Do cucumbers need vertical support?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Vertical support changes the way cucumbers are grown. Vining types, such as Armenian cucumber or English cucumber varieties, yield straighter fruits and reduce soil-borne diseases when grown vertically. I stumbled upon this, but with my cattle panel trellises, I was able to increase the yield over planting the traditional way on the ground. The airflow decreases the chance of mildew, and harvesting is much easier on my back without needing to bend to the ground.
Trellis Types
- Cattle panels: 16-gauge steel grid for heavy yields (15+ plants)
- A-frames: 6-foot bamboo/pvc structures for small spaces
- Tomato cages: Reinforced 3-ring designs for bush hybrids
Installation Tips
- Anchor panels 12 inches deep to withstand wind
- Space vines 8 inches apart on trellis
- Use soft tie tape to avoid stem damage
Maintenance
- Prune lateral shoots weekly
- Check ties every 10 days for tightness
- Remove leaves below 18 inches for airflow
Begin to train vines when they are 12 inches tall. Wrap stems around the supports gently in a clockwise direction (regardless of vine type). I use stretchy plant tape to secure new growth about every 3 days. Don't use wire - it will cut into the expanding stems. Training in the morning will result in less breakage, as the plants are still flexible.
Concerning container gardening, use compact trellises and bush varieties. My 24-inch obelisk holds 4 Spacemaster plants in a 15-gallon pot and I keep the rotating containers in the same spot daily to develop even sun exposure. Vertical growth in containers keeps pests away 60% of the time as documented by my personal experience.
Read the full article: How to Grow Cucumbers: Expert Tips for Beginners
