Forget Yard Gardens: How To Nail Growing Cucumbers In Hanging Baskets

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The cucumber plant, like its melon and squash cousins, is a rambling one. With vines that regularly grow to 6 feet in length, it's not something you want to put in the garden without correct planning. Ground space can be at a premium in the yard (or perhaps you don't even have a green patch), but by making use of vertical space you open up a whole new world of possibilities. Cucumbers can be grown in hanging baskets on porches, balconies, or attached to a garden wall or fence. Wherever you have a place to hang a basket that boasts plenty of sun, you can have a thriving cucumber plant.

Beyond saving space, there are some benefits to this vertical method of growing cucumbers. Keeping the plants off the ground will help protect them from some pests like slugs and snails, though flying pests can still be an issue. With the increased airflow that comes from hanging plants, your cucumbers are also less likely to suffer from powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. 

When it comes time to harvest you'll notice some differences to plants grown in the garden, too. The fruit — while commonly dubbed a vegetable — tends to be straighter and more consistently shaped as the cucumbers haven't been bent or flattened from lying on the ground. It's also a cleaner and easier job, with no bending necessary to pick ripe cucumbers and no soil to wash off.

Cucumbers are a good option for beginners, and are also one of the fastest growing vegetables you can add to your garden, with a harvest in around 7 to 10 weeks. That said, you can't just throw some seeds in a pot and hope for the best. Your choice of cucumber is very important here. There are around 100 cucumber varieties that come in all shapes and sizes, and some require more room for the roots than a hanging basket can provide. What you need to look for are dwarf varieties. The Spacemaster 80 and Salad Bush varieties are perfect for growing in containers, as is any variety labelled "patio" or "compact".

The next step is choosing a basket. The aesthetic of a balcony hung with ornamental pots might be appealing, but cucumbers will need more room than the average houseplant. Even for dwarf varieties, you'll need something at least 8 to 10 inches deep and 12 inches across. If you have the space, they will thrive when grown in an old laundry basket.

Cucumbers are sun-loving plants, so finding the right spot for your basket is important. The plants will need at least 6 hours of direct sun each day to produce fruit, but will be healthier and happier with 8 to 10 hours. They also need to be regularly watered. If you can tick off all these requirements, you'll be well on your way to a bountiful harvest — without needing to dig up the yard.