How to Grow Cucumbers in a Cage

Grow cucumbers inside a cage to save space in the vegetable garden.

Cucumber vines are prolific growers that reach lengths of up to 6 feet. This can be a problem in small gardens, because the vines may interfere with nearby plants. It's possible to train cucumber vines to grow vertically by placing a cage over the plants. This utilizes space more efficiently and makes it easier to harvest the cucumbers as they ripen. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Tiller
• 5-10-10 fertilizer
• Garden hoe
• Plant cages
• Hammer
• Scissors
• Mulch
• Plant ties
• 5-5-5 water-soluble fertilizer

Instructions

1. Choose a growing site that has full sun exposure and excellent drainage.

2. Loosen the soil 8 to 10 inches deep with a tiller. Remove large rocks and clumps of vegetation.

3. Mix 5-10-10 fertilizer with the tilled soil, in the amount directed on the package.

4. Create hills of soil using a garden hoe. Leave a space of 3 feet between each hill.

5. Plant four cucumber seeds in each hill, at a depth of 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

6. Water until the hills of soil feel evenly moist, unless significant rainfall is anticipated.

7. Thin the seedlings, leaving only two plants per hill.

8. Broadcast 1 to 2 inches of mulch around the plants when they are 2 to 3 inches tall to conserve moisture and keep weeds from overtaking the young vines.

9. Place a plant cage over each hill in a position that will allow the cucumber vines to be in the center of the cage.

10. Attach the vines to the cage using plant ties as soon as the tendrils are long enough to reach. Avoid securing the tender vines so tightly that they are damaged.

11. Water the vines deeply when less than an inch of rain falls in a one-week period.

12. Fertilize the cucumber plants once every two weeks with 5-5-5 water-soluble fertilizer, in the amount instructed on the package.

Tips & Warnings

• Wait until the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit before you sow cucumber seeds in the garden.

References

• "Texas Gardener": Veggie Basics: Growing Great Cucumbers