Whether you need cucumber vertical support depends on the type you're growing. Vining varieties like Marketmore need a structure to climb. Bush types like Picklebush grow just fine on the ground without any help at all.
I've grown both types in my garden over the past six years. My trellised vining cucumbers produce twice as many fruits as the same plants left to sprawl on the ground. They also stay healthier because the leaves dry faster after rain or morning dew.
A good cucumber trellis should stand about 5-6 feet tall to give your vines room to climb. You can build one from cattle panels, wooden lattice, or string netting stretched between posts. I use cattle panels because they last forever and the rigid squares help the tendrils grab hold.
Growing cucumbers vertically helps your plants in many ways. Air moves freely around your leaves and stems. This cuts down on fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Your fruit hangs straight instead of curling on the ground, so you get better shaped cucumbers for slicing.
Bush varieties don't need cucumber support structures because they stay compact. These plants spread only 2-3 feet wide instead of sending out long vines. Picklebush, Spacemaster, and Salad Bush all produce full-sized fruit on short, sturdy plants. They work great in your containers or small raised beds.
Training young vines onto your trellis takes just a few minutes each week during early growth. Guide the main stem toward the support when your plant reaches about 6 inches tall. The tendrils will grab on by themselves after that. Check back every few days to make sure the vine keeps heading up instead of off to the side.
I tried growing Marketmore cucumbers both ways in the same season to see the real difference. The trellised plants gave me 30 pounds of fruit while the ground plants made only 14 pounds. The ground cucumbers had more yellow spots where they touched the soil. Several rotted before I could pick them.
Your cucumber support structures don't need to be fancy or expensive. Two sturdy posts with string netting between them works just as well as a store-bought cage. The key is posts strong enough to hold up when the vines get heavy with fruit. Use metal T-posts or wooden 4x4s sunk at least a foot into the ground.
Harvest time gets easier when your cucumbers hang at eye level. You'll spot ripe fruit sooner and pick more often. This keeps your plant making new cucumbers all season long. My back thanks me every time I don't have to bend over searching through sprawling vines on the ground.
You should also think about where you place your trellis in the garden. Put it on the north side of your beds so it doesn't shade other sun-loving plants. Your cucumbers will climb up and catch plenty of light while leaving room for tomatoes, peppers, or beans in front.
My friend started with bush cucumbers last year because she didn't want to build a trellis. She loved how easy they were to grow in her small space. This year she added a simple A-frame for vining types and now gets cucumbers from both styles all summer long.
You can even grow cucumbers up a fence you already have in your yard. Just plant them about 6 inches away from the base and help them find the fence when they're young. Chain link fences work great because the openings let the tendrils wrap through. Your fence does double duty and you save garden space.
Read the full article: Growing Cucumbers: Expert Advice for Beginners
