Growing Cucumbers On A Trellis In The Open Field - Rules + Photos And Videos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

We grow cucumbers on a trellis in the open field - the secrets of a rich harvest

Growing cucumbers is a must for any gardener. Without this vegetable, it is already impossible to imagine summer in the country. But the season for fresh cucumbers in our latitudes is very short, so you need to try to get the maximum harvest in the shortest time. It's not easy, but there are ways that make the job much easier. Today we will tell you about how to grow cucumbers on a trellis in the open field.

Content

• 1 Benefits of growing cucumbers on a trellis

• 2 Preparatory phase

  • 2.1 Conditions for growing crops in the open field
  • 2.2 Precursors of cucumber
  • 2.3 Rules for fertilization and soil preparation
  • 2.4 Preparing seeds for sowing

• 3 Making a trellis

  • 3.1 The simplest wooden trellis
  • 3.2 Tapestry from improvised means
  • 3.3 Hut constructions
  • 3.4 Video: making a trellis for cucumbers

• 4 Planting methods and options for the formation of cucumbers

  • 4.1 Distribution of land, preparation of rows
  • 4.2 Option for installing a single-plane trellis
  • 4.3 Video: installation of the structure
  • 4.4 Further care of cucumbers
• 5 Harvesting and end-of-season work

Benefits of growing cucumbers on a trellis

We are used to planting cucumbers in open ground using the spreading method. As a rule, the area of the garden allows you to create beds of the desired size without harming other garden crops. But at the same time, gardeners often complain about a low yield and damage to plantings, up to diseases. What is the reason for this?

The main enemy of the cucumber culture is powdery mildew. It is this disease that causes the greatest damage to plants. It should be noted that in recent years there has been a tendency towards the active spread and development of powdery mildew. But there are practically no reliable and harmless ways to combat it, as well as varieties resistant to it. The disease spreads easily in high humidity conditions, making its way from the soil to leaves, flowers and fruits. Cucumbers grown in an open bed are just at risk.

Trellis cultivation used to be used mainly in greenhouses and hotbeds, where a strict economy of space is a prerequisite for the cultivation of vegetable crops. But the time has come to apply this method in the open field. And there is nothing new in this. The cucumber, by its nature, was initially accustomed to reaching for the sun with its grassy vine, clinging to any supports with the help of antennae. In his homeland, in the tropical forests of India, he did so from time immemorial, crawling into the world along the trunks of trees.

Well, in our conditions, we must help the stem and leaves of the cucumber "break away" from the ground, which is simply teeming with pathogenic bacteria and pests, and stretch out to its full height towards the sun. This is the main condition for the plant to receive the required amount of light and oxygen saturation. The tapestry is the best assistant in this matter.

Trellis for cucumbers made of wooden posts, wire and twine

The design is very easy to manufacture. Most often, the trellis looks like a frame with nets of wire or strong threads stretched inside it, along which a cucumber vine will curl. Among other things, the trellis greatly simplifies harvesting: all the fruits are in plain sight, you do not have to spend a lot of time bent over looking for cucumbers in the thickets. And as experience shows, the yield increases significantly with this method of cultivation.

But this method also has its own characteristics that must be taken into account if you want to achieve growing efficiency. We will talk about them below.

Preparatory stage

The biological characteristics of cucumbers determine the principle of growing this crop in the open field. There are many criteria that can either help you get a decent harvest, or ruin the whole venture in the bud. Therefore, prepare well before starting the lesson.

Conditions for growing crops in the open field

Cucumber belongs to the pumpkin family, which means that it is very demanding on the air temperature. The optimal indicator for good development and growth of the vegetable is 22-27 ° C during the day and 18 ° C at night. If the temperature drops sharply to 10 ° C, the cucumbers stop growing, and if the temperature is kept at this level for a long time, the plant may die.

Try to protect cucumber shoots from rain and cold

When choosing a planting date, make sure that during the emergence of shoots, the temperature will already be constantly kept at the desired level, excluding the occurrence of recurrent frosts. In our latitudes, planting of cucumbers in open ground is carried out in late April-early May, when the soil is well warmed up. At the end of the month, you will have strong shoots, and they will no longer be afraid of temperature drops.

Cucumber precursors

It is highly discouraged to grow cucumbers annually on the same plot: the soil quickly gives up all the substances that are useful to this particular plant. Therefore, the land should be given a rest for at least 2 years. The cucumber will feel great in the place where it grew last season:

• roots;
• cabbage;
• tomatoes;
• onion;
• eggplant;
• garlic;
• potatoes;
• greens;
• legumes.

But the soil where melons grew - pumpkins, zucchini, watermelons, squash and melons - is not the most suitable place for growing cucumbers.

Fertilization and soil preparation rules

Growing cucumbers in the open field, including on a trellis, involves preliminary soil preparation. You will have to start working in the fall. Until frequent rains have charged and frosts have not come, carefully dig up the ground in the selected bed so that it is saturated with oxygen. If the soil is heavy, add sawdust, peat, or sand to it for ease of loosening.

The beds for planting cucumbers must be prepared in advance, from the previous fall

In addition, you will need to make organic fertilizers. Enough 6 kilograms of manure per 1 square meter of the garden. You can add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate, a glass of ash or dolomite flour.

In the spring, disinfect the soil by watering it with a hot, strong solution of potassium permanganate. Immediately before planting the seeds, locally apply a small amount of manure or chicken droppings to the holes, sprinkling with earth. When decomposing, organic matter will release the heat necessary for the seedlings and serve as top dressing for them during the period of growth and development.

Seed preparation for sowing

Cucumber seeds have a stable germination capacity, it can last up to 8 years. But the best yields are those that are not more than 3 years old. Seeds harvested from last harvest usually produce too high a percentage of barren flowers, so let them rest for at least another year.

Experts recommend when buying to pay attention to the so-called pelleted seeds, covered with a colored shell of a solution of fertilizers and nutrients - they are already completely ready for planting in the ground

Correct selection of seeds is a guarantee of a cucumber harvest

If you are independently breeding seeds or purchasing them at the bazaar, then prepare them in advance. Soak them for 12 hours in a solution of such trace elements per 1 liter of water:

• 0.2 g of boric acid;
• 0.5 g of potassium permanganate;
• 0.4 g of ammonium molybdenum acid;
• 0.01 g of copper sulfate.

A solution of 10 ml of liquid humate in 0.5 liters of water is well suited for soaking. You can also buy ready-to-use mix from a hardware store.

After soaking, dry the seeds until flowing or leave to germinate in peat cups for seedlings: this will help you achieve earlier yields.

Trellis making

As we said above, making tapestries is quite simple. Thick strong branches (preferably straight), pine round timber and even metal or reinforced concrete posts of the required length can serve as supports.

Wooden trellises are easier to manufacture, moreover, they will cost less, if not completely free. If you prefer this design, consider the following rules. The length of the outer support pillars should be about 2.8 meters, the diameter of the upper cut should be from 50 mm or more. Since it is on them that the main load of the entire row on the trellis will fall, the extreme pillars should be much stronger than the intermediate ones.

Wooden trellises are simple and cheap to design, great for small spaces

Auxiliary (intermediate) supports can be up to 2.4 meters in length, cut diameter - from 35 to 40 mm. The need to install them is determined by the length of the cucumber beds. For example, with a length of up to 2 meters, additional supports may not be needed.

We will consider the options for the most simple, and at the same time reliable designs of trellises, which you can easily make yourself from available tools.

The simplest wooden trellis

To build such a trellis, install support posts on the garden bed at a distance of 2.5 meters from each other. Beam a 70-80 cm long bar on top of each post (this can be a board or a bar). Connect the entire structure with a spacer bar the size of the bed length.

Installation scheme for trellis and planting cucumbers

Drive in nails every 50 cm from the top of the crossbars - the wire will be fixed to them. This completes the creation of the trellis structure, as a whole. It remains only to cut the twine into pieces of 2.5 meters. At one end, such a piece is tied to a cucumber stalk, the second must be thrown over the wire, slightly pulled and secured.

Tapestry from improvised means

On a small bed, the trellis can be made of two wooden posts and a net stretched between them. There is a slight difficulty: when the cucumbers ripen, the net begins to sag under their weight and can not only tear, but also bring down the entire structure. To prevent this from happening, it is not enough just to pull the net between the posts, you also need to pull it up from above.

To do this, securely fasten a horizontal lintel to the posts so that a U-shaped structure with a mesh inside is formed. So the trellis will be stronger and more stable, it will not be damaged under the weight of the cucumbers.

A well-fortified U-shaped trellis will withstand a large number of cucumbers

In addition, a cucumber trellis can even be made from an old bed frame with a net. It can be deepened into the ground up to 60 cm in an upright position. If necessary, secure the structure by tying it with ropes to any support nearby - a tree, a fence.

Hut constructions

For stability, secure the stakes with boards or slate

For such a trellis, you will need several strong, even branches of any tree.

Insert the branches into the garden bed, deepening them properly. For additional fixation, you can use boards or slate pieces, as in the picture.

From above, tie the tops of the cuttings at one level and lay another peg. The result is a design similar to a wigwam. When the cucumbers grow up, they will climb up without any problems, clinging to the supports with their antennae. Over time, the vines can be tied with twine.

Video: making a trellis for cucumbers

Planting methods and options for the formation of cucumbers

So, all the preparatory measures have been taken, warm weather has set in the street, the earth has warmed up and you have armed yourself with everything you need. It's time to get down to business.

Distribution of land, preparation of rows

If you decide to grow different varieties of cucumbers on a trellis, then prepare rows for planting right away. There are three planting methods.

1. A comb-bed is a familiar and common option for us. On such a bed, it is easy to loosen the soil, weed and fertilize. But there are two serious drawbacks: when watering, the water will drain, and during rain, splashes of dirt fall on the lower leaves, which significantly increases the risk of disease for cucumbers.

   

   Planting cucumbers using the "bed-comb" method

2. Tunnel cultivation. The beds are sunk below the path and then brought to the required level by mulching. Watering such an area is easy, the soil requires a minimum of maintenance and processing. In addition, you can install a film covering on such a bed in order to accelerate the growth of cucumbers and protect them from possible return frosts. But the preparatory work is quite difficult: you will need a trench and preliminary soil cultivation to a great depth. This method is not suitable for areas with high groundwater levels and clayey soil.

   

   Tunnel planting of cucumbers

3. A very convenient way that is gaining popularity lately is high beds. The peculiarity of the trellis method is that the height of the sides of the bed is 10–20 cm above the soil level.

   

   Growing cucumbers in "high beds" with trellises

With either method, cucumbers are planted as seeds or seedlings in one line. Observe the distance between the lines of 1.5 m, and between the plants in each line - up to 25 cm. You need to deepen the seed into the soil by 2-3 cm, then mulch the bed by about 3 centimeters with sawdust, peat or straw. Then cover the bed with plastic wrap.

An approximate scheme for planting cucumbers on a trellis in the open field

Installation option for a single-plane trellis

You can set the trellis before planting the cucumbers or later, when the sprouts are well established in the soil. In the second case, it will be more convenient for you to see where it is easier to fix the supports.

Diagram of a one-plane inclined trellis

Take the prepared stakes and drive them into the soil, keeping a distance of 2–2.5 meters between them. Pull the mesh between them, fastening it with nails. Instead of a net, you can stretch wire or synthetic twine in several rows. Tie the grown grown sprouts to a net or wire to set the direction of growth. Over time, the cucumber vine will independently master the trellis.

Another simple sloped trellis for growing cucumbers outdoors

Video: installation of the structure

Further care for cucumbers

After planting in open ground on a trellis, cucumbers require routine maintenance. Common varieties of this vegetable will require the formation of a bush, since their female flower stalks are formed on the side shoots. When the bush grows, pinch it above 6 leaves. Thus, you stimulate the formation of side shoots, and on them, in turn, the main part of the crop will be formed.

In hybrid varieties, female flowers are formed on the main stem. You need to limit the growth of the side shoots of the plant, otherwise they will take away nutrients in vain. Pinch them after the first or second leaf so that the main stem grows more intensively.

Remember that cucumbers love moisture, so they need to be watered regularly. The earthen coma should not be allowed to dry out, especially during the period of active growth! This leads to a slowdown in development, and ripe fruits that have received less moisture will become bitter.

Water and fertilize cucumbers on time during the growing season to achieve good results

Water your cucumber garden every 2–3 days, depending on the weather. This must be done carefully, under the root, avoiding drops on the leaves. Use water that has settled in the sun for irrigation.

Mulch using fallen leaves or cut grass. This way you can protect the soil from drying out, and weeding and loosening is not needed

In addition, you will need regular feeding from organic and mineral fertilizers. Do them every 10-15 days, alternating with each other, bringing the solutions under the root and keeping them out of the leaves. Spraying with a urea solution has a good effect on cucumbers, but the procedure should be carried out in the evening to avoid the formation of burns on the greenery.

Harvesting and end-of-season work

Cucumbers begin to bear fruit about 40 days or a little later after the shoots appear. The crop is harvested in this way:

• greens (8-12-day-old ovary) up to 14 cm long for fresh consumption;
• pickles (2-3 day old ovaries) from 3 to 5 cm long for canning;
• gherkins (4-5-day-old ovaries) 5 to 9 cm long for canning.

Harvest ripe cucumbers every 2 days, pickles and gherkins daily. At the same time, immediately discard and remove damaged, rotten, diseased fruits and overgrowths so that they do not deplete the bush and do not interfere with the formation of new ovaries. Morning and evening are the best times to harvest fruits.

Pick cucumbers on time so they don't overripe

When the cucumbers stop bearing fruit and the crop is fully harvested, remove all the stems and leaves of the plants from the trellis. They can be stacked in a compost heap or burned if you notice signs of disease on the surface. Remove the net from the pegs, make sure that there are no plant debris on it. The same goes for wire or twine if you've used them to support and grow the vines.

Remove the pegs from the soil, wipe and dry in an open area. Then put them in the barn until next year, covered with a thick cloth.

Dig up the area where the cucumbers grew, fluff the ground with a rake and remove the roots. At the same time, prepare the bed for next spring as we advised above: dig up, mulch and fertilize with manure.

We hope our tips will help you significantly reduce gardening worries and get a large harvest of cucumbers on the ground using such a convenient design as a trellis. If you have such experience in growing vegetables, tell us about it in the comments, or ask your questions. Good luck!