[Nick36]

Hello i want to grow cucumbers outdoors.  I have seen some advice say to grow along the ground.  Is this recomended because of wind damaging the plant?  I have seen advice on the website to provide a cane structure to allow the plant to climb, which is in its nature.
I know their is the risk of rotting and pest attack on the ground.  I guess it's better to let it grow up?

[the Kergan]

I will be growing mine in the greenhouse and will aim to get them going part of the way up a cane if possible.

[Springlands]

Hi Nick - Much better to grow them up canes - as you say if gown on the ground they are prey to slugs and rotting if the ground is wet. Make sure that you are growing outdoor ridge cukes and not ones that are meant to be grown in a greenhouse. You will need to hold off for a few weeks until the weather improves - it is really much too cold at present for outdoor (or even indoor) cukes.

[shokkyy]

Last year I put my outdoor cucumbers in a grow bag and put it in front of a chain link fence, and they scrambled up that very happily. The year before that I put them in front of an esaplier trained cherry tree and they scrambled up that happily too. I prefer to keep them off the ground if possible, simply because it makes it less likely that the fruit will be chewed by slugs or mice, and it keeps them out of the wet if it's rainy. And they just seem to fruit better off the ground too, maybe because they get a bit more sun and light and air.

[DD.]

I stuck mine in the horse poo pile last and let them do their own thing along the ground.

They are as happy as a pig in.........