Trellising Cucumbers, Pole Beans, and More!!
Importance of Trellising Vegetables
When it comes to trellising cucumbers, pole beans, or other vegetables there are several important reasons for doing this in the garden area. The first important reason for trellising plants is the ability to maximize space in smaller areas. For example, by trellising crops like pole beans you are able to plant on narrower rows that maximize production and productivity. The second reason behind trellising vegetables is the ability to add more stability to the growing plants. By adding additional stability to plants that are continuing to grow taller you are able to support the plants better and also increase productivity. Another important reason is the ability to monitor and control pests from trellised vegetables. When keeping plants off the ground and planted vertically we are able to control or reduce the amount of soil-borne diseases and other pests from taking over the vegetable garden. Overall, trellising vegetables can make harvesting much eaiser.
New Trellis Netting
On this week's episode, Travis is explaining the ideal way for trellising cucumbers, pole beans, and more vegetables. Previously in the garden, he has used 16 foot long galvanized cattle panels to trellis vegetables. However, the cattle panels are large which means they can take a long time to set up and are hard to move around the garden. This year, Travis is going to use the new Hortonova Trellis Netting which is what most commercial cucumber growers in the South use for growing. The synthetic mesh material can be used for trellising cucumbers and other vegetables either vertically or horizontally. To install vertically, use t-posts or wooden posts every 10-15 feet and to adequately secure the mesh to the stakes we use zip ties. To install horizontally, you can use 1 to 2-inch tall posts on the outside of the vegetable bed and simply stretch it across the posts to secure the mesh using zip ties. The trellis netting comes in many different sizes for all the various garden areas, but Travis just likes to get a big role and then cut it to the exact length he needs.
Trellising Cucumbers
Travis currently has a 40-foot row of cucumbers that are placed along the trellising netting. These cucumbers are just starting to climb the mesh netting in the garden area. Since cucumbers are a vining plant by establishing a stable structure like Hortonova netting we can ensure the plants will receive plenty of support throughout the growing process. In order to obtain a good stand of cucumber plants, we recommend planting seeds every 6 to 8 inches and thinning to one seed per foot in the garden spot. Overall, by trellising cucumbers not only can we maximize productivity but also reduce plant diseases by keeping them off the ground.