How to Grow Cucumbers Horizontally

Dig the garden soil to a depth of 6 to 10 inches with a shovel or tiller two to three weeks before the last frost date in late winter or spring. Cucumber plants, unless they are specifically bush types that develop markedly shorter vine lengths, need lots of space to grow horizontally. The patch needs to be at least 8 feet by 8 feet for each cucumber hill.

Scatter a 3-inch to 6-inch layer of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure atop the tilled cucumber planting bed. Incorporate the matter into the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. Break up soil clumps with the shovel or your hands as you blend the soil and organic matter.

Grade the planting area smooth with the shovel or a stiff-tine rake. Allow the soil to naturally settle until one week after the last frost date in your area.

Scatter slow-release granular fertilizer across the prepared planting patch. A 5-10-10 formula works well. If your soil is very acidic, apply lime to create a soil pH that is between 6.0 and 7.0, the optimal conditions for cucumber plant growth. Follow product label directions to determine the dosage of fertilizer or lime to add based on the garden's area.

Create a planting furrow row 1/2-inch to 1-inch deep with a hoe. Place one cucumber seed every 12 inches in the row. Additional rows must be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart. Alternatively, plant cucumber seeds in hills, which are 1/2-inch to 1-inch deep basins containing four to six seeds. Additional hills are spaced 3 feet apart.

Backfill the furrow rows or hill basins with soil after placing seeds, and tamp the soil down gently with your hand or the back of the hoe blade. Water the soil to wet the top 2 inches of soil.

Hoe the garden patch as needed to prevent weeds from growing. Hand-pull weeds within 6 inches of sprouting cucumber plants to avoid accidentally cutting seedlings with the hoe blade. Alternatively, all soil areas away from the planted rows or hills may be covered in a 2-inch-deep layer of coarse organic mulch, such as tree bark, shredded leaves or straw that is free of weed seeds.

Lift and spread the elongating cucumber vines gently when they are 10 to 15 inches long. You may also push or reorient vine growth tips to guide the direction they grow. Radiate the vines outward in all directions so they bask in sunshine and do not crowd and shade each other. Allow the vines to sprawl horizontally across the patch.

Examine the cucumber plants every two to seven days, lifting leaves and looking at stems for any signs or insect damage. Walk carefully among the plants to avoid snapping or crushing vines. Treat pests as needed, using synthetic or organic pesticides or treatments per product label directions.