November 13, 2011
How to Build a Cucumber Trellis
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HOW TO BUILD A CUCUMBER TRELLIS
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If you have some scrap wood lying around, you can make use of it in the garden by building a cucumber trellis. I built mine in a pyramid shape, but you can use your imagination on how it looks. The purpose is to give the cucumber vines something to climb up on.
When planting cucumbers, space can maximized by training the vines to climb upwards using a cucumber trellis, rather than outwards on the ground. Avoid using chicken wire because it can burn the plants in extremely hot temperatures. It is best to use string stretched between two posts, a coated wire cage, or a wooden trellis (as shown here). Fasten the scrap wood together with a small brad nailer. Treated lumber will last a little longer, but if it's just for one or two growing seasons any wood will do. Place a couple sandbags at the bottom and tie the trellis down so the wind doesn't knock it over before the vines take hold.
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Plant the cucumber seeds in mid to late spring, after the soil has had a chance to warm up. Seeds can be started indoors in pots around a month before you plant them outside. You want to make sure there is no chance of frost. I know it is tempting, but be patient. You don't want to lose all your hard work in one cold night
Plant the cucumber seeds 1 inch deep about 4 inches apart if vines are to be trained to grow up on the trellis. When growing cucumbers, give them plenty of water. Cucumbers require more water than other vegetables. Not enough water can cause cucumbers to be small and taste bitter.
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This trellis can be used to grow anything from beans and peas to flowers like Clematis and Morning Glory. Build it any size you like. Some vegetables have vines that will grow much longer than others.
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