Looking for the best ways to trellis your cucumbers this year?
With little doubt, one of the best methods to keep your cucumber plants healthy, strong and productive is to give them support using a trellis system. Doing so not only saves valuable ground space in the garden, but it can also lead to a bigger and better harvest – and for several reasons.
Having your cucumbers climb vertically allows plants to get more sunlight and airflow between the vines. This in turn helps the plant’s flowers be more easily accessible for bees and insects to pollinate them. That, of course, is crucial for flowers to turn into cucumbers!
In addition, with the vines growing up and off of the soil, pests also have a harder time climbing aboard. And perhaps best of all, all of that sunlight and airflow help to keep disease, mildew and mold away too. See our article: How To Avoid Powdery Mildew
More Advantages To Trellising – How To Trellis Cucumbers
Having your cucumbers supported also makes taking care of them much easier for the gardener!
Not only is it easier to water, fertilize, weed and maintain the area around your plants. And the cucumbers are also much easier to pluck of the vines when growing vertically. No more bending over or crouching down looking below prickly leaves to find them.
One thing is for sure, trellising isn’t just about making your garden look neat and tidy – it’s a total game-changer for getting the most out of your cucumber plants. And luckily, it’s easy to do!
How To Trellis Cucumbers – 6 Great Ways To Support Cucumber Plants!
#1 Use An Existing Fence
Many backyard gardens are created inside a fenced in area for protection against animals. So why not take advantage of that existing fence and use it as the trellis?
Although your current growing rows may not be arranged right next to the fence, it really is a great way to trellis cucumber plants without added expense. In addition, even if your garden isn’t inside a fence, but you have a fence on your property line, simply grow your cucumbers there!
#2 A-frame Trellis – How To Trellis Cucumbers
Another popular option when it comes to supporting cucumber plants is to use a simple A-frame trellis. Having two sides doubles up the ability to grow your plants and ultimately saves space in the garden.
A-frames can be made from a variety of materials including wood, heavy duty plastic or even a combination of wood and metal. They are also readily available for purchase in a wide range of sizes to fit the variety of cucumber that you are growing. (Product Affiliate Link: 46″ Wide Metal A-Frame).
Just be sure when using an A-frame trellis to choose a sturdy material that can support the weight of the cucumbers as they grow. And when placing it in your garden, slightly dig the legs into the soil for increased stability.
#3 Welded Wire Fence Panels – How To Trellis Cucumbers
Welded wire fencing is another strong, durable, and economic option to trellis cucumber plants. The mesh of the fence allows the vines to latch on quickly, even early on in the growing season.
It can easily be installed using metal T-stakes or wood stakes. Cut the wire fence panels to the desired length and use zip-ties to attach them to the posts. Using this method, you can make straight vertical trellises or even slightly angle the panel to the stakes.
If you prefer the look of panels that are set at a slight angle, be sure to add additional supports at the bottom of your trellis. This will ensure that the welded wire mesh will keep the plants sturdy. That can be important to hold up during strong winds or storms.
Welded wire fence panels come in all shapes and sizes. For a clean look to your garden, you can even choose wire that has a black or green coating.
#4 Wood Lattice – How To Trellis Cucumbers
Wood lattice is another great choice to support cucumbers. The diamond pattern helps give the cucumber plants plenty of support as they grow.
You can install it easily with a post on each side. Then use twine or zip-ties to secure the panel to the posts. If you happen to have an existing fence or wall in your garden, you can even attach it directly to it for an easy and beautiful trellising system.
As the plants begin to grow they will need a little assistance to grow vertically. Start by placing the vines through the bottom hole. Then as they continue to grow their tendrils will easily latch on to the cross beams of the lattice.
#5 Obelisk Trellis – How To Trellis Cucumbers
If you are looking for a trellis that is a little on the fancy side, then an obelisk trellis might just be the perfect choice for you!
An obelisk trellis is a pyramid-shaped support structure with that has bars or rods that vines can easily attach to. They are a good option for cucumbers because they provide multiple vertical supports for the vining plants to grow on, which helps to save space in your garden.
They are available in a wide variety of sizes. Smaller ones are perfect for container gardening – but larger ones are ideal for supporting bigger vines growing in the garden. They can be made of metal, wood, or PVC plastic, and they can be simple or ornate in design. (Product Affiliate Link: Obelisk 6′ Metal Trellis).
#6 String Trellis – How To Trellis Cucumbers
If you are looking for a quick, economical trellis system, a simple string trellis made of twine hung between two posts can provide all the support a cucumber needs to climb upward – and at very little cost!
You can use metal T-posts or wooden stakes as the bulk of the support that holds the string. However because string stretches over time, you may need to tighten the strings once cucumbers start to produce a heavier load of fruit.
There you have it – 6 great ways to trellis your cucumbers this year! Here is to growing a healthy and productive cucumber crop this year. And even more, to giving them some great support to do so!
Simple Garden Life
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