Monday, April 20, 2009

Vertical, Vertical, Vertical

If one cucumber plant grows 3' X 3' and you have 4 plants, that adds up to a lot of space. But if you grow them on a trellis you can grow the same number of plants in a much smaller area.
Build a homemade trellis, or use a manufactured trellis, but try the vertical method. They claim cucumbers, cantalopes and even watermelon will grow on a trellis. Cucumbers will be straighter too. The pruning is kind of tricky, but they say the vines will be stronger to handle the weight of the fruit. I plan to try it this year and I will keep you posted. I will plant on both sides of the trellis, to make the most of the space. Try to trellis peas and beans too.