...sort of like "Hot Dogs on a Stick!" only better for you.
We use these little ladder trellises (purchased from a garden supply store several years ago) for growing our vining cucumbers.
Cukes on a ladder
Here's a "Tasty Jade" Asian style cucumber starting the climb to the top. My wife painted the ladders blue to stand out a bit in the garden. Today I would probably try to build something like this myself, or look for actual used step-ladders (if such things are available) but these have worked well over the years.
We found these green "twist ties" at a garden store several years ago. They come in a roll and we snip off the appropriate length with a wire cutters. Now we just recycle them every year and have a container full of pre-cut ties. Probably too stiff for using on tomatoes, but they seem to work well with the cucumber and ladder trellising system.
Tying the vine to the ladder. Eventually this vine will go all the way to the top (about 4 feet) and then back down the other side. This plant has a "little brother" (not really visible in the photo) about 6 inches tall, planted sequentially, in order to keep the cukes coming throughout the season. A later start and little rain has them behind the usual schedule but I hope they will start climbing the ladder with gusto soon.
Anybody else use these ladders or something like them?
Thanks for looking :)
Those look great, and your cucumber vines seem to love them! My FIL grows cukes each year up a section of chain-link fence in one of the only (small) mostly-sunny spots in their yard. He says that the cucumbers that dangle (he grows 'Straight Eight') just keep elongating and staying relatively slim... but those that hit the ground will get fat and start ripening (bigger seeds, tougher skin, turning yellow if you let them continue)... so he's a big believer in giving them something to climb. When I put in an irrigation system for them last month, I put a section of soaker hose along the fence where he grows his cukes, so they should do even better this year. :-)
I grow a couple of cucumber plants up and over the basement stair railing each year, but most of mine just sprawl... I think trellises or plastic "fencing" strung between poles would be good... however, I can't set up supports for them right away because I try to keep them under row cover as long as possible to protect them from what I think is cucumber mosaic virus (I believe the carrier is a butterfly, or rather a caterpillar, and it seems to be less of a problem later in the season).
Our gardening methods seem very similar! I tried the iron trellis this year, too, and also use the roll of twist-ties, AND the ladders! (Though I'm sure I spent way too much on them getting them through Gardener's Supply! I have learned so much in the last few years. Like USE ANYTHING...especially if you can get it for free!)
Now if only I could keep my spaces as clean and neat as yours. Mine looks like a totally abandoned jungle!
BDale, love the ladders! And they seem like they would be a lot less likely to tip as the plants get big and heavy.
And, your wife has very good taste in blue! :)
Hi Sequee,
Thanks for the compliment. Come August I assure you mine will look much more like a jungle!
Yes, I agree, if I had it all to do over again I'd probably come up with some alternative to buying the ladders. They are cute, handy, and get used every year (a plus) but like you I'm learning to be a bit more resourceful with things like trellising (I hope). I'm not the handiest guy with tools, so sometimes the "do it yourself" version ends up being more expensive and complicated than just buying the darn things!! Anyway, I'm so glad to hear we are on a similar wavelength with our gardening adventures. I hope you will post some more of your ideas, methods, and photos for the rest of us.
T-Jill: thanks! I'll pass along the compliment to my wife!! And they do work well for our needs.
This message was edited Jul 9, 2007 6:13 PM
I keep telling people if they find old step ladders at yard sales to pick them up for me and the cukes, but they don't seem to take me seriously. The note about the cucumbers staying narrow is interesting. Mine are still little enough that I may be able to cobble something together.
Bdale, is it as dry in Warren as it is in N. Clymer? We've had less than 1/10th of an inch of rain in 3 weeks - definitely not a normal year.
I am so NOT a do-it-yourselfer. I'm afraid the hospital bills would do me in!
Hi Kathleen!! Yes, you are exactly right about picking up old step-ladders at garage sales or flea markets or from folks who are going to toss them out. They would work as well or better for trellising than what I've got going here. Even if unsafe for "people use" they ought to work fine for the cukes (although, I don't know, you might be growing some pretty big ones up there in N Clymer!!). And, yes, there hasn't been much rain. I just have to water a little plot (which I try to do sparingly) but I really feel for you farmers who don't have that option. Hoping the cows and the crops are doing okay for you.
BDale60,
Neat idea, I'll have to try it next year! And yes, those twist ties can be used on tomatoes. Just leave them loose enough to give the stems plenty of room to grow.
Red
Thanks Red! I always enjoy reading your ideas and insights about gardening in these forums.
When I tried twist ties on tomatoes before there seemed to be a tendency toward snapping off some of the heavy-laden stems when the wind blew or when there were multiple big tomatoes on a vine (you know, exactly the worst time to have it snap). Had the same experience with any kind of string as a tomato tie. You're probably right that I had them tied too tightly. I have found garden tape or ribbon (called different things by different companies) works better for me as a tomato tie but you must have figured out the secret to using twist ties correctly for the job.
Critter, I agree with your point (in your post above) about cukes growing straighter when trellised. These "Tasty Jades" are a long slicer and tend to grow nice and straight when kept off the ground. I imagine it varies depending on the cultivar?
That makes sense... so far, I've only tried it with 2 slicing cucumbers, 'Straight Eight' and 'Cool Breeze', both of which grew straighter and longer on a trellis. I've grown a couple of varieties of pickling cucumbers vertically, and it seems to make little difference to them.
I know we're talking about cukes here, but may I ask if the same is true of beans? Went to a U-pick place on the 4th, and noticed that some beans were straight and some curly--on the same plant. My kids asked about it, and I made that answer up all by myself, but I'm wondering if there was any validity to it?
Interesting question (and probably a testable one). My theory (having grown mostly pole beans and, occasionally bush beans) is that most beans don't have the weight or the growth time necessary for making a difference. In other words, they are smaller and emerge and become mature much faster than cukes. (In the height of bean season you can almost pick new ones every day or two). Thus they are either straight or curly depending on the cultivar. (This is my theory, mind you, based on a little experience and a lot of speculation). There may be some bean cultivars like Asian "yard beans" where trellising WOULD make a big difference in their shape. (Don't know, never tried, now I'm curious.)
I do think trellising pole beans helps keep them healthier and less of a massive jungle of weeds and vines (in addition to saving space in your garden) so I'd definitely go the trellis route with pole beans regardless of the impact on the shape of the bean.
One man's opinion :)
BDale
If you're talking bush beans, I agree, the cultivar seems to be the biggest factor in shape ('Black Valentine' were tasty for me last year, but nearly every bean curved and curled... no big deal, but I didn't try to pack them into jars for Dilly Beans)... but I think weather and growing conditions may also play a role. I've noticed that the last harvest from bush bean plants seems to have a lot of oddly shaped beans regardless of the cultivar.
Cool idea. Mine are rampaging all around the yard.
I have recently sold our home & moved to a new location with a garden spot in ** FULL sun ** & I intend to grow cucumbers next season. Am asking for suggestions from you for a productive & tasty cucumber to enjoy freshly peeled & raw --- not pickled. May be either OP or Hybrid... I don't care.
thanks,
LarryD
I like the sweet crunch of the little "pickling" cucumbers best for fresh eating also... no need to peel 'em, either, unless they stay too long on the vine (when cukes start ripening, the peel gets hard and bitter, even before it starts turning color). I've been trying out different OP & hybrid varieties, but I'm not sure I have a clear favorite. Gurney's had a hybrid "burpless" pickling cuke that was fabulous in my garden, but they went and swapped it out on me this spring, just substituted their new variety with no notice... I've started some seeds, but don't have a report on it yet. I've been starting cukes later in the season (or earlier and then again later) to try to get around the cucumber mosaic virus (which is what I think is responsible for the cucumber vine sudden death syndrome we have going around here)... I may have to start growing them in row cover hoop tunnels to keep out whatever insect is the vector (I have heard it is those white "cabbage" butterflies).
I'd suggest planting one or two hills each of several different types of cucumber so you can see what you like. My FIL swears by his standard 'Straight Eight' cukes, and a friend of mine really loves those skinny, long burpless cucumbers... you'll have fun with them, whichever you choose!
I agree with critterologist, a pickling cucumber is very good if allowed to grow a little, then slice and eat. I grew National Pickling this year and not a bitter bite in the bunch, Very prolific and open pollinated. Here's some I picked yesterday, the 3 longer ones on the bottom are Straight Eight. The rest are a mix of National Pickling and Calypso, also a pickling cucumber.
How are you liking the hybrid 'Calypso'? Dang groundhog munched some of my plants, so I'm not sure if I'll get to taste that one or not this year... I've had good luck with 'National Pickling' also -- it's a tried & true variety!
You already know my answer (re favorite cuke) "Tasty Jade" which works well on a trellis. This general category of slicer seems to go by different names, including "Burpless" and "English Style" (and you find them in the vegetable section of your market usually wrapped individually in plastic and for lots of $$$). The fresh ones from the garden are best and much cheaper but you have to wait for them to ripen!! :)
critterologist,
Calypso is very much like the National Pickling only more prolific, if you can believe that. ☺
Red
Ooh, good to know, thansk! I'll start some more of those to replace the dozen plants the dang groundhog just munched -- he came right up on the deck and chomped on my seedlings! Bold as brass!
Pam, I think as long as you sealed the ladders well with a couple coats of polyurethane so that the paint could not flake off or leach into the soil at the base of the ladder, you'd be fine with old ladders.
I'm not sure, because I don't think I've had any cucumbers I'd describe as astringent. I do water my garden (deeply, 2 or 3 times a week using soaker hose) when we don't get rain. I haven't grown lemon cukes, but I've enjoyed sampling them... I hope yours are delicious and productive for you!
I LOVE Japanese cucumbers. They have a terrific flavour!
Progress update. Tasty Jade is making its way up to the top of the 4 foot ladder.
(A purple Monarda (Bee Balm) is trying to hog the spotlight, but it attracts bees so no complaints here.)
Remember that movie "Twins" with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito? Tasty Jade on the left is about two weeks older than his little brother on the right. Planted sequentially in an effort to extend the cucumber season a bit. Experienced cucumber growers would probably accomplish this using different cultivars (early, mid, late season) but I'm hoping the lag time between Arnold and Danny is enough to make an impact. Experiment in progress :)
I guess "sisters" would be more appropriate since these are all-female plants (see Plant Files).
Bdale, hogging the spotlight or no, the combo of the lavender bee balm, bright green cuke with yellow flowers and bright blue ladder (have I mentioned how much I like blue?:) ) is pretty enough to plant for looks alone! I'm planning cukes for my garden next year, going to have to see if I can do a bee balm in there somewhere as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Interesting!I will try this method next year.Do you think the pioneer pickling cucumber will be a good variety to grow as a trellis cucumber?
Thanks!
cottonpicker
Summer Delight cucumber is absolutely delicious. No need to peel in my opinion, but either way the taste is wonderful!
I just wanted to share a photo of the "Tasty Jade" cucumbers that got their start on the ladders in this thread. Lots of rain and hot weather in the past few days has them producing abundantly.
Nice!cucumbers.I will be growing cukes next year,using this method.
Me too me too! I wonder if the ladders have to be blue to get such luscious-looking cukes? Better not risk it! (Tucsonjill, looking for an excuse to have a pretty blue ladder in her veggie garden next year....)
Wow! They look awesome. I hope I have something nice when I (finally) get out into the garden. It's been pouring off and on since lat evening, we're up to about 3" (again!), and still it rains. Geez, Mother Nature, di'n'cha ever hear of moderation???
Thanks all. Just note that the yardstick begins at 16 inches. I don't want people to think I'm trying to pass off these cucumbers as 30 inches long, I was just trying to block out the name of the local business. (I suppose you can always call them if your curiousity gets the best of you).
T-Jill, I hereby encourage you to put a blue ladder in your garden, whether or not you decide to use it for growing this variety of cucumbers!! :)