Cucumbers, along with their cucurbit cousins squash, pumpkins and dozens of other vining gourds, are unruly neighbors in the garden, spreading aggressively over as much space as they can grab. Baby "cukes" may grow one-sided -- or not at all -- if left on the ground. They also risk infection due to soil-borne fungi and the predations of ground-dwelling insects and local rabbits. Just getting the vines off the ground improves plant yield. Serious growers can go further to ensure more cucumbers mature to crisp, green perfection.
Support with Strength
Measure and cut one 2- or 3-foot base and two 3- to 5-foot-long sides to make one triangular frame. The base of the trellis must be wide enough to form a stable support but narrow enough to permit the gardener to reach into the frame to pull weeds. It should also stand no higher than the gardener can reach to maintain vines and pick fruit. Attach each corner of the triangle with two nails or screws to keep it from wobbling.
Make enough triangular braces to place one every 6 to 8 feet, with additional braces at the ends of each row. An 8-foot row will require three braces to anchor the trellis, for example. An 18-foot row, however, would need only four.
Nail 1-by-1-inch or 1-by-2-inch “rungs” on the sides of the triangular braces along the rows. Leave approximately 5 inches between rungs for air movement and vine growth. When finished, your supports with their 1-by-2 rungs should resemble a two-sided stepladder.
Stake heavy wire cow panels at each corner, bending them over cucumber rows in an arched trellis support, as an alternative. Cow panels and deer fencing, another heavy steel wire fencing, also provide heavy-duty support on triangular trellises. The resulting trellis will resemble a tent.
Train and Cradle
Tie young vines loosely to bottom rungs with nylon stockings to allow plenty of room for bases to grow. Remove the ties to use for training as the vine grows along the trellis.
Train vines horizontally, back and forth along the framing rather than up and over it. Form figure-eight ties by wrapping a vine and twisting the nylon or string before tying it to the rung to make secure ties that provide flexibility for growth.
Make slings for growing fruit with whole nylon stockings. Tie or staple the ends of each stocking to the frame and stretch the stocking around the fruit to cradle it. Allow plenty of ease for fruit growth in each sling.
Things You Will Need
- Framing lumber
- Nails or 2-inch deck screws
- Hammer or screwdriver
- Nylon stockings
- String or garden ties
- Heavy-duty stapler
- In addition to giving cucumbers strong supports, provide plenty of water and organic matter. Dig two shovels full of compost deep into each hill to improve soil texture and nitrogen content.
- Limit the vine to one main stem and pinch off lateral stems to force it to concentrate on fruit production.
- You don’t need a lot of nylon stockings to tie vines. Cut across old knee-highs, then snip them open to make a dozen or more ties. Nylon ties are more flexible than garden ties and allow easy movement in winds that may tear or break vines held by rigid wire ties.
- Horizontal training puts less productive parts of the vine closer to the ground. More productive sections end up higher rather than growing over the top and ending up on the ground on the opposite side. They bask in the sun and are easy to reach to train and cradle fruits.
- Garden suppliers sell lightweight vinyl netting called deer fencing to keep critters out of the garden. Use only wood or steel fencing to support your cukes. Vinyl fencing will not support vines heavy with fruit and may cut or garrote vines.
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