Reenie: Mom of Marine asked:
I’m in WI and have planted so-called “climbing” cucumbers for several years but they usually end up crawling along the ground. I supply them with a trellis to climb on and coax them along, but it doesn’t seem to help. Which variety do you use and what are your tips for success?
(Pickle and salad varieties please.)
Thanks for your help!
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7 users responded in this post
I don’t have a garden anymore. We have a patio that faces west. I have a half day of tree-shaded sun. I did some thunburgia last year, and basil, whcih is a weed that will grow anywhere. TD
i normally grow “straight 8″ but i have grown other kinds. to tell you the truth i never had a problem with any kind of cuke not attaching itself and climbing. are you sure you are not growing bush cucumbers?
Wish I had a garden.
I’ve had great success with a variety called Moneta, but I can’t find the seeds this year - very disappointing!
So I’m trying a variety called Wautoma - they come very highly recommended and look very much like Moneta, so I’m hoping they’ll be similar.
Cucumbers usually need some help to climb, so try them on an obelisk or trellis, tying them in to horizontals as well as uprights, to support the weight of the fruit.
Good luck!
I have not tried to put them upright crawling trellises etc. But I have in mind to try some up side down vines. I bought a wire pot shaped like a very large ice cream cone that has the matted stuff much like mulched recycled straw. Thinking if I cut a couple little holes near the top (one on each side), and put a couple of cucumber vines in an upside down position, they may grow like the up side down tomato’s called Topsy Tervy. Then using a small plant friendly tie as the cucumbers travel downward to give some additional support support. Consider the size of the cucumber, the ones that don’t grow so large may work better. Time will tell how my experiment will work.
P.S. Putting my statrer plants in washed egg shells, high grade soil and putting them under a floresant light has given my starters some high shine. You can also crush the egg shells. Wash them first using a tough of bleach, and heat dry to kill saminilla.
I only ever plant burpless and Lemon boy. I’ve never had a single problem getting them to climb. It could be that you are using the wrong kind of support. I use the wire tomato cages and chicken wire with a conduit pole woven through it. The wire is a small enough gauge that the tendrils can easily wrap around. You might try a different support. As for the type of cucumber, I think burpless are best for pickling and salads.
Most any you have to “help” to get on the trellis. But have had good luck with straight 8, and also armenian. I only grow armenians now because of their mild flavor and huge size, but you do have to put them back on the fence at times as they spread. Armenians are also known as yard long cucumbers, though they don’t get that big
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