Monday 12 October 2009

Climbing frame for cucumbers

We get fed up with too many plants spreading themselves around the allotment, not that you can do much about pumpkins and marrows because of the size they grow to.
This year we grew the cucumbers differently and built a climbing frame for them, so that we were able to plant 20 plants in an area that would normally have held just 6 crawling cucumber plants. This year we grew 'Burpless Tasty Green F1', they were tied in as they grew, and once they reached about 60cm tall their own tentacles took over and they clung to the frame themselves.
The frame was built using vertical canes about 130cm (4'4") tall and three tier horizontal canes the length of the frame, and all held together with electrical plastic ties. It has been such a success that we will grow the same crop this way next year as well. 
There are no indigestion problems with this cucumber. Cucumber 'Burpless Tasty Green' produces cucumbers that are crisp and delicious, with no bitterness and ideal to eat just like celery. Best to pick at 20-25cm (8-10in) long when flavour and vitamin content is very high. Cucumbers are 96% water, low in calories but high in potassium. We always avoid peeling as the dark green skin is rich in carotenoid antioxidants, and scientists tell us this week that it is good for us, of course that may be different next week.. 

4 comments:

  1. why the bottles on top?

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  2. @anonymous

    Lest you lose an eye

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  3. We get fed up with too many plants spreading themselves around the allotment, not that you can do much about pumpkins and marrows because of the size they grow to. http://www.adventurezone.co.uk/

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  4. thanks for post thiis blog....These Wooden Climbing Frames gives a good look to your Climbing Frame garden structure.

    ReplyDelete