When I was young, I always wondered why my mom set up these cages near her cucumber plants. One day, I finally asked her why, and her response was, “You’ll figure it out someday”. At first, I thought she was just not having a good day and didn’t want to explain it to me, so I didn’t get it.
Until I grew my first cucumber plant and watched it sprawl everywhere. Yeah… guess I did figure it out…
In today’s article, we’ll be approaching cucumber trellises in a detailed manner and discussing a few ideas that can help maximize space in your garden and potentially boost your harvest. Let’s get right into it!
Why Trellis Cucumbers?
The first and most obvious reason for using a trellis with your cucumbers is to keep them off the ground, ensuring fruit health and freshness.
Just think about the rot and fungal problems your cucumbers would encounter growing on the ground…nasty, right?
Trellises also make it easier to harvest the cucumbers and exponentially reduce any chances of pest infestations. They’re great for small spaces, raised beds, and container gardens.
Keep in mind that a trellis is not only useful for supporting cucumber growth. You can use them for growing tomatoes, peas, grapes, beans, and so many other fruits and vegetables that prefer vertical growth.
7 Cucumber Trellis Ideas To Try
1: A-Frame Trellis
An A-frame trellis is a very common type of trellis that cucumber growers often use. It has two panels at the top to form a tent. This type of trellis is super sturdy and space-efficient, making it ideal for raised garden beds.
2: Cattle Panel Arch
A cattle panel arch is typically made from livestock panels bent into an arch-like shape. Because of the firmness and sturdiness of the panels, these cattle panel arches serve as a strong trellis that can easily support the heavy weight of cucumber growth.
3: Vertical Garden Netting
As the name suggests, vertical garden netting involves sturdy nylon being stretched between two poles to form a trellis around which cucumbers can grow. This type of trellis is budget-friendly and super flexible in small-sized gardens.
4: Teepee Trellis
This is the classic tripod-style we all know and love as gardeners. It’s typically made from wood or bamboo poles, which is what makes it so sturdy and resilient, especially for areas where strong weather and wind is a concern.
This type of trellis is also quite easy to build and gives great support.
5: Fence Or Wall Trellis
If you’re low on space, you can train your cucumbers to climb up an existing fence, utilizing vertical space in the garden and giving the landscape a fuller, denser look. You can add twine or netting for extra support if needed.
6: Wooden Ladder Trellis
A ladder-style trellis is another common type of trellis that can easily be built using wooden slats you may already have lying around your house. This type of ladder looks very aesthetically pleasing in the garden and can support heavy vines well.
7: Upside-Down Tomato Cage
If you have a tomato cage and aren’t utilizing it for growing tomatoes, you can flip it over and secure it somewhere sturdy to support vertical cucumber vine growth. This strategy is quick, cheap, and super effective.
Quick Tips For Training Cucumbers On A Trellis
Conclusion
When you’re just an average gardener who has only ever learned about growing plants in the ground and harvesting fruit from them when the time is right, the whole concept of trellises and supporting vertical growth can sound alien and extremely complex. The truth is, it’s really not.
Experiment with different kinds of trellises in your garden from time to time and stick to one that’s sturdy and can accommodate heavy cucumber growth well.
If you’re low on space and still passionate about growing multiple plants and crops at a time, you want to begin looking into trellises right away!
