How to Grow Cucumbers in a Container on a PVC Trellis

Plant outdoor cucumbers in midspring when air temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit. These sensitive plants fail in any frost. Plant indoor cucumbers at any time of year, and protect them from cold weather.

Use 5-gallon pots with drainage holes for cucumber plantings. Ideal cucumber pots measure 12 inches tall and wide, and give the plants both balance and space. Mix your own potting soil of one part soil-based potting soil, one part organic compost, one part peat moss and one part perlite. This mixture gives the plants good nutrition and moisture retention with a loose consistency for root growth and drainage. Add granular 5-10-10 fertilizer for starting nutrition.

Plant one cucumber seedling per 5 gallons of space. Lean the plastic or PVC trellis against a wall where the plant will get full sun and good air movement, and put the plant against the trellis to keep it in place. Use larger trellis systems to support multiple plants.

Water the cucumber plants with 2 inches of water every five to six days to maintain soil moisture. Water indoor cucumbers more frequently, as the dry indoor air dries soil quickly. Tie up cucumber vines to the trellis as they grow, using soft cord ties. Don't tie foliage, flowers or fruit, as these break off easily and will damage the plant and its harvest.

Feed the cucumbers again starting in midsummer when they bloom. Give the plants water-soluble 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 fertilizer every week to encourage better fruit production.