Even bush cucumbers seem born to grow up on the vine of the trellis and then be harvested away into the salad when they are still young. If you allow a cucumber to grow too big on the vine, it will sap the vine’s energy and the bigger the cucumber grows, the more bitter it becomes. The seeds inside the cucumber also grow larger, making the cucumber less tasty.

The biggest mistake folks make when growing cucumbers is trying to get away without a trellis. Trust us – we’ve tried growing this crop both ways, and the supported plants out-yielded the sprawlers every time. There are lots of other benefits, too. And,

Saves space. A trellised crop takes up just one-fifth of the space of unsupported vines- a big plus in small gardens!

Discourages disease. Getting the vines off the ground allows good air circulation around the leaves, stems, and developing fruits. That minimizes mildew, rots, and other nasty garden diseases.

Makes harvesting a breeze. No more stooping over, stepping on vines, or getting scratched up hunting for ripe cukes, because they’re right within easy reach.

Keeps fruits on the straight and narrow. Tired of misshapen or curled cukes? When they grow on a trellis, they hang straight, so the fruits are well formed and super easy to slice.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy the bounty of cucumbers is in a simple, but flavorful, cucumber salad. Simply peel and chop two medium cucumbers and two large tomatoes, and put them in a mixing bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil and 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese. Then toss with 1/4 cup of Italian dressing.

Chill for an hour or two before serving to let the flavors blend, and you’ve got yourself a super summer side dish!

Oh, here’s another  cucumber salad recipe that we really like:

INGREDIENTS

1. 1-2 large cucumbers peeled, quartered lengthwise, then sliced crosswise
2. 1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, basil, or Thai basil*
3. 2-3 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
4. Salt and pepper to taste

*To chop the basil, chiffonade it by stacking the leaves on top of each other, rolling them up like a cigar, and taking thin slices from one end to the other.

METHOD

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, toss to coat. Serve immediately, or make ahead (up to a couple of hours) and chill.

Serves 2-4

Want to know more super growing secrets & recipes?

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Yours truly for a great garden with berries,veggies and flowers.

Polly-organic gardener