Cucumber on a Trellis: More Fruit From Less Space

Trellising turns a sprawling vine into a clean, productive wall of plants.

Benefits

• Straighter, cleaner fruit off the soil.
• Better airflow and sun, so less mildew.
• Faster, easier picking and spraying.
• More plants per square metre of greenhouse.

How

Use strong support wire or net; train the main stem up and clip it, remove side shoots below the first fruit nodes, and tie gently as it grows.

Care

Cucumbers are 95% water, so irrigate often in small amounts, and feed with potassium for fruit set. Pick every day or two; leaving overripe fruit on the vine stops new fruit forming.