Cucumbers on a trellis - growing in a greenhouse and open ground

To reduce the risk of developing fungal diseases and increase the yield of cucumbers, when cultivating them in a greenhouse, it is recommended to tie cucumber vines on trellises. A trellis is a special vertical support, traditionally used when growing climbing plants, including cucumbers. In specialized garden stores you can purchase ready-made trellis structures, or you can, using available tools and the recommendations presented in this article, make a trellis for cucumbers with your own hands.

What is a trellis

The neat design, which helps green cucumber stems grow freely and trail, is deservedly popular among summer residents and experienced gardeners. The trellis not only helps to save space, but also allows you to comfortably grow vegetables.

Among the variety of designs, it is easy to choose the appropriate option. According to the method of arrangement, there are two types of trellises:

single-plane - the optimal choice for arranging small beds. Structures 1.5-2 m high provide plants with good lighting and ventilation. Such trellises can be used as partitions;
two-plane - a good solution for arranging large double-row beds. Installed at an angle.

Trellis are constructed from different materials. Manufacturers offer supporting structures made of plastic and metal. Most often, gardeners use improvised materials to build supports: stakes, sticks, metal reinforcement, rims from bicycle wheels.

What materials can be used for gartering cucumbers?

To tie cucumber plants, you can use any soft materials, for example:

scraps of fabric;
scraps from nylon tights;
polyethylene tape;
jute twine.

Scraps of old natural fabrics 3-5 cm wide are convenient, but rarely last more than one season. Nylon is stronger, but it is more difficult to cut, and the material itself is too slippery and does not hold shoots well. The twine is very good, but since it is thin, if you work carelessly, you can injure the plants. Gardening stores sell special reusable plastic clips, which are very convenient to use, as well as staplers charged with garter tapes.

Advantages of using the trellis method of growing in open ground and greenhouses

The most common method of growing cucumbers is arranging trellises. It is easy to monitor the growth of fruits and prevent overripening. But the trellis option has other advantages:

site area is saved;
the green mass of bushes receives enough sunlight and is well ventilated;
the number of ovaries increases, the fruits do not lie on the ground and remain clean;
comfortably care for plants and harvest;
the green mass remains dry, which reduces the likelihood of disease.

There will always be available tools on site for arranging a trellis and you won’t have to spend a lot of time installing it. In a greenhouse, you can use the frame as supports.

Trellis for growing cucumbers: wooden support

Creating a structure made of wood is considered the simplest way and is perfect even for novice gardeners who have decided to grow cucumbers using a support for the first time.

To create such a trellis you will need:

three bars about 2.7 m long;
plank measuring 5 m;
steel wire;

Wooden trellises are quite popular among garden owners.

three wooden crossbars 0.8 m long;
twine;
hammer;
nails;
shovel.

To make a wooden trellis with your own hands, you need to follow these steps:

Prepare the place where the wooden supports will be installed.
You should dig three holes 80 cm deep at a distance of about 2.5 m from each other.
You need to insert wooden blocks into the prepared holes and carefully bury them in the ground.
After this, a crossbar must be nailed to the top of each block so that the structure resembles the letter “T”. There should be three such supports. They should be placed one after another in the garden bed.
Next, all three structures need to be connected in the middle. To do this you will need nails and a long spacer bar.
After this, you need to tighten the steel wire using nails.
Cut the twine into equal pieces (their length should be approximately 250 cm). We tie one end to the wire, and tie the cucumber stems with the other.

The reliability and durability of the trellis structure depends on the material of the installation method - there are both temporary and permanent options.

The technique of growing fruit crops using trellises is very convenient and effective. Plants placed and secured vertically take up significantly less space in the garden and rarely break.

Translated from French, the word “trellis” means “shoulder” or “support.” At first, such support structures were used exclusively for decorative purposes for flowering crops. Over time, trellises began to be used in agriculture. Photos of do-it-yourself trellises for peas, cucumbers, tomatoes and other crops can be found on the Internet with a detailed description of their creation.

DIY trellises: how to effectively hide from your neighbors (read more)

How to place it correctly on the site

Cucumbers are a moisture-loving crop, so it is advisable to place the beds near a water source. A universal option is to install a drip irrigation system. At the same time, water will be used sparingly, each bush will receive full watering and the liquid will not get on the leaves and stems.

To ensure that the plants are illuminated evenly and receive equal portions of illumination, the trellises are placed in the east-west direction. For comfortable maintenance of plants, the distance between the beds should be 0.8-0.9 m. If the bushes are planted in two rows, then a distance of 0.15-0.2 m is maintained between the rows.

When growing any vegetables, it is important to follow the rules of crop rotation. It is not recommended to plant cucumbers in one place for more than two seasons in a row. Therefore, it is advisable to install simple structures that will be easy to assemble/disassemble and move to another location.

Convenient support net for cucumbers: material characteristics

Since cucumber is an unpretentious crop, even the cheapest plastic mesh is suitable for creating a trellis. The material looks like a fishing line made of durable polymer, which is difficult to break.

Fruits grown on a trellis always have a more beautiful shape and even color.

Polypropylene, used for the production of trellis nets, is resistant to mechanical deformation and external influences. The material does not rot, and its service life under the influence of the sun is about seven years. Support gratings are manufactured in a standard green color.

The mesh cell is quite large, 150-170 mm, and the rib is so thin that it is visually almost invisible. At the same time, the material is able to qualitatively support cucumber stems with fruits. This net is suitable for growing not only cucumbers, but also other annual crops: tomatoes, zucchini, green and sweet peas, and beans.

How to install correctly

The structures are assembled from different materials. Correct installation of supports will allow the trellis to reliably support the weight of green mass and fruits. Primary requirements:

the posts are dug into the ground to a depth of 0.5-0.6 m. The earth around the supports is carefully compacted so that they do not lean;
on short beds, it is enough to install racks along the edges and secure one crossbar to them;
if the beds are long (more than 1.5-2 m), then intermediate supports are additionally installed between the outer posts. The distance between adjacent racks should not be less than two meters.

High beds, which are framed around the perimeter, are becoming increasingly popular. In this case, it makes sense to install arched structures, the support posts of which can be fixed to the side walls of the frame.

Design options

Summer residents are creative in creating various support frames for gartering cucumbers from scrap materials. Construction waste, structural elements of buildings and structures, and machine parts are used. Trellis can be temporary (portable) or permanent (stationary). In the latter case, it is necessary to renew the soil every season due to the impossibility of organizing crop rotation. According to the location of the lashes, the supports are:

vertical;
horizontal;
inclined.

Decorative PVC mesh

The use of polyvinyl chloride mesh will not only increase the yield of borage, but will also decorate the garden. For installation you will need racks and crossbars made of any material. The supports are dug or driven into the ground to a depth of about 25-30 cm. A crossbar is attached to the top of them. PVC mesh is stretched between the pillars. It is tied to supports, a crossbar, and buried several centimeters into the ground. A metal wire is used as a jumper. Under these conditions, it is attached to any supporting objects: pillars, fences, walls.

DIY greenhouse

From the wheel rim

An original idea for creating a borage plant, characterized by simplicity and compactness. To implement it you will need two bicycle wheels, a support post, twine, and some wire. Prepare a bed with a diameter slightly larger than the rim. A stand is hammered into the center (you can use a wooden block, steel rod or pipe). The first rim is laid on the ground, and the second is attached to the upper edge of the support using wire. Thread twine through the holes for the spokes and connect the two wheels with it.

Arch shaped

This type of borage is an example of a stationary structure in the form of a canopy. It is based on a metal mesh for concrete reinforcement. The structure consists of two vertical walls connected by an arched element. Wooden boxes are built for them, into which new soil is poured annually. An arch is placed in front of the entrance to the garden for decorative design of the local area - here it opens the way to the open spaces of the site.

DIY making

The choice of the type of structure is influenced by several factors: the area of the plot, the size of the cucumber beds, the availability of materials for self-arrangement of the trellis, and the personal preferences of the gardener. But we must take into account that a cucumber bush can have a significant mass due to the weight of the stems, foliage and fruits. Therefore, any supports must be strong enough.

U-shaped system

The structure is installed along the rows of cucumbers. To construct it, strong supports are dug in along the edges of the bed (wooden posts, metal pipes, slats 2-2.5 m high are used). In order for the structure to remain stable, the distance between the supports should be no more than 2.5-3 m. The tops of the supports are connected by a crossbar.

A mesh is stretched between the vertical supports along the bed. To tie the stems, use strips of fabric or hemp rope. When growing highly growing varieties, it is advisable to tie each bush to a separate rope support.

Frame made of wooden sticks

The classic principle of trellis formation is preserved - support posts are dug along the edges of the bed. To weave cucumber branches, a lathing made of long slats is fixed between the posts. The main difference is that the tops of the supports do not have to be connected by one crossbar if one lattice is installed.

On long beds it is necessary to install intermediate supports. To increase the strength of several connected gratings, a crossbar is secured between the supports.

From scrap materials

It is not necessary to spend money on purchasing a special net, especially for arranging a short cucumber bed. Resourceful summer residents use various materials at hand as support for the stems. An original solution is an armored bed mesh. Naturally, its canvas is fixed on vertical supports. Place the mesh vertically. A horizontal crossbar to which you need to attach the upper part of the mesh will help prevent the wire frame from sagging. You can also attach the net near the wall of the house or wrap it around strong tree branches.

Hut construction

This trellis is installed on short beds and is suitable for growing poorly growing varieties of cucumbers. Thick, even branches, wooden sticks, and ropes are suitable for arranging the structure. The main stages of creating a “hut”:

Along the edges of the bed, at a distance of 35-50 cm, sticks are stuck to a depth of at least 30 cm.
The tops of the sticks are tied in pairs and fixed on one common crossbar.
To weave the stems, you can fasten several horizontal ropes to supports. Or each bush is tied separately to a vertically fixed rope.

An excellent solution is to weave some kind of mesh from horizontally and vertically fixed threads. You can choose the size of the cells yourself.

Round

The original method is to “use” unnecessary bicycle wheels, from which the spokes are first removed.
Secure round supports to different ends of a strong stick or metal pipe using screws. See also Possible diseases of cucumbers in open ground and methods of their treatment

The threads are pulled vertically between the rims and secured in the holes from the knitting needles. Cucumbers are planted in a circle around the trellis. Such designs look very original and decorate the site in an unusual way.

Trellis net for cucumbers: features of plant garter

You can buy nets for such a trellis for cucumbers at any store. They easily replace both vertical and horizontal garters. Climbing nets allow cucumbers to grow freely in the cells. In addition, mesh trellises can be designed using any method: stretched between two posts, the frame made in the form of a triangle, rectangle, or the beds can be placed on the site in another convenient way.

A trellis net for cucumbers is a popular and inexpensive option available to every gardener.

The trellis structure consists of support posts and mesh. Racks can be made of metal pipes, wooden blocks or concrete posts. To form a mesh weave, you can use rope, hemp twine or wire. Currently, a special plastic mesh for trellises is especially popular. This recognition is explained by the ease of installation and availability of the material.

To install the structure, just buy a trellis for cucumbers in an online store and secure it with wire on the top of the posts. The lower edge of the support must be deepened into the ground and secured with special wire hooks.

This trellis is made and installed quite quickly and looks attractive. In addition, it is not difficult to make a trellis for tomatoes and cucumbers with your own hands.

What varieties can be grown

Before choosing the type of structure and method of its installation, it is advisable to decide on the variety of cucumbers and the characteristics of their cultivation.

Bunch hybrids

The peculiarity of the varieties is a large number of ovaries (more than 3 female flowers are formed in each node); hybrids are both parthenocarpic (do not require pollination by insects) and bee-pollinated. The fruits ripen are small in size (gherkins and pickles). Other advantages of hybrids:

cucumber bushes are characterized by consistently high fruiting;
the fruits do not outgrow;
Since several ovaries are formed simultaneously in the nodes, several fruits ripen at once (about 12-15 pieces).

If the yield has decreased, there may be several reasons: high air temperature, lack of moisture, excess nitrogen fertilizers. It should also be taken into account that these are very light-loving varieties of cucumbers, so shading reduces yield.

Varieties with weak branching: Balalaika F1, Bouquet F1, Alphabet F1. Since the plants do not need pinching much, horizontal trellises can be installed on the beds. Plants with powerful branching (Petrel F1, Balcony F1, Karapuz F1) require constant formation of bushes and grow well on vertical trellises.

Fast maturing

Early ripening varieties have a short period of fruit ripening. From the emergence of seedlings to the collection of the first fruits, 38-52 days pass. When choosing varieties, you need to decide on the growing method.

Bee-pollinated varieties can be planted in open ground; this is done in the second half of May. Popular types of cucumbers are Rodnichok F1, Muromsky 36, Murashka F1, Amur F1.

The best choice for a greenhouse is self-pollinating varieties. The best choice is Zozulya, Masha F1. The German F1 cucumber variety deserves attention (the yield per square meter of planting reaches 25 kg).

With abundant branching

Such varieties require constant attention. To simplify care, vertical trellises are installed on the beds and each bush is tied up separately. Cucumbers can be grown in greenhouses and in open ground, but it must be taken into account that plants have a long development period. Good branching is the key to long-term active fruiting. Common varieties: Burevestnik, Bogatyrskaya sila, Boy with Thumb.

With moderate branching

Such cucumbers do not need constant attention, but it is impossible not to form bushes for a long period. The varieties differ in the average period of fruit ripening. It is recommended to plant plants in greenhouses. Popular varieties: Nasha Masha, prestige, Russian style. Breeders have managed to develop cucumber species that are distinguished by limited shoot growth, but at the same time maintain a long fruiting period (Ant F1, Grasshopper F1, Mazai F1).

Why do you need a trellis for cucumbers?

Cucumbers are classified as popular vegetable crops among gardeners and are cultivated almost everywhere. This agricultural plant is capable of growing up to 2 m in height, holding with its tendrils any supports nearby crops, exerting a depressing effect on them. To successfully cultivate climbing varieties of cucumbers both in a greenhouse and in open areas, you need to take care of their garter.

The use of trellises for growing cucumbers allows you to rationally arrange the site and increase the productivity of the vegetable crop

Thanks to the vertical method of cultivating the vine, the plants receive a constant flow of fresh air; it circulates better between them. The crop is less susceptible to invasion by parasitic individuals and pathogenic microorganisms, the pollination process is much more efficient, and the number of barren flowers is reduced to nothing. Therefore, growing cucumbers on a trellis in a greenhouse and in open ground shows the best results; anyone can make such supports.

Planting principles for trellis growing

Planting is carried out in two ways: seedlings and seeds. In both cases, the soil is first loosened and moistened. The choice of trellis depends on the area of the bed and the variety of cucumbers. It is advisable to install the structures before planting seedlings or seeds.

Planting seedlings in open ground

In order for the harvest to appear faster in the cucumber bed, it is recommended to plant seedlings. There are no specific dates for planting seedlings - climatic conditions are the guideline. The planting scheme depends on the type of trellis and the variety of cucumbers. The optimal distance between bushes is 25-30 cm.

You can start staking seedlings after 3-4 weeks, as soon as the stem grows 30-35 cm long. It is important not to miss this moment, since the stems still retain their elasticity. The stems of older plants may simply break when tied. If a special mesh is used, then the stem can be passed through the cells several times. In the event of a sharp spring cold snap after planting seedlings in open ground, it is advisable to cover the trellis with covering material.

Seeding

As soon as the surface layer of the earth warms up to 15 ° C, seed material can be planted in the beds. Before planting, the seeds are heated for 2-3 hours and then soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour.

A common scheme for sowing seeds: 3-4 grains per meter of bed (you need to decide in advance on the type of trellis). If cucumbers are planted in two rows, a distance of 40-50 cm is maintained between the holes.

How to install a net for cucumbers with photos and tips

If installing the mesh is difficult, we will show you how to do it right.

Installing a net for cucumbers in a greenhouse

We place pillars made of wood or metal along the edges of the bed - they need to be immersed in the ground 30 cm. The height is usually about 80 cm. You need to stretch a mesh over the pillars, covering the space vertically.

If the greenhouse is made of wooden beams, then the mesh can be attached to them with nails, a furniture stapler, screws, wire PHOTO: dachamechty.ru

For greater strength, strong rope or wire is stretched along the top and bottom of the mesh. The material itself is fixed on the tables in any way. If the support is wooden, then these can be self-tapping screws or driven nails to which the mesh cells will cling. If the base is metal, you can tie the edges of the mesh with wire, wrapping it around the support. The mesh is secured in the soil with U-shaped pieces of wire, and from above it is attached to the support beam.

Installation of a net for cucumbers in open ground: nuances and installation features

If you plan to install a vertical trellis, you will need a frame or a series of support posts that are securely fixed in the ground.

A-shaped huts look interesting; plants are planted around them on both sides. The stability of such a figure is high, this is especially true in windy areas.

The pillars can be made stationary, but it’s better to just dig them into the ground: remember about crop rotation - next season the beds will be in a different place PHOTO: moya-belarus.ru

You can make an A-shaped model using a wooden beam or metal profile.

A-shaped structures are also easy to install PHOTO: legkovmeste.ru

In general, the installation method does not differ from the greenhouse one, with the exception of the length of the bed and the absence of an upper horizontal support. The larger the bed, the more supports will be required.

How to properly form cucumbers on a trellis

You need to tie up the stems and form bushes throughout the season. Otherwise, the side branches will grow and the harvest will be very meager. Without timely dressing, the stems may break or shade the cucumber planting.

Topping

An important procedure is needed to form cucumber bushes. Pinching increases yield. The plant is pinched in such a way as to preserve the main stem and several shoots.

The removal of growth points on the side branches begins in the summer, when the bushes have grown sufficiently. To direct nutrition to the growth and development of fruits, the lower leaves (3-5 pieces) and the lowest small fruits are also picked off. The main subtleties of bush formation:

Each side shoot is pinched approximately above the middle of the stem (3-4 leaves can be saved on them);
to prevent the stem from breaking during growth, it is regularly wrapped around a rope support;
the tops of the bushes are also wrapped around ropes.

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Important! The tendrils do not need to be specially torn off - they are removed only when forming individual bushes, making sure that neighboring plants do not intertwine.

Garter

Cucumber stems can grow more than 2 m long. And if the green mass is not tied up in time, the stems will get tangled and break. With the trellis method of growing cucumbers, three types of tying the stems are practiced.

Vertical

The essence of the method is simple - high supports along the edges of the bed are connected by a crossbar to which ropes are tied. The lower end of the twine is fixed on a peg stuck near the cucumber bush. If you do not use pegs, it is recommended to wrap the cucumber stem with fabric tape, to which a support rope is tied. The number of rope supports of the trellis should correspond to the number of bushes in the bed.

This method is practiced when growing vegetables in greenhouses. In large buildings, ropes can be tied to the greenhouse frame. Or they build a special frame - a sheathing, which is installed on supports. Vertical staking makes it easier to control the growth of individual bushes.

Horizontal

The most unpretentious method of arranging trellises, which can be used by beginning gardeners. Along the edges of the bed, low posts are dug in (height 1-1.5 m), onto which several parallel rows of twine are secured. The horizontal supports should be pulled tight enough so that they do not sag under the weight of the green mass and fruits. Therefore, you can use thin wire or rope for these purposes.

The distance between horizontal rows is 0.2-0.3 m. The first level is located at a distance of 0.15-0.2 m from the ground surface. To make it convenient for the cucumber stems to climb up the trellis, in some places the horizontal supports are intertwined with vertically located ropes.

See also how many days do cucumber seeds sprout after sowing: reasons for the lack of sprouts

This method of gartering is convenient when growing cucumbers in small open beds. It is only important to control the growth of the stems - long plants will hang down and shade the bushes in the garden bed.

Net

The special canvas is easy to attach to vertical supports. A mesh of thin plastic cells measuring approximately 10x10 cm is stretched between the posts. Manufacturers offer the material in rolls 5-500 m long and 1.7 m wide.

Interesting! It's easy to weave a mesh support yourself. Use thin wire, jute or hemp rope, thin rope. It is easier to fix the mesh on wooden supports, and the size of the cells can be chosen arbitrarily.

Do-it-yourself trellises for cucumbers in a greenhouse: options for tying plants

It is necessary to tie cucumbers in a greenhouse, although many believe that the plants are reliably protected by the greenhouse material

Thanks to the garter, cucumbers receive more sunlight, which is especially important in greenhouse conditions

In addition, with the help of tendrils, plants cling to each other and form balls. Mold grows in these weaves and the bushes begin to rot. This can be avoided by separating the plants. The garter allows for better development of the side branches on which the female flowers are located. This arrangement allows you to increase the yield of bushes.

The same methods are suitable for gartering in a greenhouse as for plants outside: horizontal, vertical and using a net. No less effective is the formation of plants using a combined method.

Tying cucumbers makes it possible to grow more plants in a small area.

Method of blinding cucumbers. Experienced gardeners believe that the plant should not grow uncontrollably in height and width. To do this, the main stem must be tied to a vertical support, and then all side shoots and tendrils that are located above 50 cm from the soil must be removed. Thanks to this, the cucumber will direct all its efforts to setting fruit on the main stem. The bush itself will hurt less and will not be able to block neighboring shoots. You need to tie the plant under the second leaf.

Method for polycarbonate greenhouses. A tie is used to a vertical trellis about 2 m high. The structure is attached to the side of the metal frame of the greenhouse. To make a support, you can use unnecessary fabric, cutting it into strips 2-4 cm wide. If the strips are not long enough, then this defect can be corrected by sewing individual parts or simply tying them. Such a trellis is short-lived. Instead of fabric, you can take thin twigs. Cucumber bushes cling to them well, but you will need to clear the support of knots, leaving only the main stem.

V-shaped garter. This option allows you to divide the bush in two. You should lower two twines from above and tie the cucumber at the base. After this, you need to direct the main and one large side shoot along the lowered twines and allow the plant to cling to them. This method prevents the base of the plant from becoming overgrown, so it gets sick less and receives the necessary amount of sunlight.

Scheme of garter and stem formation of a cucumber.

Features of care

Cucumbers are not a fussy crop. If you properly care for the beds and take into account the developmental characteristics of the plant, it will not be difficult to grow a decent harvest.

Watering

Cucumbers are moisture-loving crops, so they do not allow the soil to dry out too much. Otherwise, the green mass will dry out, and the ovary will turn yellow and fall off. However, waterlogging the soil is also undesirable, since the root system will rot and fungal infections may occur. Basic rules of watering:

Even watering promotes the formation of beautiful, even fruits. Alternating drought with waterlogging can lead to bitter fruits and their deformation;
It is important to take weather conditions into account. In dry, hot weather, the beds are watered every day;
If the plants have not been watered for a long time, the volume of watering is increased gradually.

It is advisable to water the bushes with warm water. Morning and evening hours are the optimal time for watering plants. The wet soil needs to be slightly loosened.

Mulching

The benefits of mulching cannot be underestimated: mulch maintains soil moisture, looseness and fertility, and prevents overheating and cooling of the plant root system. Different materials are used to mulch cucumber beds:

depleted soils are mulched with an organic mixture (manure mixed with hay or straw);
A common option is mowed grass. It is not recommended to use freshly cut greens (mulch cakes, does not allow air to pass through well and can rot), or grass with seeds. Dry material is applied in a layer of at least 7 cm, otherwise the soil in the cucumber bed will dry out quickly;
mulch from rotted sawdust improves the structure of the earth;
Cover the ground with a special black perforated film before planting cucumber seedlings. Holes for seedlings are marked in advance. To prevent the ground from overheating too much, a white covering material is laid over the black canvas.

The dug up beds are covered with mulch in the spring. Pre-litter is removed, fertilizer is applied and the soil is moistened.

Fertilizer

During the season, the beds are fertilized at least four times. When choosing top dressing, you need to take into account the fertility of the land, climate characteristics, and season:

after planting, manure, saltpeter, and potassium salt are used to stimulate the growth of green mass;
When the first flowers appear, ash and superphosphate are used. The composition is added to the soil or simply sprayed on cucumber bushes;
to prolong the growing season, use organic matter or diluted urea (15 g of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water).

If the soil was well fertilized in the spring or the area is fertile, then fertilizing the cucumber bed can be applied twice (at the beginning of the season and to prolong the growing season).

Trimming

Experienced gardeners know that increasing vegetable yields is possible not only by adding fertilizers to the soil. A simple pruning procedure allows you to reduce the growth of green mass and direct nutrients to the formation of the ovary and the growth of fruits. Basic rules of procedure:

It is better to do pruning in the morning;
use special sharp garden shears;
if the growth of the stems has slowed down, you need to thin out the leaves - carry out lightening pruning.

In greenhouses on a cucumber bush below the 6th leaf, all stepsons and leaves are torn off. With further growth of the plant, you can leave several side shoots (no more than six), but you need to make sure that they do not grow longer than 25 cm.

In open ground, cucumber bushes form into several stems, since bee-pollinated varieties have male flowers on the central stem, and female flowers on the side shoots.

Mistakes when gartering cucumbers

Caring for cucumbers is not very difficult, but inexperienced gardeners sometimes make mistakes even when tying them up. Common errors include:

Too late garter. Too much time often leads to damage to the stems.
Tight garter. If you do not leave a loop reserve, with further growth of the stem it may be pinched.
Use of fishing line, wire and other hard materials. This often leads to injury to the stems.
Delay in curling or pinching the crown. If the trellis runs out and the stem grows further, it may break off.

In any case, if the bushes have grown so powerfully that the shoots can no longer find a place to attach, it is better to carry out moderate pruning, or even thinning.

Tying cucumbers is an important stage of agricultural technology: growing in a vertical form is much more effective. The procedure does not take much time, but the supports for the lashes must be strong and reliable.

Harvesting

The first harvest of cucumbers grown on a trellis appears approximately 5-6 weeks after planting (the timing is determined by the varieties). Thanks to the supporting structures, you can comfortably collect fruits of different sizes, using them for various purposes:

cucumbers less than 5 cm long ripen in 2-3 days and are excellent for pickling with spices. In one jar you can combine several small pickled vegetables (cucumbers, beans, cauliflower, corn);
popular gherkins (fruits 5-6 cm long ripen in 5-6 days) are excellent for preservation;
cucumbers up to 13-15 cm long are especially aromatic and juicy, so they are used fresh for making salads.

During the ripening process, it is important to promptly remove damaged or twisted fruits so that they do not waste nutrition. It is best to pick cucumbers in the morning or evening.

Types of trellises and varieties of cucumbers for them

Supports for cucumbers can have different shapes and designs, both simple and fancy. Gardeners mostly make them with their own hands. Supports come in several basic forms:

Frame made of posts and battens.
Shape of a wigwam (hut).
Round trellises in the form of an arch.
In the shape of the letter "P".

Tall varieties are best suited for vertical cultivation:

self-pollinating hybrids of the first generation: Maryina Roshcha, Three Tankmen, Chistye Prudy, Anyuta;
early ripening: Real Colonel, Emelya, Mazai;
Petrel - cucumbers with abundant branching;
Ant, Okhotny Ryad, Cheetah - with moderate branching;
class “Zozulya” with limited branching – Melnitsa, Marta.

What to do after harvesting

At the end of the season, the cucumber bed is tidied up. The remains of plants are dug up and dry leaves are swept away. Sorting is carried out - healthy plants are pulled out and filled into a compost pit, and diseased bushes are necessarily burned.

To extend the life of the trellis, it is dismantled:

The trellis net is carefully removed and rolled up. Rope supports can be untied and wound into balls;
the racks are pulled out, cleared of soil, and left to dry in the open air for a while. It is advisable to store both metal and wooden trellis posts indoors.

After removing plant debris and dismantling the structure, the soil is dug up, the remaining roots are pulled out and burned.

What trellises are popular among summer residents

At the dacha, in a country house, you can find building materials left over from renovation (construction) that can be used to build a cucumber trellis. You can use old water pipes with a diameter of 15-20 mm, bars. Even wheel rims from old bicycles will come in handy.

Metal trellis

It will take a lot of time to make a trellis. The construction will be solid and durable. For tall hybrids, such a support is also suitable, especially in a greenhouse.

The basis of the cucumber trellis is made up of vertical supports. Their number depends on the length of the ridges and pipes. The finished height of the vertical support must be at least 1.7 m, so it is better to take 2-meter pipes. It is better to dig holes along the edges of the ridge with a drill; their depth should be 25-30 cm. For stability, fill the posts with concrete, or sprinkle them with small crushed stone and compact them.

To attach the twine over the vertical supports, you need to attach a horizontal guide. You can use it:

metal pipe;
metal corner;
cable;
wooden block.

To connect metal parts, you will need welding to attach a block - a drill, corners, screws. The finished trellis should be painted over with primer-enamel to prevent rust. The color range of paints has a range, so after painting the structure will not only be protected from corrosion, but will also take on a beautiful appearance.

Cucumbers are planted in 2 rows along the structure. The distance between them should not be less than 0.5 m. The twine is tied to a horizontal support with a step equal to the step of planting seedlings. It depends on the selected variety. Usually the ropes are tied every 30-40 cm. The greater the distance, the more comfortable the plants are. At the bottom, the ropes are attached to small (wooden, plastic) pegs. When secured, the twine follows the contour of the letter L.

Made of wood

A trellis can be made quickly from wood. No special skills are needed, the tools required are the simplest:

hammer (drill);
nail puller;
wood hacksaw;
ladder;
shovel (drill).

One cucumber bed 4 m long will require 6 bars with a cross section of 20 (25) * 30 (40) mm. It is more profitable to buy material 2 meters long:

3 bars will go to vertical posts;
2 bars for connecting vertical supports;
1 block will have to be cut into 3 equal parts, they will go to the upper crossbars to the vertical supports.

To make the ridge and the wooden structure beautiful, markings are carried out. The ground is leveled and twine is pulled along the edges of the future ridge. Mark the locations of future holes. Two are dug (drilled) in the center of the sides of the ridge, one is right in the middle of the ridge.

On a note!

The lower part of the bars should be impregnated with a primer so that the wood does not rot.

Before burying the vertical posts, crossbars are nailed (screwed) to them. The result should be 3 structures shaped like the letter T. They are installed in prepared pits. About 30 cm goes into the ground, so the height of the cucumber structure will be convenient for use - 1.70 m.

The horizontal crossbar is nailed down so that the structure does not wobble. Steel wire 2-3 mm thick is pulled onto the crossbars. A string is tied to it in increments of 30-40 cm. Each piece of twine is at least 170 cm long. For convenience, the bed can be fenced around the perimeter with boards.

Use old bicycle wheels

Don't rush to take your old bike to the scrapyard. It can be used to make an excellent, compact trellis for growing cucumbers in the country. The advantage of this design is mobility. If all the parts are well fastened together, then the mini-structure can be moved around the garden, annually choosing a new place for planting cucumbers.

For one trellis you need:

2 wheels;
1 metal pipe;
wire;
twine.

Wheels are fixed along the edges of the pipe using wire. One is placed on the ground, a string is tied to the second. The number of ropes corresponds to the number of cucumber bushes. You can plant 3-4 plants around the wheel of an adult bicycle. For reliability, the lower wheel can be pinned to the ground with staples bent from thick wire.

Methods for gartering tomatoes in a greenhouse

Next, we’ll look at several ways to tie up tomatoes in a greenhouse. The choice of the final option depends not only on the number of seedlings, but also on the preference of the gardener. They are also suitable for those who are interested in how to tie up tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse.

Using stakes

This option is the most popular because it is the simplest. Each seedling is tied to a nearby peg. Its length depends entirely on the height of the seedling and should be approximately 0.5 meters higher.

Tomatoes need to be tied as follows:

Install supports before planting seedlings in the ground (10 cm from the intended location).
Tie the stem to a peg, twisting the material in a figure eight.
The bush does not need to be pulled, but simply wrapped.
If necessary, the garter is performed again.

If the tomato varieties are tall, stakes approximately 3 meters high will be required. More information about how to tie tomatoes in this way is described in the video:

Using a support

It requires installation of a supporting structure, which can be made from metal pipes or channel bars. All that remains is to attach the ropes to it. Each row of bushes needs its own support.

The most convenient way to garter tomatoes is as follows:

Tie the edge of the rope to the structure so that it can be adjusted. Secure its second end slightly above the base of the bush.
To change the tension of the rope, just untie the top and tie it again.
If the bush forms several branches, each one should be tied up.

How to tie tomatoes using a support can be seen in the photo.

Trellis method

This option is used in large areas where tall varieties of tomatoes are planted. The big advantage of this method is the ability to tie up many bushes with a minimum of cost. All materials and tools (except ropes) can be used several times in a row.

As a rule, the method involves the use of vertical trellises. In this case, the tomatoes are tied according to the following scheme:

High metal supports are placed on both edges of the bed.
Wire is tied to the tops of the supports.
Near each seedling stakes are inserted.
The rope is tied to a wire at one end and to a peg at the other.
Each seedling is attached to an individual trellis.

Using caps

The method is not suitable for mass growing of tomatoes. It will be the best choice for those gardeners who cultivate tall tomatoes in small quantities.

The design is not a hood, but is visually similar, which is why it bears this name. How to make it step by step:

Place three supports around the seedling - these can be pegs, plastic or metal pipes.
Connect the tops of the supports - this will be the base.
Braid the finished frame with wire or rope.
The step between rows of horizontal elements should be 30 cm.
The caps are placed at the time of planting the seedlings.
The step between adjacent structures should be at least a meter.
Several seedlings can be placed near one cap at once.

It is important to monitor the growth of branches so that they do not grow inside the structure - this will complicate harvesting

On the bars

This method is not popular among gardeners due to the high costs and difficulties with harvesting. And yet some people use it.

What do we have to do:

Build an individual lattice with large cells for each bush.
Surround the seedling with it so that it is in a cage.
Press the bottom of the frame into the ground to secure it.
There is no need to tie up the seedling - it will catch its branches on the lattice itself.

Despite some disadvantages, the method also has advantages - the structure can be reused or moved.

On grids

We are talking about a special trellis net, which is sold in specialized stores. Its standard length is 100 m and its width is 2 m.

How to quickly install the structure step by step:

Place metal supports along the edges of the bed and stretch a mesh between them.
To strengthen the structure, wire can be pulled through the top of the mesh and secured to the tops of the supports.
It is not necessary to tie up the bushes. It is enough to pass the tops of the plants through the cells.

This design can withstand any weight of the crop. Therefore, this is one of the most popular options for gartering tomatoes.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing cucumbers on a trellis

Experienced gardeners, subject to strict agrotechnical requirements, sometimes grow cucumbers in the garden using the spreading method. But it is not suitable for all regions and not for every type of soil. Therefore, most gardeners still use the trellis method.

Growing cucumbers using the spreading method

It provides:

Uniform lighting of plantings, which accelerates the formation of sugar in fruits, making their taste richer and more pleasant.
Good ventilation of the space inside the bush: moisture does not linger there, which minimizes the risk of rot and other diseases.
Rapid evaporation of liquid used for watering or fertilizing: no drops remain on the leaves, which can cause burns.
Uniform placement of lashes on supports. There is no need to disturb them once again, as when growing them in a spread bed. The less we touch the bush, the better for its growth and development.
Simplifying the procedure for caring for cucumbers.

Cucumbers grown on trellises do not touch the ground, their surface is always clean, there is practically no rot on them, and it is more difficult for pests to get to their tasty prey.

The only caveat is that when growing trellises, more water and fertilizers will be required. But the harvest after good feeding and timely watering cannot but rejoice. Among other things, uniform lighting leads to the fact that the ovaries and fruits form faster, and accordingly, the harvest can be harvested earlier. If plants experience a lack of light, then only male flowers will begin to appear on them. This will lead to a lack of fruiting on the bush.

Features of planting and growing cucumbers

Growing cucumbers using the trellis method is a set of agrotechnical actions. Their content differs in different conditions.

In the open ground

The correct location of the beds is also responsible for high productivity. It is recommended to choose the west-east direction, which provides uniform lighting throughout the day. For summer residents with minimal experience, it is better to make trellises from bamboo sticks. Their diameter is from 3 to 4 cm, and their length is 1.5 m. The soil is first dug up, the bed is laid out and fertilized with humus. Only then the structure is installed.

In the greenhouse

A trellis for cucumbers can also be installed in a greenhouse. But for this you need to follow certain rules:

The choice of time to start planting depends on the ability to maintain the temperature recommended for the crop;
in a greenhouse it is easier to maintain humidity, but there must be a mechanism that opens and closes the windows, providing ventilation and temperature regulation;
plantings should not be too dense so that air can circulate freely.

A trellis for cucumbers grown in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or any other material does not differ from the design for open ground. Depending on the type, choose one of two garter options:

vertical;
horizontal.

In the first case, you will need a simple support in the shape of the letter “P”. The height can reach 2 m. A bar is installed horizontally, which can be replaced with wire - the place where the twine is fixed along which the stems will curl. Each plant must have its own individual support.