The Reason Why You're Much Better Off Growing Your Cucumbers Vertically

Even if you have a sprawling garden where cucumber vines have plenty of room to roam, you may still want to grow your cucumbers on a trellis for a bigger, healthier harvest. Training your cucumbers to grow vertically — such as on a bamboo trellis – will keep them off the ground, so they're easier to harvest, and less likely to have unappetizing yellow patches on the bottom. They're also less likely to develop issues such as powdery leaf mildew, which can occur when plants don't get enough sun exposure and airflow.

Another benefit of trellis-grown cucumbers is that they're straighter. When your plants experience the full weight of gravity, they hang down rather than curl up and produce C-shaped fruit. As an added bonus, if you're using an A-frame trellis, you can extend the growing season of lettuce by planting them in the shade underneath it.

However, not all cucumbers are suitable for growing on a trellis. Bush variety cucumbers, for example, are designed for compact spaces. They don't need a trellis and don't produce as much as vining varieties. Check your seed packet for details.

Cucumbers are heat-loving crops, so wait until at least two weeks after the last frost — and until daytime temps are in the mid '70s — to plant them outdoors. Don't make the mistake of planting your cucumbers in the wrong spot. Choose a sunny area and give each plant at least a foot of space in well-drained soil. Mix in compost or fertilizer to enrich the soil before you plant. Adding mulch after planting can keep your plants from drying out, which is important because their shallow root system needs regular moisture. Once your cucumber starts climbing the trellis, add nitrogen fertilizer on the side of the plant — not directly on top — according to the package directions.

You can use any type of trellis to grow big, healthy cucumbers, including an A-frame, teepee, or straight panels. They're natural climbers and aren't particular, so it's a matter of personal choice and what works best for your garden. A single, tall panel is ideal if you're tight on space. A lattice panel or unused stretch of chain link fence are easy options. Position it at the back for the biggest harvest in the smallest amount of garden space.

An A-frame lets you double your garden space by planting underneath it with shade-tolerant, cool season crops, including salad greens and root vegetables such as carrots and beets. A teepee trellis is a compact option for small spaces. You can even grow vining cucumbers in pots in a balcony garden with a teepee trellis — perfect if you're renting or gardening in a crowded city space.