How to Get Cucumber Vines to Support More Fruit

Grow cucumbers in a garden bed that has been amended with lots of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure. Sprinkle a little bit of nitrogen fertilizer after the cucumber plants start to grow and spread out. Use an appropriate amount as indicated on the fertilizer's label.

Rotate where you grow your cucumbers each year, especially if they didn't grow well the previous year. There may be something in the soil that is not conducive to growing strong, fruitful cucumber plants.

Grow vining cucumbers near support. This helps cucumber plants growing in a small space to be able to support and handle more fruit. Plant these plants next to a fence or trellis. A wire cage also works well. The vining cucumber plants will naturally grow up and along the support, but you may need to slightly guide new growth in the direction of the support.

Keep the cucumber vines well-watered, and the vine will be able to handle more fruit. Water them near their roots, such as with a soaker hose, and not from above if possible. This helps prevent leaf diseases. Water them with 1/2-inch of water at a time about once to two times a week, as cucumbers have shallow roots. During the hot summer, though, water cucumber vines three to four times a week when rainfall is sparse. If the leaves start to turn yellow, you may be watering them too much.

Remove misshapen or rotting fruits. The plants can then use their energy to grow better and possibly even grow additional fruits.