Learn How to Grow Cucumbers Vertically to get a bountiful harvest. Growing Cucumbers Vertically also save a lot of space, ideal for limited space gardeners.
Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable, especially if picked up fresh. It is eaten in a variety of ways: raw in the salad, cooked or pickled. It is easy to grow and requires a warm, sunny exposure and deep and regular watering.
Also Read:Â Best Climbing and Vining Vegetables for Containers You Can Grow Vertically
Benefits of Growing Cucumbers Vertically
One advantage of Growing Cucumbers Vertically is that you can avoid a common problem of fruit rot associated with cucumber cultivation. It happens when fruits sit in the moist soil for a prolonged period.
When you allow cucumber vines to grow up vertically, it improves the air circulation around the plant that prevents fungal diseases. Cucumber plants have a sprawling habit, and growing cucumbers vertically allow their leaves to absorb more sun, which results in healthy plant and large cucumbers. One more key benefit is that you can harvest the fruits more easily and on time.
Why Should You Grow Cucumbers Vertically?
When cucumbers are grown on the ground (horizontally) they usually cover 10-20 square feet of space, plant sprawls over the surface around it. However, smaller and bushier varieties take only 1/3 of this space, but they produce fewer fruits. Climbing, vine type varieties are more productive, and when you grow them vertically, they barely take 1 square foot of space, climbing up by the support of a trellis.
Also Read: Growing Cucumbers on Trellis
How to Grow Cucumbers Vertically
Choosing a Container and Trellis
If you’re growing cucumbers in containers vertically, prefer large containers that are more than 12 inches deep and wide. How many cucumber plants you can grow in such a container depends on the variety you are planting. A vining variety grows tall and sends long roots, whereas bushier varieties are short.
Trellis Size
Choose a 5 to 6 feet tall trellis that is sturdy and doesn’t topple. If growing climbing varieties, use “A-frame trellis” so that the plant crawls up and down from it easily.
Check out these trellis designs and tutorials for help.
Propagation and Planting Cucumbers
Sow seeds directly onto the desired spot or in small pots. Cover them with about 2 cm of soil. Once the seedlings germinate and have a few leaves, transplant the healthiest ones into a bigger pot or on the frost-free ground in spring or summer, when the soil temperature is around 70 F (20 C). If you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, you can grow cucumbers year round.
Cucumber plant is a heavy feeder like tomatoes, prepare your soil well before planting by incorporating decomposed manure and compost.
Also Read: Basic Tomato Growing Tips for Pots
Requirements for Growing Cucumbers Vertically
Position
Cucumber loves a warm and sunny exposure that is less windy. It does not tolerate temperature below 50 F (10 C). Optimum temperature to grow cucumbers falls in the range of 60–95 F (15–35 C).
Soil
It prefers well-drained, loose and deep soil, rich in organic matter and neutral in pH.
Watering
Regular and deep watering is the key to get productive cucumber harvest. It is due to the high water content of its fruits. While watering, avoid wetting the foliage as it may encourage fungal diseases.
Also Read: How to Water Container Plants
Mulching
Mulch around the base of the plant to improve moisture retaining ability of the soil.
Fertilizer
At the time of planting add all purpose slow release fertilizer in the soil. Once the plant starts to flower, side-dress the plant with aged manure, also, apply balanced liquid fertilizer at that time according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Also Read:Â Growing Ivy Gourd (Perennial Cucumber Vegetable)
Diseases and Pests
Cucumber plants particularly suffer from anthracnose, powdery mildew and in pests look out for aphids and other common garden pests.
Harvest
When and How to Harvest Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are ready for harvest in 60 to 90 days, depending more on the variety. Pick them when they are developed enough, firm to touch and crunchy in taste. Do not let the fruits to overripe.
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Thank you so much for the informative post! I am planing to harvest cucumbers this year in my garden, so I try to collect as much as possible useful information. Your tips are very helpful and well explained. Best regards
Thank you for the great information, I just sowed my first seeds and this will help me growing a good crop.
Can you use a tomato cage or does it need to be a trellis?
You can use tomato cages but cucumbers grow quickly and climb high, it would be better if you can stack two pairs of tomato cages stacked together vertically. Anything that is 5-6′ works best.
I love cucumber, your step by step instructions make it easy to grow cucumbers, wish me luck (:
I do not have cucumber yet. Thanks for this.
Very helpful tips. The last couple years I have not been able to grow cucumbers and wasn’t sure why. Hopefully now I will reap a bountiful harvest
What kind of trelis do you provide for the plants? You say 5 – 6 ” tall framework, but what do the plants cling to while they are growing tall?
Chicken wire works well
I planted cucumbers two years back, but my production was not so good. Thank you for this useful exciting information. I am planning to prepare from tomorrow.
2 sections pf hogwhire connected with appropriate connectors will for m a tent like structure that is self supporting. When not in use it folds in half. I have also used it for tomatoes but on its side rather than upright.
I have an old storage tub that I plan on using for my cucumbers this year, do I have to drill drainage holes in it?
I would to prevent the roots from getting waterlogged
Didn’t know there where bush cucumbers and vine cucumbers. Thx for info. Is t same thing true of zucchini? My zucchini went nowhere despite trellis ready for it
Can you start trellising them once they have already started growing
Thanks for this more information, there very helpful for me
How tall should I let my plants grow for best harvesting results?
You forgot to mention Cucumber Beetle. Very destructive here in Connecticut. The beetle itself just does some leaf & bud munching, but it carries the virus that kills the plant. I have resorted to Remay cloth to cover and only grow self seeding varieties. Had a nice Pickle Type harvest this year with “Little leaf” variety.
Will a fanned trellis with chicken wire wrapped around it,..work good ? As long as I follow your great instruction of how-to.
Please how do I get the seed to plant
Do you have a specific type of cucumber you would recommend growing?