A native vegetable of southern India and a well-known relative of the squash, pumpkin and melon, the cucumber has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years and is frequently referenced in ancient Greek and Egyptian writings. Cucumber varieties grown in the home garden today enjoy well-drained soil, sunny climates and a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0 depending on the cultivar. In small gardens, vining cucumber plants can be trained to grow vertically instead of spreading, resulting in not only saved space but also vegetables of a more even shape and color and a longer harvest season due to lessened insect damage.
Create a garden space for the cucumber vines at the north end of your property to prevent shading problems for other plants. Choose a spot with loose, well-drained or loamy soil, good air circulation and no sign of fungal infestation.
Erect a support structure strong enough to hold the hanging cucumbers or use an existing garden fence. Options include purchasing a premade trellis and building a trellis from wooden posts and lattice, garden netting or chicken wire. Thick wire strung between two poles can also support cucumbers as long as the wire is pulled taut.
Cultivate the soil near the support structure by removing all weeds and raking compost or manure into the top few inches. Smooth out the surface of the soil and treat it with 10-20-10 fertilizer, using a ratio of 1 pound per 100 square feet.
Sow cucumber seeds 1/2 inch deep in the soil, six inches from the support structure, after the soil temperature reaches 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Space groups of four seeds 30 inches apart.
Thin out the seedlings when they reach 3 inches in height, removing enough of the weakest stems so that all the plants are spaced at least 6 inches apart. Fertilize the plants again when the vines develop and add 2 inches of mulch around the base of each plant to lock in moisture.
Water the cucumber plants to make up for any low rainfall, which should total 1 inch each week.
Tie growing vines to the support structure with cloth ties as soon as they are long enough. Train the main stem of each plant to grow toward the top of the structure, pruning any lateral stems that grow.
Prune the main stem just above the top two leaves when it reaches the top of the structure. Allow the leaves to develop into downward-growing branches.
Things You Will Need
- Fence or trellis
- Garden rake
- Compost or manure
- 10-20-10 fertilizer
- Cucumber seeds
- Cloth ties
- Pruning shears
- Harvest cucumbers 50 days after the planting period, before they turn yellow.
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