Trellising cucumbers increases production

I ran across some interesting research that surprised me  the other day. According to Douglas C. Sanders and Larry Bass from the North Carolina State University Extension, growing cucumbers on a trellis increases the yield of cucumbers by two to three times. It also produces straight, well formed cucumbers that are uniform in color with no white spot on the underside of the cuke from resting on the soil.

My mother tried growing cucumbers on trellises in her Maine garden years ago and was disappointed with the results. She claimed that they did not produce well. She said the reason for reduced production was because cucumber vines root along the vine when they contact the moist soil, but couldn't do that when trellised.  Respecting her garden expertise, I had no reason to question it.

I tried growing cucumbers in a cylinder of chicken wire a few years ago and although they grew well, the vines were damaged as they grew over the top of the wire. I realize my errors, now. The cylinder was too short and I failed to prune the vines.

I'm going to try some cucumbers on trellises this year and find out for myself how well they produce. If you'd like to join me, here are the basic instructions for growing cucumbers on a trellis.

How to Grow Cucumbers on a Trellis

• Erect chicken wire or a trellis that is at least six feet tall before you plant your cucumbers.
  
• Plant the cucumber seedlings, or seeds, approximately two inches from the trellis.
  
• Guide the growing vines up the trellis. Although the tendrils will attach themselves to the vine, your cucumbers may try to grow along the ground and need a little guidance from you.
  
• Pinch off the ends of the runners when the vines reach the top of the trellis.
  
• Water you cucumbers deeply once or twice a week to keep the soil evenly moist. Soil that dries excessively will inhibit grow.
  
• Apply  one to two tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer per plant to the soil around the base of the plants when they begin to vine. Work it into the soil well, using care not to damage roots or contact the foliage with the fertilizer.
  

There are two schools of thought on pruning trellised cucumbers. Some report that you should prune the tips of the vines as soon as they reach the top of the trellis to force lateral vines to grow. The North Carolina State University Extension recommends pruning the ends at this time.  It also recommends removing the first four to six lateral runners at the base of the plant and then allowing all other runners to grow.

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