of lateral shoots, on which female flowers will appear, from which fruits are formed. Thanks to this procedure, the yield will be high, the cucumbers will not be bitter. Pinching is done both in greenhouse cucumbers and in plants in the open field.

When growing cucumbers on a cellular support, do not cut off the tendrils, with them the plant clings to the cells. To prevent the main stem from falling, pass it 3-4 times through the cells.

During cold weather, cover the trellis with non-woven covering material. Try to install the support so that they are closed from the wind, due to the swaying in the wind, the yield can be significantly reduced. Place it near your house or barn.

It is easy to distinguish a male flower from a female flower: the female flower has an ovary in the form of a small cucumber, while the male one grows on a stem

In a greenhouse in rows 50–60 cm, between plants in a row about 40 cm.

  • good sunlight;
  • space saver;
  • free pollination;
  • high yield;
  • long fruiting period.
    • ease of cultivation labor intensity of construction

    Video: growing cucumbers vertically in a greenhouse

    Growing cucumbers on a trellis saves a lot of time and garden space. and also to collect a high yield.

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    Growing cucumbers on a trellis in open ground

    Growing cucumbers is a must for any gardener. Without this vegetable, it is already impossible to imagine summer in the country. But the season for fresh cucumbers in our latitudes is very short, so you need to try to get the maximum yield in the shortest time. This is not easy, but there are ways that greatly simplify the work. Today we will talk about how to grow cucumbers on a trellis in the open field.

    Contents

    Benefits of growing cucumbers on a trellis

    We are accustomed to planting cucumbers in open ground using the spreading method. As a rule, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden allows you to create beds of the right size without compromising other garden crops. But at the same time, gardeners often complain about low yields and damage to plantings, up to diseases. What is it connected with?

    Powdery mildew is the main enemy of cucumber culture. It is this disease that causes the greatest damage to plants. It should be noted that in recent years there has been a trend towards the active spread and development of powdery mildew. But there are practically no reliable and harmless ways to deal with it, as well as varieties resistant to it. The disease spreads easily in conditions of high humidity, making its way from the soil to leaves, flowers and fruits. Cucumbers grown in spreading in an open garden just fall into the risk zone.

    Trellis cultivation used to be used mainly in greenhouses and greenhouses, where austerity of space is a prerequisite for growing vegetable crops. But it's time to apply this method to open ground. And there is nothing new in this. Cucumber, by its nature, was originally accustomed to reaching for the sun with its grassy vine, clinging to any supports with the help of antennae. At home, in the tropical forests of India, he did this from time immemorial, crawling out into the light along the trunks of trees.

    Well, in our conditions, we must help the stem and leaves of the cucumber "break away" from the ground, which is simply teeming with pathogenic bacteria and pests, and stretch to their full height towards the sun. This is the main condition for the plant to receive the required amount of light and oxygen saturation. Tapestry is the best assistant in this matter.

    Cucumber trellis made of wooden posts, wire and twine

    The design is very simple to manufacture. Most often, the trellis looks like a frame with wire or strong threads stretched inside it, along which the cucumber liana will curl. Among other things, the trellis greatly simplifies harvesting: all the fruits are in sight, you do not have to spend a lot of time in a bent state, looking for cucumbers in the thickets. And as experience shows, the yield with this method of cultivation is significantly increased.

    But this method also has its own peculiarities that must be taken into account if you want to achieve effective cultivation. We will talk about them below.

    Preparatory stage

    The biological characteristics of cucumbers determine the principle of growing this crop in open ground. There are many criteria that can either help you get a decent harvest, or ruin the whole idea in the bud. Therefore, prepare well before starting the lesson.

    Conditions for growing crops in open ground

    Cucumber belongs to the gourd family, which means that it is very demanding on air temperature. The optimal indicator for good development and growth of a vegetable is 22–27 ° C during the day and from 18 ° C at night. If the temperature drops sharply to 10 ° C, cucumbers stop growing, and if the temperature is maintained at this level for a long time, the plant may die.

    Try to protect seedlings of cucumbers from rain and cold

    When choosing a planting date, make sure that the temperature will already be constantly at the right level at the time of emergence of the seedlings, eliminating the possibility of returning frosts. In our latitudes, planting cucumbers in open ground is carried out in late April-early May, when the soil is well warmed up. At the end of the month, you will have strong seedlings, and they will no longer be afraid of temperature changes.

    Pay attention! Drafts are the enemies of the cucumber vine. When choosing a place for a garden bed, stop in an area protected from the winds and well lit by the sun.

    Cucumber predecessors

    Growing cucumbers in the same area every year is highly discouraged: the soil quickly releases all the substances useful to this particular plant. Therefore, the earth must be given a rest for at least 2 years. Cucumber will feel great in the place where it grew last season:

    On the other hand, the soil where gourds grew - pumpkins, zucchini, watermelons, squash and melons - is not the most suitable place for growing cucumbers.

    Rules for fertilization and soil preparation

    Cultivation of cucumbers in open ground, including on a trellis, implies preliminary soil preparation. You will have to start work in the fall. Until frequent rains are charged and frosts set in, carefully dig the earth in the selected bed so that it is saturated with oxygen. If the soil is heavy, add sawdust, peat or sand to it for ease of loosening.

    Cucumber beds need to be prepared in advance, from the previous autumn

    In addition, organic fertilizers will need to be applied. Enough 6 kilograms of manure per 1 square meter of beds. You can add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate, a glass of ash or dolomite flour.

    In the spring, disinfect the soil by watering it with a hot, strong solution of potassium permanganate. Immediately before planting the seeds, apply a small amount of manure or chicken droppings locally to the holes, sprinkling with earth. When decomposed, the organics will release the heat necessary for the seedlings and serve as top dressing for them during the period of growth and development.

    Seed preparation for sowing

    Cucumber seeds have stable germination, it can last up to 8 years. But the best yields are those that are no more than 3 years old. Seeds harvested from the last harvest usually produce too many barren flowers, so let them rest for at least another year.

    When buying, experts recommend paying attention to the so-called pelleted seeds, covered with a colored shell of a solution of fertilizers and nutrients - they are already completely ready for planting in the ground.

    Proper selection of seeds is the key to the harvest of cucumbers

    If you are breeding seeds yourself or buy them at the market, then prepare them in advance. Soak them for 12 hours in a solution of the following trace elements per 1 liter of water:

    A good solution for soaking is 10 ml of liquid humate per 0. 5 liter of water. You can also buy ready-made mix at the hardware store.

    After soaking, dry the seeds until they are free-flowing or let them germinate in peat cups to seedlings: this will help you achieve earlier harvests.

    Making a trellis

    As we said above, making a trellis is quite simple. Thick, strong branches (preferably straight), pine round timber, and even metal or reinforced concrete posts of the desired length can serve as supports.

    Wooden tapestries are easier to make, and they are cheaper, if not free. If you prefer this design, consider the following rules. The length of the extreme support pillars should be about 2.8 meters, the diameter of the upper cut should be from 50 mm or more. Since it is on them that the main load of the entire row on the trellis will fall, the extreme pillars should be much stronger than the intermediate ones.

    Wooden tapestries are simple and cheap to make, they are great for small spaces

    Auxiliary (intermediate) supports can be up to 2. 4 meters in length, cut diameter - from 35 to 40 mm. The need for their installation is determined by the length of the beds with cucumbers. For example, with a length of up to 2 meters, additional supports may not be needed.

    We will consider options for the simplest, and at the same time reliable trellis designs that you can easily make yourself from improvised means.

    The simplest wooden trellis

    To build such a trellis, place support posts on the bed at a distance of 2.5 meters from each other. Nail a crossbar 70-80 cm long on top of each column (it can be a board or a beam). Connect the entire structure with a spacer bar the size of the length of the beds.

    Scheme for installing the trellis and planting cucumbers

    Drive nails on top of the rungs every 50 cm - the wire will be fixed on them. On this, the creation of the trellis structure, in general, is completed. It remains only to cut the twine into segments of 2.5 meters. At one end, such a segment is tied to the cucumber stem, the second must be thrown over the wire, slightly pulled and secured.

    Handmade trellis

    In a small garden, a trellis can be made from two wooden posts and a mesh stretched between them. There is a small difficulty: when the cucumbers ripen, the mesh begins to sag under their weight and can not only break, but also bring down the entire structure. To prevent this from happening, it is not enough just to stretch the grid between the posts, you also need to pull it up from above.

    To do this, securely fasten the horizontal bridge to the posts so that a U-shaped structure with a net inside is formed. So the trellis will be stronger and more stable, it will not be damaged under the weight of cucumbers.

    A well-reinforced U-shaped trellis can withstand a lot of cucumbers

    In addition, a cucumber trellis can even be made from an old net bed frame. It can be deepened into the ground by 60 cm in a vertical position. If necessary, secure the structure by tying it with ropes to any support nearby - a tree, a fence.

    Hut structures

    Secure the stakes with planks or slate for stability.

    Insert the branches into the bed, deepening them properly. For additional fixation, you can use boards or pieces of slate, as in the picture.

    Tie the tops of the cuttings at the same level from above and lay another peg. You get a design similar to a wigwam. When the cucumbers grow up, they will climb up without any problems, clinging to the props with their antennae. Over time, creepers can be tied with twine.

    Video: making a cucumber trellis

    Planting methods and options for the formation of cucumbers

    So, all the preparatory measures have been taken, the weather has warmed up outside, the earth has warmed up and you are armed with everything you need. It's time to get down to business.

    Land distribution, row preparation

    If you decide to grow different varieties of cucumbers on a trellis, then prepare the rows for planting immediately. There are three planting methods.

    1. Comb bed is a common and common option for us. On such a bed, it is easy to loosen the soil, weed and fertilize. But there are two serious disadvantages: when watering, water will drain, and during rain, splashes of dirt fall on the lower leaves, which significantly increases the risk of disease for cucumbers.

      Planting cucumbers using the "bed-comb" method

    2. Tunnel cultivation. The beds are recessed below the path and then brought to the desired level by means of mulching. Watering such a site is easy, the soil requires a minimum of care and cultivation. In addition, you can install a film cover on such a bed to speed up the growth of cucumbers and protect them from possible return frosts. But the preparatory work is quite complicated: you will need a trench and pre-tillage to a great depth. This method is not suitable for areas with high groundwater and clay soil.

      Planting cucumbers by tunneling

    3. A very convenient method that has been gaining popularity lately is high beds. The peculiarity of the method using a trellis is that the height of the sides of the beds is 10–20 cm above the soil level.

      Growing cucumbers in "high beds" with trellises

    When using any method, cucumbers in the form of seeds or seedlings are planted in one row. Observe the distances between rows of 1.5 m, and between plants in each row - up to 25 cm. You need to deepen the seed into the soil by 2-3 cm, then mulch the bed by about 3 centimeters with sawdust, peat or straw. After that, cover the bed with a film.

    Exemplary scheme for planting cucumbers on a trellis in open ground

    Installation of a single-plane trellis

    You can install the trellis before planting cucumbers or later, when the sprouts are well established in the soil. In the second case, it will be more convenient for you to see where it is easier to mount the supports.

    Scheme of a one-plane inclined trellis

    Take the prepared stakes and drive them into the soil, keeping a distance of 2-2.5 meters between them. Stretch the mesh between them, fastening it with nails. Instead of a mesh, you can stretch wire or synthetic twine in several rows. Tie the strengthened grown sprouts to a net or wire to set the direction of growth. Over time, the cucumber vine will master the trellis on its own.

    Another simple inclined trellis for growing cucumbers in the open field

    Video: installation of the structure

    Further care of cucumbers

    After planting in the open ground on the trellis, cucumbers require normal care. Regular cultivars of this vegetable will require bush formation as their female flower stalks form on side shoots. When the bush grows, pinch it above the 6th leaf. In this way, you stimulate the formation of side shoots, and on them, in turn, the main part of the crop will form.

    In hybrid varieties, female flowers are produced on the main stem. You need to limit the growth of the side shoots of the plant, otherwise they will take nutrients for nothing. Pinch them after the first or second leaf so that the main stem grows more intensively.

    Remember that cucumbers love moisture, so they need to be watered regularly. Do not allow the earthen clod to dry out, especially during the period of active growth! This leads to a slowdown in development, and ripened fruits that have received less moisture will become bitter.

    Timely water and fertilize cucumbers during the growth period to achieve good results

    Water the cucumber bed every 2-3 days, depending on the weather. This should be done carefully, under the root, avoiding drops on the leaves. Use settled, sun-warmed water for irrigation.

    Mulch with fallen leaves or grass clippings. So you can protect the soil from drying out, and weeding and loosening will not be needed.

    In addition, regular feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers will be required. Do them every 10-15 days, alternating with each other, making solutions under the root and preventing them from getting on the leaves. Spraying with a solution of urea has a good effect on cucumbers, but the procedure should be carried out in the evening to avoid the formation of burns on the greens.

    Harvest and work at the end of the season

    Cucumbers begin to bear fruit about 40 days or a little later than shoots appear. The crop is harvested in this way:

    Harvest mature cucumbers every 2 days, pickles and gherkins daily. At the same time, immediately discard and remove damaged, rotten, diseased fruits and overgrowths so that they do not deplete the bush and do not prevent the formation of new ovaries. Mornings and evenings are the best times to pick fruit.

    Harvest cucumbers in a timely manner so that they do not overripe

    When the cucumbers stop bearing fruit and the crop is fully harvested, remove all stems and leaves from the trellis. They can be composted or burned if you notice signs of disease on the surface. Remove the net from the pegs, make sure that there are no plant residues on it. The same applies to wire or twine, if you used them to maintain and grow the vine.

    Remove the pegs from the soil, wipe and dry in an open area. After that, put them in the barn until next year, covering them with a thick cloth.

    Dig up the area where cucumbers grew, loosen the soil with a rake and remove the roots.

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