July 29, 2009

Cucumber Contraption

As I've mentioned many times before, my husband is one handy man. He can fix or build just about anything that he puts his mind to do. So it goes without saying that I have called on him many times this year to help me with the gardens. He built the garden boxes, he erected a fence and gate around the boxes, he cut scrap pieces of wood and strung string to stake the tomato plants. But, several weeks ago when I started talking about needing a trellis for my cucumber plants, he put his foot down. He said he would gladly come up with something for the cucumbers but not until he saw proof that they would actually grow enough to need a trellis. What? I sensed a bit of doubt regarding my gardening efforts in that statement, but I let it go...until the cucumbers stood up and spoke for themselves. Way to go, lil' cukes oh mine!

Just as nature intended, those cucumber plants started putting out flowers and sprouting spindly, fragile tentacles which could only mean one thing - they wanted to climb! Once I showed Neal my discovery, he agreed it was time and he set out to make a contraption for the cukes. After looking at pictures on the Internet and listening to me describe what I wanted, he came up with the perfect solution. And it didn't cost us a dime!

He cut a section of chain link fence that we had laying around and attached it to some scrap lumber braces that he nailed to the garden box. He screwed the cross pieces in to the braces so that they could be easily raised and adjusted as the plants started to climb. And for that same reason, he draped the extra fencing to the back where it would be out of the way but there when we need it.

And, I tell you...those cuke plants could not be happier with their new contraption. Within just days, they have wrapped those little tentacles onto the trellis and are beginning to climb. And to think, Neal doubted this day would ever come! Just between you and me, I believe it had more to do with his dislike of cucumbers rather than my gardening skills. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

6 comments:

basicliving@backtobasicliving.com said...

Just look at those cukes! I think it was a joint effort. I need to hire you two!

frugalmom said...

What a fantastic idea. Those cukes are gonna love that trellis. And I firmly believe that you will love it, too. So, surely, since he made the contraption then he doesnt have to eat any cukes if he doesnt want to, right?

Anonymous said...

Right! LOL!

Lilla said...

Penny, yeah, I come up with the ideas and he does the grunt work. Works for me!

Frugalmom, thanks. My plan is to make pickles out of all the cukes I will have, and he will definitely eat pickles. Kind of like the some eat ketchup but not tomatoes deal, you know?

Anonymous said...

i have promised myself that i would do cucumbers next year! i have wished too many times already that i had them this year...
yours look great!

Lilla said...

Daune (or Jon?), they appear to be really easy to grow, and I know they would do well in Texas. I remember my dad growing cucumber of all varieties. He especially like the burpless ones!

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