Do Burpless Cucumbers Need a Trellis?
Burpless cucumbers, known for their mild flavor and thin skin, are a favorite among gardeners for their tasty green fruits and easy to digest. They also have a less bitter taste in comparison to some varieties of cucumbers. They were specifically bred to have less bitter compounds that are the culprit for indigestion and burping in some people.
These cucumber varieties, including popular types like Garden Sweet Burpless Cucumber and Burpless Supreme, are part of the Cucumis sativus family and are prized for fresh eating. A common question for those growing cucumbers is whether burpless cucumbers need a trellis for best growth. Let’s explore the benefits of trellising, how to grow these outdoor cucumbers, and whether it’s the best way to achieve high yields.
This post is all about do burpless cucumbers need a trellis.
Table of Contents
Understanding Burpless Cucumbers
Burpless cucumbers are a type of cucumber bred for their smooth skin and lack of bitterness, making them ideal for salads or snacking. Varieties like Sweet Success and Burpless Hybrid offer a beautiful cucumber with a mild flavor, while specialty cucumbers like Suyo Long and Dark Armenian Cucumbers add diversity to your garden. These cucumber plants can be either vining plants or bush types, which impacts whether a trellis is necessary.
Vining burpless cucumbers, which produce long cucumber vines, benefit greatly from cucumber trellises. Bush varieties, such as Salad Bush or bush cucumbers, are compact plants that take up less space and are suited for small gardens or a large container. Knowing your variety of cucumber is key to deciding how to support your plants.
Varieties of Burpless Cucumbers
So far, I’ve mentioned a couple of varieties that may be viable options to try, but I’ve compiled a list of Burpless cucumbers. Ones you may want to consider trying to grow are:
- Burpless Supreme
- Dark Armenian
- Diva
- Early Spring
- Garden Sweet
- Japanese Progress Hybrid
- Sweet Success
- Tasty Green Hybrid
- Tendergreen
Why Use a Trellis for Burpless Cucumbers?
Whether a burpless cucumber needs a trellis will depend on which variety you want to plant. Cucumbers can either be a bush variety or a vining variety. For example, the Diva burpless cucumber is a vining variety. So if it’s not trellised it’ll sprawl all over. The vine can grow as long as 5 to 6 feet, and be 1 to 2 feet wide. Trellising is a great way to grow vining burpless cucumbers for several reasons:
- Straighter Cucumbers and Best Flavor: Elevating cucumber fruit off the ground prevents misshapen growth, ensuring straighter cucumbers with smooth skin. It also reduces the risk of rot and pest damage from cucumber beetles.
- Good Air Circulation: Trellising promotes air flow around the cucumber vines, reducing the risk of diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew.
- Space Efficiency: For small gardens or a square foot garden, trellising allows you to grow more in less space, as vines climb vertically rather than sprawling across growing surfaces.
- Easier Harvesting: Ripe cucumbers are easier to spot and pick when supported by a strong trellis, such as a cattle panel or wire fencing.
- Potentially less issues with pests: Since the vine is up off the ground, there’s potentially less issues with having pests. It’ll also be easier to check for pests with everything up off the ground.
Bush varieties, however, often don’t require trellising due to their compact nature. For example, a bush cucumber like Salad Bush can thrive in a large pot or directly in fertile soil without additional support. This type of cucumber is a great option for small gardens, but if you’d really like a vining variety, trellising is definitely the way to go.
How to Grow Burpless Cucumbers
Burpless cucumbers aren’t any different to grow than other cucumbers. To achieve the best results when growing burpless cucumbers, follow these steps:
- Timing and Soil Preparation
Sow seeds after the last frost, when the danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Burpless cucumbers prefer well-drained soil enriched with complete fertilizer. If you struggled with poor growth last year, test your soil and amend it for next year. Using black plastic can warm the soil in early spring, especially in regions with cold temperatures. - Sun and Water Needs
Plant cucumber seeds in full sun, though some burpless varieties tolerate partial shade. Water consistently, providing about an inch of water per week using a soaker hose to keep moisture at the base of the plant. Avoid overhead watering to prevent powdery mildew. - Trellising for Vining Varieties
For vining burpless cucumbers, set up a DIY cucumber trellis using materials like a cattle panel, wire fencing, or a frame trellis. Space plants about 12 inches apart at the base of the trellis to allow female flowers to develop and produce high yields. A strong trellis supports the weight of cucumber fruit as it grows. - Pest and Disease Management
Cucumber beetles can damage young plants, so use row covers until plants are established, then remove them to allow pollination. If pests persist, apply insecticidal soap. Monitor for powdery mildew and downy mildew, especially in humid conditions, and ensure good air circulation. - Harvesting
Harvest ripe cucumbers when they reach the desired size, typically 8-12 inches for burpless varieties. Regular picking encourages more fruit production, ensuring an excellent cucumber crop.
Companion Planting with Cucumbers
Companion planting has so many perks like:
- Pest Control: Certain plants can repel unwanted insects or attract beneficial insects that act as natural pest control.
- Pollination: Companion plants can attract pollinators, which are vital for fruit and seed production.
- Soil Health: Some plants fix nutrients back into the soil, which can be utilized by neighboring plants, improving overall soil fertility.
By leveraging the strengths of various plants, gardeners can create a thriving garden ecosystem that supports healthy plant growth and productivity. Planting the wrong plants together can cause a MAJOR headache. Instead of deterring pests, they may actually attract pests, which we definitely don’t want to do.
herbs
Consider planting the following herbs with your cucumbers:
- arugula
- chamomile
- chives
- coriander
- dill
- lavender
- marjoram
- oregano
- tarragon
Vegetables
So what other vegetables should we plant with cucumbers to help benefit each other? These are vegetables that aren’t going to fight cucumbers for the nutrients in the soil, not going to take up real estate in the garden like cucumbers do (i.e. they’re root vegetables)
- beets
- carrots
- celery
- corn
- garlic
- lettuce
- onions
- peas
- radishes
fruit
Technically tomatoes are a fruit and not a vegetable. I haven’t found any fruit that are actually beneficial to cucumbers. In spite of tomatoes and cucumbers both being heavy feeders (meaning they take up lots of nutrients from the soil to produce fruit), they actually grow really well together. I’ve plant tomatoes and cucumbers together for years and it’s worked out well since they have the same growing requirements/needs.
flowers
There are so many flowers that you can plant with cucumbers:
- borage
- calendula
- chrysanthemum
- marigold
- nasturtium
- sunflowers
- sweet alyssum
Sunflowers are my favorite flower to plant with cucumbers. They can provide shade to the plant when the heat of the summer is unbearable, and they’re a natural trellis. Sunflowers can have huge stalks and they’re so easy for the cucumbers to climb. There’s nothing extra you need to do in terms of trellising when you use sunflowers with your cucumbers.
Do Burpless Cucumbers Need a Trellis?
While burpless cucumbers don’t absolutely require a trellis, vining types like Burpless Supreme or Sweet Success benefit significantly from one. A trellis maximizes space, improves fruit quality, and reduces disease risk. For bush cucumbers or those grown in a large container, trellising is optional, as these compact plants can thrive in fertile soil without support.
If you’re growing in a small garden or want to add decorative accents to your outdoor space, a trellis can double as outdoor decor, much like outdoor lighting or outdoor dining furniture enhances a patio. For inspiration, Cornell University’s gardening resources recommend trellising as the best way to grow vining cucumbers for high yields and disease prevention.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose a trellis depends on your garden setup and cucumber variety. For vining burpless cucumbers, a strong trellis is a great way to ensure straighter cucumbers, better air circulation, and a bountiful harvest. Bush varieties, however, can thrive without one, making them ideal for small gardens or large pots. By planting in well-drained soil, timing your sowing after the last frost, and managing pests, you’ll enjoy the best flavor from your burpless cucumbers all growing season long.
Ready to grow your own tasty green cucumbers? Try a DIY cucumber trellis and watch your garden thrive!
This post was all about do burpless cucumbers need a trellis.
