It is safe to say that not a single summer cottage can do without cucumbers. Some owners grow them in greenhouses, others plant them in open ground, but any plant needs to be provided with ideal conditions and good care. For these crops, the best option is supports that simplify “care” and increase productivity. Therefore, many dacha owners are interested in what a cucumber trellis is, what materials are suitable for it, and how you can make it yourself.
Purpose of the design
Cucumbers are liana-like herbaceous plants, so in their natural environment they look for some kind of support. They become neighboring bushes and tree branches. However, in a summer cottage, a trellis for cucumbers is the only device that makes it possible to provide the bushes with maximum light for development, and also greatly facilitates their care.
Most often, summer residents use simple trellises, which can be either stationary or portable. Their main task is to support cucumber shoots. Thus, the plant can grow and develop in ideal conditions, and they guarantee the correct formation of cucumbers. Trellis also have other tasks:
- With this help, the stem stretches upward, so the risk of rotting is reduced; this arrangement protects the plant from some insects, for example, from slugs.
- The bush receives maximum air and light, and these are the best conditions for growth and development, which certainly affects the yield of the crop.
- Correct placement of the vine on the structure is a good chance of extending the fruiting period.
- Bushes that have supports and stretch upward make them much easier to care for—feeding and watering them.
If the trellis for cucumbers is not in a greenhouse, but on the site, then it can become a real decoration of the territory - it can be a hedge, an attractive decorative element.
Why do you need a trellis
Cucumber is a climbing crop. In the absence of support, the shoots spread along the ground, and this entails many problems, including cucumber diseases, rotting of the shoots, and uneven distribution of sunlight.
The trellis allows you to:
- It is rational to use the area for planting: such a bed accommodates more bushes than when planting without using a support for cucumbers, but at the same time saves space in the garden.
- Avoid contact of leaves and stems with the ground and thereby prevent the risk of infection with infectious spores.
- Make it easier to weed and loosen the soil of a cucumber bed.
- Ensure proper watering and fertilizing of the plant: at the root of the bush.
- Distribute the air and light reaching the cucumbers.
- Increase the yield of cucumber bushes.
- Keep the fruits clean and ensure their uniform color.
- Quickly determine the ripening of cucumbers.
- Harvest without damaging the plant stems.
Pros and cons of trellises
The trellis is the most common design, as it guarantees:
- uniform illumination of plants, due to which the formation of sugar in fruits is accelerated, and it makes the taste of the fruit richer and more pleasant;
- maximum evaporation of moisture from the leaves: liquid remaining on the plants can cause burns;
- excellent ventilation of the bush, so moisture does not linger in it, causing rot;
- the ability to quickly detect the disease, because bushes and fruits can be viewed from any side;
- uniform placement of canes on trellises, simplifying plant care;
- faster formation of ovaries and fruits;
- easy harvesting.
Cucumbers grown on trellises are almost perfect. There is no rot on them, and pests have to try hard to get to the “forbidden fruit”.
If we talk about the disadvantages, then they can be considered a higher consumption of water and fertilizers. However, a rich harvest will make this minus insignificant.
What are the advantages of trellises?
Recently, many gardeners have been inclined to grow vegetable and berry crops on trellises. This method is perfect for cucumbers, and here's why:
This method has only one drawback - the labor-intensive construction of the structure. However, there are also modern systems that are simply installed and just as easily removed for the winter.
Cucumbers with abundant greenery and many fruits grow on trellises
Trellis prices
trellises
Principles of trellis arrangement
The structures are located on the site according to certain rules that help achieve a good harvest with maximum convenience. For example:
- the optimal place for the structure is the south side of the garden plot, where there are no drafts;
- The installation location must be level or slightly sloping;
- The soil is chosen to be fertile or it is fed in advance with organic fertilizer to achieve a good harvest.
Cucumbers are planted in the garden next to the trellis. The distance between plants should be from 15 cm for ordinary varieties and from 25 cm for crops with lush greenery.
Layout of cucumber bushes
Types of devices
Such structures can be purchased ready-made; they are made of plastic. However, a do-it-yourself trellis for cucumbers is a completely realistic operation, since the work will not take much effort or a lot of time. The materials for its assembly will most likely be found in any household: wood or metal are possible candidates.
When choosing a model, pay attention to the area where cucumbers grow (open ground, greenhouse, greenhouse), the shape of the bed, and the characteristics of the growth and development of the crop. All devices that you assemble yourself can be divided into types.
Horizontal trellises
These are the simplest designs that are often chosen by beginning gardeners. It consists of supports installed along the edges of the bed, and rows of strong rope (wire) stretched between them. The distance between them is approximately 300 mm. There is only one drawback to such a trellis: if the bushes grow higher than the structure, the plant begins to hang down, so due to the shading of some areas, uniform lighting becomes impossible.
Vertical fixtures
There are several options. The first of them is a type of trellis, which will require more material, since each bush needs its own design. The device for cucumbers is very simple: it is a wooden or metal pole that is simply stuck into the ground near the bush. The crop is tied to it with a rope or tape.
The second option is a design of two posts that are connected by a crossbar. Cords are fixed on it, which are lowered to the ground and pulled. In this case, each bush also has its own vertical support.
Trellis nets
At the factory, these structures are made of polycarbonate. When working independently, use vertical posts, between which a mesh is stretched, the cell dimensions of which are 15x17 cm.
This distance will make it possible to pass cucumber tops through them: in this case, a garter will not be needed at all, the plant will cling to the mesh and reach for the sun on its own. The mesh is sometimes replaced with wooden elements - thin slats. In this case, the trellis turns into decor.
Rectangular structures, huts and “wigwams”
These options do not have any special advantages over other models, except for the fact that these trellises can serve not only as support for bushes, but also as decoration for the site. As for the design of structures, the choice depends on the owners: some stretch a mesh between the posts, others use horizontal or vertical threads.
Wigwam huts are assembled from stakes or thick branches. To secure the structure, the elements are tied at the top with a cord or rope. In open ground, the height of such a device should be at least 70-80 cm. The advantage of this method is the attractive appearance of the trellis. The structure, completely covered with plants, resembles a real tree.
A similar structure can be made from a piece of reinforcement and ropes. In this case, the plants are planted in a circle, a stand is driven into the center, to which cords are tied. They are pulled to each bush and secured at the bottom (for example, with pegs).
Round or arched trellises
Possible materials for the first designs are two bicycle rims (wheels) or hoops. The upper element is secured with wire to a pole dug into the ground. The lower rim acts as a weighting agent, which provides tension to the ropes.
Arches are created from meshes, metal rods or plastic pipes. The latest designs are more complex, since the products for this support will have to be bent. Meshes are also stretched between them, which are additionally fixed using intermediate posts. In this case, the designs are universal.
Trellis storage
If the design of the trellis is simple and allows the possibility of its division into parts, each part must be removed for storage.
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At the end of the season, after the final harvest, the cucumber tops are removed from the trellises. The wire, twine or mesh is cleaned. If the frame is wooden, the posts need to be removed from the bed, washed, dried and stored until the next season, wrapped in natural fabric.
If the frame cannot be disassembled, you can cover it from the weather. In this case, you need to remember that it is not recommended to plant cucumbers for longer than two years in one place. When moving a cucumber bed to another place, you can, for example, plant beans under a trellis.
Using a trellis for cucumbers is possible both in an open garden bed and in a greenhouse. The variety of shapes of support structures opens up possibilities for creativity. If you show your imagination, a self-made trellis can become a real decoration for your garden.
What is the cucumber trellis made of?
Any structure consists of a frame, on which a more convenient and reliable mesh is often stretched, because it can better withstand bad weather - for example, strong wind.
Materials of construction
Factory models are made of polypropylene, which is resistant to temperature changes, moisture and sunlight. Therefore, the first option for self-production is plastic pipes.
Tree
Wood is the most popular material when it comes to making any items on your own. An undeniable advantage is the ease of working with lumber. Thin slats can replace the mesh, and such a lattice will not only be a trellis, but also a decorative element. The disadvantage of the material is its naturalness: wood has many enemies, so the material must be protected as much as possible from moisture, fire, rodents and insects.
Metal
A trellis for cucumbers can be made of reinforcement. This material is reliable and durable, however, in order to protect it as much as possible from external influences, before starting work, the elements are treated with a primer, paint with anti-corrosion components, etc. Wire makes it possible to obtain a completely metal structure.
Forged products are another potential type of structure, but only a craftsman who is well acquainted with this craft can make such a trellis on his own. On the other hand, this beautiful structure will only attract attention until it is hidden under the plants.
Types of mesh for trellises
For plants in open ground, this type of material is most often used. There are several candidates.
- Plastic. These products are lightweight, but at the same time durable and wear-resistant. Therefore, structures with plastic mesh can last for more than one season.
- Metal. In all respects, such products are superior to plastic products, since metal is able to withstand severe loads and adverse conditions. The disadvantages of the material are the need for regular protection with anti-corrosion compounds, the high price of the mesh.
Trellis - trellis nets. This option is more preferable, which is why it remains the most popular type. The trellis net is very easy to attach to any supports and can be used many times. If the length of the bed exceeds 10 m, then additional posts must be added to the structure, otherwise the material will sag.
How to grow cucumbers on a trellis
The trellis for cucumbers should be strong, and the height of any trellis should be about one and a half meters. This is the approximate height of the vine when it reaches maturity. Cucumber trellises are easy to make yourself. The trellis should be placed in a permanent place when the seedlings reach 10-12 cm in height.
Attention! The plant must be guided along the trellis when the fifth leaf appears. If you attach an adult fruiting vine to a support, most likely, fruiting will stop.. Attach the lower part of the support securely to the soil at a distance of 10 cm from the stem of the plant so as not to disturb the roots
Cucumber vine produces long tendrils that should wrap around the trellis as the vine grows. The antennae are very fragile, so be careful when handling them.
Fasten the bottom of the support securely into the soil at a distance of 10 cm from the plant stem so as not to disturb the roots. Cucumber vine produces long tendrils that should wrap around the trellis as the vine grows. The antennae are very fragile, so be careful when handling them.
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Every day, inspect the vine to see how it is attached to the trellis. If the tendrils cannot wrap themselves around a rope or rail, you need to carefully straighten the delicate tendril and wrap it around a cucumber support. The many tendrils will hold the vine upright and provide good support for heavy cucumbers. If for some reason this does not happen on your own, you can always carefully tie the vines to the trellis with strips of soft fabric. Make sure you tie strips of growing cucumber fabric loosely around the vine, giving them some room in the stem loop to grow and thicken. When the grown lash reaches the top of the trellis, it is carefully, loosely tied and lowered to grow down. When it is approximately 80 cm above the ground, the tip is excised.
Cucumbers need at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Choose a sunny place to install the structure, where there is no shading of the upper vertical space of 1-2 meters for placing the structure with a growing cucumber vine.
The soil
Cucumbers need loose soil that is rich in organic matter and has a neutral pH. The pH level can be determined using a simple soil test made from an inexpensive kit that can be purchased at any garden center. The soil should have a reading between 5.5 and 7 for optimal cucumber growth.
When planting seeds or plants in the ground, dig a planting hole. Mix the soil removed from it 50/50 with compost. Fill the hole halfway, plant the plant, and fill it to the top with soil. Press the soil down lightly. For container plants, use quality potting soil that is loose and contains plenty of organic matter. You can also add aged compost.
Watering
This is a very important point in the agricultural technology of cucumbers, because they are an extremely moisture-loving crop. If you want to get a bountiful harvest, especially when growing cucumbers on a trellis, you need to water the plantings every day, morning or evening
Due to the high water content of the fruit, it is very important to irrigate the plant regularly and deeply. But avoid wetting the foliage and over-watering
Mulching
Dry periods are not beneficial for cucumber plants and negatively affect the quality of the crop. Mulching around the base of the plant will prevent the soil from drying out too quickly. Weeds will also have a hard time breaking through a thick layer of mulch. The cover of the bed can be made from spruce branches, pine litter, and mowed weeds.
How to tie up a plant?
Without a garter, the plant will not be able to climb the trellis to a great height, since the tendrils will break off under the weight of the lashes and fruits. Strong winds can also contribute to their damage. To prevent any troubles, use materials that are required to:
For example, synthetic ropes and plastic adjustable clamps are suitable options.
Plants begin to be tied when the bushes reach a height of about 300 mm. A slip knot is made under the lowest sheet. Enough space is left between the rope and the stem to thicken it. The stem is tied in several convenient places, the knots are made under the rosettes of leaves. When the bush reaches the top of the trellis, it is tied to it.
Do-it-yourself cucumber trellis is an operation that cannot be called a difficult job. To find out what kind of design a master can create, you can watch the following popular video:
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Comparative analysis of types of cucumber cultivation
The most common and least labor-intensive method for planting is spreading, despite the fact that cucumbers are climbing plants that have all the signs of vines and require appropriate conditions:
- wind-blown to level out temperature changes during the day;
- no contact of greenery with soil saturated with harmful microorganisms and fungi that cause diseases.
Spreading does not allow the root system to receive enough light and moisture. The same problem arises with growing cucumbers in bags or barrels. In this case, more frequent watering will be required, and the likelihood of rotting increases many times. However, the advantage of this method is its simplicity and space saving.
The trellis makes it easier to harvest cucumbers. This design ensures an easy process of collecting vegetables, they are always in sight.
Trellis structures are more practical, as they will last for several seasons and allow you to change the crop rotation on the site, growing beans or other climbing plants. When watering, less water is used, and it goes directly to the rhizome, and the cucumbers themselves are clean when harvested. Treatment with preparations and fertilization, fluffing up the soil after watering are simplified. Seedlings suffer less from diseases and rot.
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Types of supports
The basis for the borage is made of wood or metal. Creating steel structures requires the availability of the necessary tools and minimal metalworking experience. Wooden supports are erected faster and at lower cost. To create a simple trellis, you only need a hacksaw and a hammer, and the material in the form of bars or slats can always be purchased at a hardware store. In addition, wooden supports are lighter and can always be installed in a new location. The finished frame is coated with an antiseptic with a protective coating. This prevents the material from rotting, prevents the formation of fungus, and improves the appearance.
For your information!
It is better to use hard wood for supports: they are stronger and will last longer.
Metal bases are distinguished by their heaviness, complexity of manufacture and installation. To make them, you will at least need a drill or screwdriver. Durable structures are obtained by connecting parts by welding. The metal frame must be coated with anti-corrosion substances (primer, paint, mastic). It is quite difficult to move iron trellises; they are often made stationary, firmly fixed on the site.
Trellis net for cucumbers: features of plant garter
You can purchase nets for this trellis, intended for bushes with cucumbers, at any store. A trellis net for cucumbers, as in the photo, will help them weave freely in the cells. In addition, you can design the trellises from the mesh in any way: make a frame in the form of a triangle, stretched between 2 columns, or place the beds on the site using any convenient method.
- The trellis structure consists of a mesh and support posts.
- You can make racks from metal pipes, concrete columns or wooden blocks.
In order to form a mesh weave, you can use rope, wire or hemp twine. These days, plastic mesh for supports is very popular. This is due to the speed and ease of installation and the availability of the material itself. To install such a structure, you will need to purchase a trellis for cucumber bushes in an online store, and then secure it with wire at the top of the columns. The lower edges of the trellis should be slightly deeper into the ground, using special hooks made of wire.
This trellis is made and installed very simply and quickly. And it looks quite attractive. In addition, making your own trellis for tomatoes and cucumbers is very easy.
Convenient support net for cucumbers: material characteristics.
Since cucumber is an unpretentious plant, an ordinary plastic mesh may be quite suitable for making a trellis. This material is somewhat similar in appearance to fishing line made from a very durable polymer. It is quite difficult to break.
The polypropylene material is used for the manufacture of support nets. It has excellent resistance to various mechanical deformations and external influences. This material is not subject to rotting, and its service life under the influence of sunlight will be approximately 7 years.
Trellis gratings are made in green color. The grid cells are very large. They are approximately 160-170mm. And the ribs are so tonic that they are practically invisible. In addition to all this, this material can perfectly support the stems of cucumbers with fruits. This mesh is suitable for growing cucumbers and other annual vegetables: zucchini, tomatoes, beans, sweet and green peas.
How to install a net for cucumbers: photos of designs
Now it's time to talk about how to make a trellis for cucumbers with your own hands. In particular, let's talk about installation. The technique for using a mesh for a cucumber support is very simple:
- First, you should lay the material on the soil, folding it in several layers. This procedure must be done so that the cells can completely match.
- Seedlings or seeds need to be planted in the opening of the cells. Using a net, you need to plant the bed evenly. This won't give you much trouble.
- Along the edges of the area it is necessary to install columns on which the material should be fixed; this should be done as the plant sprouts grow.
- At the moment the first shoots appear, it is necessary to lift the canvas and fix it in a horizontal position above the bed. There is no need to tie up the plants: the cucumbers begin to cling to the supports with the help of their tendrils.
- The canvas should be raised to a vertical position and secured at the required level on the columns as the plant grows. We advise you to use plastic clamps for fixation.
- After the cucumbers have grown to fruiting time, they will be securely attached to the support.
Do-it-yourself trellises for cucumbers in a greenhouse: options for tying plants
It is imperative to garter cucumbers in a greenhouse. Despite the fact that a large number of gardeners are confident that the plant is perfectly protected by the greenhouse material. For gartering, you will need trellises for cucumbers that grow in the greenhouse. It’s quite possible to make them with your own hands.
Thanks to the garter, the cucumber bushes will receive more sun. This is very important when growing in a greenhouse. In addition, with the help of antennae, cucumbers begin to cling to each other and form so-called glomeruli. Mold begins to grow in these tangles, and the bush simply rots. You can avoid this by keeping the plants separate. The garter will help the side branches of the bushes curl better. Female flowers will be placed on them. This arrangement will help significantly increase the yield of bushes.
For gartering in a greenhouse, the same methods are suitable as for plants growing in an open space: vertical, horizontal, or using a net.
Forming plant bushes using a combined method is also quite effective.
A method for blinding cucumbers.
Many experienced vegetable growers are confident that crops should not grow uncontrollably in width and height. For these purposes, the main stem should be tied to a vertical trellis, and then all lateral tendrils and shoots that are located above 50 cm from the ground should be removed. Thanks to this procedure, cucumbers will direct all their strength to setting fruit on the main stem. The bush itself will hurt less. and besides, it will not block nearby sprouts. And the plant should be tied under the second leaf.
Method for polycarbonate greenhouses.
A garter is used to a vertical support, having a height of approximately two meters. This structure is attached to the side of the metal frame of the greenhouse.
In order to make a support, you can take some unnecessary fabric. It should be cut into strips 3-4cm wide.
If the strips are not very long, then you can easily correct this defect by sewing on individual parts or simply tying them together. This support will not last long. And instead of fabric you can take thin twigs. Cucumber bushes can cling to them beautifully. But you will need to clear the support from knots. Only the stem should be left.
V-shaped garter.
This method will help divide the bush in two. You need to lower 2 twines from above and tie the bushes at the base. Next, you should direct the main and another large side shoot along the lowered twine.
This method will prevent overgrowing of the base of the crop. Thanks to this, they will get sick less and will be able to get the right amount of sun.
How to create a trellis for cucumbers with your own hands: options for supports
There are many options for making your own support structures, which are used for growing cucumbers on a support in the soil or in a greenhouse.
Before you begin installing the trellis yourself, you must first determine the appearance of the structure. Currently, you can make the following supports for your cucumbers (photos can clearly demonstrate this). They may look like:
- cabinet,
- tent,
- square shape,
- mesh or rectangular shape.
You should also choose the material from which the trellis will be made. You can make a support using:
- natural wood,
- metal tubes,
- metal mesh.
DIY metal trellises for cucumbers: photo of supports.
To make a metal trellis you will need some materials and tools. You should prepare them in advance:
- 2 metal tubes or columns. Their length should be 2 meters.
- 1 metal tube, which is required for the crossbar. Its length should be equal to the length of the beds with cucumbers.
- roulette.
- metal stakes. Their number will depend on the size of the beds.
- string or twine.
- knife.
- electrodes.
- hammer.
- shovel.
- steel wire.
- electric welding.
Making a metal trellis for growing cucumbers will consist of several main stages:
- First, you should dig 2 columns into the soil along the edge of the beds with cucumbers. The digging depth of the pillar should be approximately 40-45cm. This value will give you the opportunity to guarantee the stability and reliability of the support. Many vegetable growers advise hitting the post with a hammer a couple of times in order to more reliably drive it into the ground. Then you need to fill the hole with soil and compact it well around it.
- Secondly, you need to attach the crossbar using electric welding for these purposes.
- After this, you should drive a pair of stakes at a distance of 17-20 cm on both sides of the bed.
- Next, you need to tighten the string or twine - they will become an excellent support. Sprouts of bushes will curl along it. You need to tie the end of a skein of rope to the very first peg.
- Then you should pull the twine in a vertical position up to the crossbar, wrap it around it, and lower it vertically down. Tie it to a peg on the other side of the bed.
- This procedure should be repeated until you have tied all the driven pegs. As a result, you will get a trellis for milking cucumbers, which will have the shape of the letter L.
A metal trellis made independently will have a big disadvantage: It will succumb to rust. You, of course, can fix this if you coat the stakes in several layers with an anti-corrosion agent or a high-quality primer.
In addition to all this, the disadvantages of this type of support include the inability to disassemble the structure at the end of the season. To move it, you will need to dig the columns and supports into the ground again.
Trellis for growing cucumbers: wooden support.
A self-made trellis for cucumbers is an incredibly useful structure. Making a structure from wood is an easier method and can be great for novice vegetable growers who want to grow cucumbers using a trellis. To make this support you will need:
- the bar is 5m in size.
- 3 bars. their length should be 2.7 m.
- steel wire.
- twine.
- 3 wooden crossbars. Their length should be 0.8 m.
- nails.
- hammer.
- shovel.
To make a wooden trellis yourself, you need to do the following:
- First, you should prepare the area where the wooden trellises will be installed.
- Then you will need to dig 3 holes. their depth should be 80cm at a distance of approximately 2.5m from each other.
- Wood blocks should be inserted into the dug holes and buried thoroughly in the soil.
- Then, in the upper part of each block, you should nail a crossbar so that the structure can resemble the letter T. You should have 3 of these trellises. They need to be placed in the garden next to each other.
- The next stage of work: all 3 structures must be connected in the middle. To do this you will need a long spacer strip and nails.
- Use nails to tighten the wire.
You need to cut the twine into equal lengths. their length should be approximately 250-270cm. One end of the twine needs to be tied to the wire, and the other end must be tied to the cucumber stems.
Let's sum it up
The technology of growing vegetable plants using trellises is quite convenient and very effective. Bushes of plants, fixed and placed in a vertical position, will take up less space in your garden bed and will rarely break.
If you translate the word trellis from French, it means support or shoulder. At first, these supports were used only for decorative purposes for flowering plants. After a while, trellises began to be used in agriculture. You can easily find photographs of do-it-yourself trellises for cucumbers, peas, tomatoes and various other crops on the Internet.
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