3 Common Cucumber Trellising MISCONCEPTIONS!

When trellising cucumbers, it is a very common theme to hear the falsehoods and misconceptions surrounding trellising them. It can be a very positive thing, but it is vital to get the facts straight so you have the most success at it. Happy gardening and Grow bigger!
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[@TheDajamster]

Years back, my neighbor used an ajoining fence to trellis his cucumber plant. My garage was on the other side of the fence and had a hole in the wall. My bike was in the garage and his plant grew through the wall and produced a lovely 5" cucumber in my bike basket! I offered to give his wayward cucumber back, but he insisted that anything growing onmy side of the property line was mine.

[@Energetichealingwithtinab]

😅 I love this story!

[@raineeredman6874]

Sweet how generous!

[@RighteousnessofHim]

Lol, that makes me smile!

[@JenniferSmith-oy4gm]

That is such a lovely story to share. It’s the little thing like this that bring us joy!

[@darickbonebrake6774]

Now this is priceless comedy

[@jimmylarge1148]

I’m in Michigan, north of Luke, and risked it all and planted three weeks ago we ended up having two frosts but I managed to keep everything healthy and my cukes are already beginning to climb.

[@lauriechannell6044]

Lucky you Jimmy, I hope your garden continues to flourish!

[@robingirven4570]

I’m also north of Luke, near Traverse City, I’m just planting this past week. I’ve lost too many gardens to risk it at anymore- I’m getting too old to do all the work twice.

[@jimmylarge1148]

@@robingirven4570 I’m in tc! Yeah we had the two frosts last week. I covered potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cukes etc with grass clippings and put plastic over my rows of green beans. The plastic isn’t ideal but worked.

[@heartofthenorth8133]

I’m in Grayling and we are in a valley definitely been through the ringer the last few years planting a week too early lol

[@ACryin_Shame]

I can't keep cucumbers alive once I transplant them 😢

[@ashleysayss]

I grew probably 6-7 dozen cucumbers using your seeds last year with only about 6 plants. I couldn’t believe the yield! And I trellised them all as well. I had so many that I had too start a veggie basket in the rec center at my nana’s retirement living community so they didn’t go to waste! The folks there LOVED all the fruits and veggies I brought for them all the time. I’m looking forward to doing the same thing this year too since I planted another 8 plants this year! 🤗

[@denisebayer8748]

Sharing is caring!! 🥒💚♥️🥒

[@Who_Else]

At first, I thought you meant you grew 6-7 dozen cucumber PLANTS! 😂 then I got to the end of the sentence.

[@bethheerten1132]

I know the extra produce was appreciated.

[@carybradley3968]

Please share your spacing. Thanks! Your yield is terrific. Congratulations!

[@oxigen85]

So you mean 6-7 dozen per plant, or all together (so about one dozen per plant)

[@monikasturm2575]

My husband and i found it the hard way that you should really look at yield amounts for some plants. Last summer my husband planted 6 butternut squash plants he didn't take my suggestion on trellising and supporting some of it crops so there tomatoes struggled and half of it yard was covered in butternut squash vines full of squash. We couldn't give enough of them away and just now finished processing the last of the harvest a week ago. He didn't plant anymore this season but we have volunteers constantly popping out of our compost pile to the point I'm starting to feel like we have the plant from little shop of horrors in our backyard. Lol

[@twobeards6714]

I had the same invasion of seedlings. Now I remove all squash and do not compost with my other biodegradable material. I do train my cukes to climb.

[@sher1864]

Same finally got rid of a misbought squash. Whatever you do the baby/cherry tomatoes- just don't try to save the ones that pop following year. While awesome/sweet they are abundant and evasive. Took 3 years this being 3rd to finally being rid of both that million cherry and 1 dinky little ornamental squash. Just pull it!!!! ;)

[@monikasturm2575]

@@sher1864 told my husband to pull them at the beginning but he couldn't bring himself to do it since this was his first year getting a successful tomatoes harvest after 3yrs of trying to grow then and them failing, the poor man. In fairness I had to break him from helicopter gardening the tomatoes he would give over then like a worried hen wondering what was wrong. I told him he was giving them performance anxiety and they just needed a cage for support and to be left to do their thing. He finally listened this year and ooof I've never made so many jars of sun dried tomatoes and canned chopped tomatoes but he did willingly plant over 20 plants 😳

[@johnanderson3405]

Absolutely true about training cucumbers to climb. I’ve been using inexpensive plastic clips that we got from Amazon to hold the vine in place until the tendrils find the panel. Works great and saves me time.

[@TandBKount]

I love the way you improvised with the hose to demonstrate. Your practical common sense approach is one aspect of your teaching style that keeps me engaged and always coming back. This will be my first year trellising.

[@juliepoolie5494]

I’m trellising my cukes on one of those square tomato cages. Just went outside to encourage some of the tendrils to grab the proper wires . A few tendrils did quite well on their own. Lots of blossoms starting!

[@margierousu468]

Thank you for this info. 😊 just planted your Beit Alpha cucumber seeds that were 3 yr old seed and got 100 per cent germination❤ Always get Great germination with your seeds!!

[@gardenswithgrace]

Good golly I am always surprised at the new things I learn every day! Thanks for continuing to share helpful information in fun and entertaining ways. Happy gardening everyone!

[@gardenerpete5232]

Love your videos! I like the technical detail you bring to the conversation without being boring. 😛 I'm in Zone 7A, lower NY. I've been gardening here for over 40 years. I have 24' of string trellis, 9' tall. I grow peas on the full trellis, followed by beans and cucumbers on 2 halves of the trellis. And, Yes, Cucumbers are like babies, then little children. I use tomato clips to hold the vine to the string. When the tendril gets about 2 curls, I put it around the string. They eventually learn to do this by themselves... (UNTIL!! they hit puberty!) (they're about 5-6' tall, and think the grass is much GREENER on the other side!). Thats when they make a right angle turn horizontally across the trellises. IT'S-A-MIRACLE!!! (that the tendrils work so well), when they want to go where the grass is greener! (I have to pull them back and clip them to the string). I grow 3 varieties of cuces each year, and experiment to find a better cuce in my area. Yes, cuces need a lot of babysitting. I grow one vine to maturity. They are my Christmas pickles. They turn translucent, and can absorb color from red cherries. Our Christmas pickels are bright red, salty, spicy, and super delicious.

[@twobeards6714]

I love pickles..... Would ya mind sharing the recipe please.

[@jackzampella5758]

Luke, you are spot on about the tendrils of cucumbers being bred out of climbing. I grow 2 different varieties. I grow a hybrid called "Diva" and an heirloom called "Straight 8". while I do have to weave both in and out of the trellis, the tendrils of the Straight 8 appear to be a little bit stronger and a little more able to reach for the next crossing of the trellis. I always appreciate your videos whether it's to learn something or to validate something that I thought. Thanks! 👍

[@celeste2045]

I grow "cross country" bc it's a heavy vining type. I noticed a big difference when I planted a different kind and they flopped.

[@amyschmelzer6445]

@@celeste2045 Is it a slicer or a pickler? I am not a fan of slicers. I prefer the flavor and texture of picklers for everything.

[@celeste2045]

@@amyschmelzer6445 It's a pickler. I'm picky about my cucumbers too. I pick them about 3in long and maybe 3in around. I like to stack the sliced cuces into jars for picking. I got over 30 quarts with 5 plants in 2021.

[@sixfigurebookkeeper7588]

Thanks Luke. It was interesting to learn that you don’t try to jam in a bunch of cucumber plants in a small space like you do for other types of plants (ie: lettuce).

[@mredwards4410]

Looking forward to my migardener pickling cucumbers this year! Learned a lot from Luke. Grow Bigger!!

[@michelehynek9713]

Thank You Luke! Appreciate your garden, service, and dedication to all of us.

[@katarzynalabaziewicz2142]

Loving these short form videos ! Concise and informative, Thank you 🙌🏻

[@amandaperreault8688]

Love watching you and always learn so much! Thank you for your knowledge, happy planting!

[@JohnandSarah]

Thanks so much for all your help. My second season of gardening and so many people ask if I have been gardening for years when they see my beds. I could not have done all this without your great videos. Now to beat the cucumber beatles this year! Fingers crossed! 😂

[@carybradley3968]

PERFECT timing for me, Luke, thanks! Birds got most of my planting of very close together Boston Pickling cukes along trellis so I bought more BP seeds and Calypso as I’d forgotten mosaic was problem last year for me. I’m growing these 2 varieties over heat to rush them along to replant and plan to put under fabric for protection from birds this time. I’d been planning to spacevery closely again and you’ve ALMOST convinced me to space from 4 inches to one foot. Real estate here is at premium and I am greedy (and then sorry..) in garden planning. Well, thanks for this little therapy session. You’ve now convinced me that 12 inch spacing wins and I’ll just plant in more spaces, mixing with flowers where I have more fencing. I just want scads of pickles and read many of your followers have great success with fewer plants. Thanks to you and your whole community for helping me decide here!!! Appreciate you all!

[@SettieSpaghetti]

You’re getting even better at explaining things 😊

[@sher1864]

Yeah... it takes a listener. He should probably repeat 6a/6b grow zone...for those that don't understand MI or that even different plants grow differently bc of dirt, sky, water etc. This channel is my favorite. Even Though there is another one closer to me. Mi is just real. He doesn't try to sell his product nor does he have ads! It's great!

[@bonniedunkin-brady9358]

Got my order yesterday. Tell Kelli thank you for packing my order with a smile. Been ordering thru you for the past 3 yrs and will continue to order for years to come.

[@kathyhoot7277]

Have a blessed week everyone!

[@Wenjenzel]

I have gently hand-wrapped my cucumbers onto the trellis. I did use garden twist ties last year as well. I love the weaving technique. This all takes time and patience, but it is worth it!

[@tammyr2966]

Super helpful! I recommend your channel to a lot of people!!!!

[@jmjcc5]

I always recommend your channel to people I talk with about gardening. I’m in Northern Idaho and I think your Michigan weather has similarities to Idaho.

[@shellynull5103]

Thanks for this video! This is my first year growing cucumbers. I would have made all three of these mistakes. Going to get some basil out there and thin them down a bit. And now know I will need to train them on the trellis. I appreciate your videos so much!

[@bethheerten1132]

We just put a cattle panel arch in place in our new garden spot. I was hoping to grow cantaloupe on it. Now I need to find a place to trellis some cucumbers.🤔 Thanks for the info!

[@That_Crazy_Cat_Lady]

Thanks for this! I always plant too many cucumbers on my trellis system. I feel bad killing off the established plants :( I thinned them out yesterday but I think I need to thin them out more HAHA

[@mother8576]

Thank you for Sponsoring the okie homesteading expo!!❤

[@LisaMagoulas]

Luke you amaze me with all the information you have and share. Thank you.

[@orchardhillshomestead]

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your videos and your store. Always picking up new tips in the videos, and the store is the only place I’ve been able to find the Top Crop variety of green beans this year. My dad was very pleasantly surprised when the package arrived at his house this past week. ❤

[@preprebelactual]

Thanks for all the great information Luke! Much appreciated

[@pennypiper5857]

Thanks for sharing.

[@lindak5036]

Thank you for your wonderful video!

[@rkr5106]

We've trellised for 3 decades: the first/initial 'vine' anchors itself completely - sometimes up to 10 feet tall/long. But mid-summer we see secondary vines being put out by each plant and they don't seem able to find-the-trellis. Perhaps it's bc the first vines have filled the base space but we need to carefully wind these pother vines into the trellises. I've always wondered if they should be pruned out, much like the tomato 'sprouts' in the leaf axis....

[@robingirven4570]

Thank you Luke! I just planted my lemon cukes and pickling cukes today. The trellises were planted a couple days ago.

[@CompleteCreationsLLC]

My husband put in 2 panels for me this year and this is so good to know!

[@gregmasciola3332]

I've got my cucumbers growing up strings right now. I started out wrapping the string around them, making it easier for them to hold on. As they get bigger I'll start using those plastic clips under the leaf nodes. Also, I decided to try your Trifecta Plus this year. My tomato plants have been growing great since transplanting. It's hard to believe they were just in solo cups a few weeks ago.

[@lyndalent]

We love your channel I’ve learned so much from your channel and love the way you present it

[@incomewheel]

Great video! I'm doing an A frame trellis for the first time. Cucumber on one side and canteloupe on the other.

[@seedy-waney-bonnie4906]

I'm growing some cucumbers in my survival garden. Thank you for the tips.

[@laurieyagmur3690]

I love watching your videos and I’ve learned so much. I’m from MI but live in southern Ohio now and I’m a first time gardener ❤ Thank you for all the info!

[@sher1864]

Good luck! Remember there is always the next year! :)

[@fizzypop1858]

Loved the hose example. Made so much sense! The perfume example made me think of so many women who put on TOO MUCH PERFUME and you can smell them coming a mile away, even with NO AIR FLOW! LOL Stinky! I'm getting ready to plant my cucumbers this week. Thanks for this timely info!

[@garlandmountainhomestead]

I have the same cattle panel trellis that was a flop with melons last year due to beetle damage to my melon seedlings. By the time I replanted it was too late here in Maine and they never amounted to anything. You definitely inspired me to try our cukes there this season as I usually just let them sprawl everywhere 😅

[@okieking8503]

I always tell new gardeners to start by following you

[@kellysmoot3676]

I didn't realize I needed to thin that far apart, so I'll try it this year.

[@rebeccavanhout]

Super helpful thank you!

[@mudpiemudpie785]

Luke, I've been spacing my cucumbers way too close together. Thanks so muck for this video!

[@davidporter9553]

This is right on time. I'm about to try to grow cucumbers on my chain link fence.

[@sarabarbera6346]

Great job using the hose! I found some pretty good clips at the dollar tree! 🙂

[@sarahall6700]

Thanks for the tips of trellises cucumbers. ❤

[@robinedds914]

Thanks Luke!

[@Gwendy1171]

Thanks Luke!!! My cucumbers will be MUCH better this year.

[@donnayoung5942]

Great advice!!

[@jenniferperkins4529]

Awesome video!!! Learned so much!!

[@candiwallace6605]

Thanks for sharing luke🌱❤☕

[@preprebelactual]

I am constantly training my melons and veggies that vine, to trellis. I will say, it is a lot of work, but so worthwhile

[@bencarlos2555]

Thank you!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Great idea to use the hose as an example!

[@karenguth8529]

Thanks Luke.

[@kkb0896]

Great information, as always

[@nancyfitch9162]

Thanks Luke

[@nadiasews]

Thank you for this! Great information.

[@Paulilmys]

Great Tips!

[@lavernfoy4591]

As always supreme information! Thanks Luke ❤️🙏

[@Carmen-wx2vw]

I think it depends on the cucumber variety. I've planted all sorts of cucumbers that climb beautifully. I also have garlic that goes to seed.

[@TerryMorehead]

Thank you.

[@jamesbloodworth4303]

Thanks for the info I’ve been guilty of having the trellis there and wondering why I’m chasing them across the yard. However they do like my chain link fence nearby.

[@araceliadams34]

Thank You

[@NanaSuze77]

Thanks for the info! I will train my cukes for sure

[@jjc2323]

this was timely! thanks!

[@lindacrist6736]

Thank you

[@brandonbeckemeyer1579]

We have had great luck with Boston Pickling cucumber’s on cattle panel arches. They do 80%of the work but need a little help and direction at times. If found the trellis better if you plan them in the north side of the trellis.

[@amysinger2201]

THANK YOU! I've never grown cukes before and of all the videos I've watched, NO ONE explained that they don't tendril like other climbers!

[@DeadeyeJoe37]

I think it depends on the variety of cucumber for how well they climb on their own up a trellis. I've grown 3 varieties here in Hawaii: Japanese, Suyi Long, and a slicing cucumber. The Japanese and suyo long both climb awesome. I use a string tied to a frame and have it clipped at the bottom of the plant. It will climb that string all the way up. When the suckers develop, they will start to grow up other trellises next to them if you let them. The slicing cucumber needs to be clipped to the trellis the whole way up.

[@sher1864]

Yeah I'm thinking variety matters. Not all cukes are the same. When Luke comes out w another July Aug fall video ... variety matters. However, you have to watch whole video to understand, not all cukes. That can deal w Temps in certain fall areas. Ha, while his fall crops planting video last year worked mostly... I had a TON of seed this spring to harvest! It was probably something w my dirt/weather that they never really produced much harvest, but the seed this spring! Wow, it wasn't wasted in my eye.

[@alorastewart7091]

Lol i definitely cram my cucumber in. The last 2 years ive planted cucumbers in a raised bed in 18in of space up some basic fencing and in ground next to a pallet tipped on its side i plant 4 plants in both spaces the 18in space usually kills off one of the plants because it cant support that many there but the other 3 do fine. The plants dont get as large as plants i see in garden tours online but production is so high still i dont mind the plants staying kind of small because it lets me experiment with different varieties in a small space. In the raised bed i usually do slicers in different varieties and the in ground is where i do my pickling cucumbers and ill harvest 10 every couple days its so productive. This year im adding some on string trellises and a couple small varieties in my greenstalk.

[@cherireyes1394]

🎉🎉 such great information

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

You finally got cattle panels 😊

[@jonpalmer2766]

Great video Luke

[@sarahrenae6088]

Can you please do a video on what to and not to do when “thinning?” I’d really love to get a good grasp on this!

[@doriswlongAgoandfarAway]

I like your newer motto - Grow Bigger. Shows sensitivity and growth. Thanks for all your help in making my garden prosper.

[@Naneve1970]

Love the content thanks!❤

[@nikkiatkinson9795]

Thank you for this video! I am trellising my cucumbers for the first time this year. Do you have any videos on how to manage cucumber beetles once you have them? Last year our cucumbers got decimated by them. Im going to watch the video on how to avoid them, but im afraid that we will have trouble with then again this year since we had them so bad last year.

[@NaturallyUnbridled]

What are the three white bars/tubes (?) on the right side of the video? Always great info. Thanks!

[@speakrighttogod]

Once the cuke grows near the top of the panel (with clip support as it gets taller along the way), the tendrils do their job as it continues to grow and spread across the top of the panel. As you said, they need their space, as their leaves are huge. A foot between them sounds good. Thanks for all that you share and teach!

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Good to know thank you.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

When it comes to climbing squash, the most tenacious climber I've found is angled luffa. Not only will it trellis itself thanks to its strong tendrils, it can also latch onto rough hewn brick walls. Several years ago I managed to grow luffa up the brick wall of the house without any other support. I've never gotten any other climbing plant to do this, whether it's peas, or grapes, or other squash species. These were not ideal growing conditions, mind you, as the east facing wall meant the plant could not get the maximum amount of sunlight. However if you have a south facing rough hewn brick wall and some good soil, it's worth trying.

[@enigmasky1680]

Love your videos!!

[@ssb031]

Thank you! I'm trying cukes for the first time this year. I knew they needed a trellis, but I didn't realize they wouldn't climb on their own. Also, I (by accident) planted lemon basil near my plants so I have that going for them too! Thanks for the tips! I planted mine in smaller containers. Do I need to transplant them to something bigger, or can I leave them? Thanks!

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Good information! I bought some Beit Alpha cucumber seeds from you and was wondering how high they grow. I couldn't tell from the description. Also could you do a video on how to prevent cut worms from destroying the stem and killing the plant? Last time I grew cucumber plants I was very disappointed because they attacked the stems within 24 hours of planting and I could not salvage them after that happened. I want to make sure that won't happen with these.

[@RJ-mh1bu]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. You have helped me be a more successful gardner and garden keeps getting bigger. Buy all your seeds, sassy lass and trifeca. QUESTION: Book recommendation for identifying benefical insects and which ones are pest. Zone 5 i Wi. Would love a book that pictures all and be great if icluded how to attract the good and deter the pests.

[@Andrea-si2vs]

Susan Mulvahill has a great book with good and bad garden bugs, including a section that features all their 'mugshots' so you can quickly flip through and ID something you found. In the in depth section, you can see photos of the damaged caused as well, in case you don't see the bug at work.

[@joanne3964]

That is great information!! Thank you!! I have a question that someone might be able to answer, how to I get rid of boxelder bugs? I think they are laying their eggs on my cucumber leaves.

[@metalmartha2571]

Last year I bought some new varieties of cucumbers, and was very excited about the Armenian white melon/cucumber. I am zone three so I figured what the heck I’m trellising. I can plant them every 5 inches lol I barely got any cucumbers off of the varieties, I was most excited about. so thank you for clearing up some of those misconceptions! Really looking forward to those Armenian whites this year!

[@JulieSnowstudiojuliesnow3698]

Plant dill or basil next to cucumber plants to combat cucumber beetles

[@JulieSnowstudiojuliesnow3698]

Two questions: How long (like how many feet) should I expect a cucumber vine to grow? Is there any pruning that should be done to a cucumber vine? I saw something that said you should remove the male flowers... Is that part of pruning?

[@shannabolser9428]

My garlic will go to seed if I let it. I usually allow it to and plant seeds next to last year's garlic. Takes 2 years to get a decent amount of garlic from seed but it is possible to secession plant. Over a 2 year period.

[@debbiethompson9853]

I started my cucumber seeds 6 weeks ago and put them in the garden last week. They are already climbing the trellis.

[@christiensgarden3325]

Love your videos been watching since the beginning

[@bobobaggins95]

The cucumbers I've grown here in Australia have all been crazy climbers. A few channels mentioned guiding them up a trellis, but I kept accidentally damaging them, but letting them run themselves the tendrils latched onto everything they could. Rather then multiple little tendrils they have one thick one like pumpkins do

[@earthisflat]

I wish I had a photo but a few years ago in my old garden in VA I shoved a trellis right next to my cucumber plant and climbed just fine, although my trellis was only about 2 and a half feet though, tbh that's how I've always grown cucumbers however I don't know if there's a variety of cuc that are better climbers than most

[@heidi4614]

I had no idea. My cucumber plant took over the ground. Now I know. I’ll do this tomorrow. 😊