cucumbers ,horizontal or vertical ?

[the big lebowski]

hi all as i havent been able to get the cash together to get my greenhouse sorted out so im looking at changing my tactics for growing cucumbers ,now i will be growing them outside ,i have an area to grow them on flat soil and also i have wires (6 foot high) but they have my blackcurrents on and no wall behind them , i have space to grow the cucumbers up but im wondering as its quiet windy somtimes will this effect them ? so long story short lets vote on the ground or on the wires ,any thoughts welcome ,cheers

[nickdub]

Not wanting to rain on the parade, but my vote would go for growing something-else. Unless you are able to rig up some sort of plastic sheeting or similar to cover the area in question at least temporarily, my view is that the weather in the UK is too cold most years to make cucumber growing outside worth the time and effort involved.

[veggiechicken]

How about outdoor/ridge cucumbers grown on a bean-type wigwam?

[Bren In Pots]

I used to grew mine up plastic garden mesh fastened to a wall. it was easy enough then to cover them with either plastic or fleece when it turned cooler.

[Thelma Sanders]

I've had good success with Crystal Apple (round fruit) and Burpless Tasty cucumbers grown on low support mesh like this, I can throw some polysheet over them if cold weather threatens while they are still small

[muck lover]

This is a compost heap. It’s not hot as it’s been there a while and I think mostly is leafmould. I have a black plastic cover on it with a clear dome to try to warm it up a bit. I had big plans to grow a couple of outdoor cucumbers - marketmore- on it and let them trail. I’ll put in some manure before I plant. Do you think this would work?

[nickdub]

Leaf mould is broken down in a different way to most other materials in a compost heap and for that reason little or no heat is generated by it. The success or not of growing things like cucs outside is dictated almost entirely by the weather. Nice hot summer and you'll definitely succeed - miserable wet one and it will be a waste of time and effort.

[Jungle Jane]

Mini varieties like cucino,diva & mini munch do well outside but I’d grow them up a support incase of snails in the night having a bite,plus the plants don’t grow too tall so not heavy to tie in.

[muck lover]

Might compromise and put a cold frane on top.

[ESBkevin]

I've had success with Cucumbers in the last couple of years and will go as far as to say more success outdoors on the plot than in the greenhouse! Indoors they don't like getting splashed and burned so I've shrivelled a few along the way and gone for outdoor.
If they are on the ground you need to support them off the soil and watch for slug/snail damage.
Last year I grew 2 plants and simply wound them up a string wraped around a stick in a spiral. In fact the legs of the frame holding up my Tomato cordons, it was not perfect but was effective enough to give me an adequate harvest.
This year again I will have a reserve one plant in the tiny green house with a few Toms to get an extended season, then a couple of Cucumbers on the plot for good measure.

[the big lebowski]

hi all ,thanks v much for all your answers,im sat here potting a few on now ,the type im growing are la diva and they have a good cold tolerance to cold so fingers crossed we`ll get a few ,thats a great photo thelma thanks for sharing ,cheers

[Derbydal]

iv' grown Marketmore outside for the last 12yrs and have had great success I grew them mfb last yr and 20ltr buckets in previous years ,I dont grow them in the ground ,I find 8 plants keeps us well supplied !
atb Dal .