Are Cukes OK without a trellis?

[Chica Lady]

I am new to gardening this year. I did not know that cukes need a trellis. I planted Straight 8 Cucumbers across the middle of my bed. Do you think they will be OK? Or will I have to finagle some kind of something across there? Also, I think the squirrels or rabbits are getting at my sprouts. Looks like the tops have been eaten. I don't know if I have enough screen to cover the bed and the only other thing I have is chicken wire. I know that wont keep anything out. Ideas, advice??? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Dani & Mikey]

You can totally grow cuke w/o a trellis! They will spread out and you’ll have to watch the fruit so it doesn’t get yucky sitting on the ground or get eaten by bugs but overall it should be fine.

We had to make a big chicken wire fence around our garden because the deer liked to come and mow the whole thing down!

Look into easy A frame trellises for next year. Super easy to build...coming from a serious non-builder!

 

[Trish1974]

You can totally grow cuke w/o a trellis! They will spread out and you’ll have to watch the fruit so it doesn’t get yucky sitting on the ground or get eaten by bugs but overall it should be fine.

X2. I've never grown them WITH a trellis!

 

[Dani & Mikey]

X2. I've never grown them WITH a trellis!

We just started a few years ago. I dig it but totally not necessary.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

You can totally grow cuke w/o a trellis! They will spread out and you’ll have to watch the fruit so it doesn’t get yucky sitting on the ground or get eaten by bugs but overall it should be fine.

We had to make a big chicken wire fence around our garden because the deer liked to come and mow the whole thing down!

Look into easy A frame trellises for next year. Super easy to build...coming from a serious non-builder!

X2 great advice

 

[sylviethecochin]

I've never grown them WITH a trellis!

x2

 

[ChickenLady2014]

x2

This will be my first year trying it. We live in a zone that we can't plant until Memorial weekend though. My back troubles are hopefully going to be much better growing them that way. I currently grow pole beans on an arbor/tunnel structure & hubs is going to build one for my cukes this year. We plant a large garden as we have a farmstand that I sell produce from as well as our eating fresh veggies & canning them.

 

[oregonkat]

I grow mine up a section of cattle fencing supported at a 45deg. angle over the bed. The advantage to this is that the vines grow up on the fencing but the fruit hangs down and is super easy to pick, and to keep off the ground. The fruit is also kept in the shade of the leaves which cucs like, it keeps their skin tender.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

We have used 2 upright boards in the ground and string to put together a make shift trellis on more than one occasion. good luck

 

[SueT]

I have always planted cucumbers along a fence. Even then, a box turtle(s) would eat what he could reach of the low hanging fruit which was usually the bottom halves of several.

I moved the turtle to the far side of the yard, and it came back. I took a pic of him, and then drove him about 1.5 mi away and let him go. I told my sister about it, and she sent an article that says box turtles are territorial, and they will return to the same place or die trying. Then I felt bad. He'd have to cross a 100 acre corn field, woods, a little canyon, more woods, 2 streams, steep hills, pastures....no way could he survive. This was in June. In Sept, a box turtle was back, under the cucumber plant. I took another pic, compared to 1st, and it was the same individual! These turtles have unique markings on their shells, no two alike. It's like our fingerprints. Now he is welcome to the cucumbers he can reach and I hope I see him this year!
June:

Sept