Topic: Cucumber frame.

[grannyjanny]

Just been chatting to daughter no 1 who has just got an allotment & she said there is something she really wants for it, a cucumber frame. Any tips on how to build one please?

[nilly71]

Two posts sunk in the ground at a distance that will be big enough for all the cucumbers and one across the top and one along the  bottom joining the two uprights. Then run string from top to bottom to allow the cucumbers to grow.

If you want them free-standing, make the ends the shape of a 1 with two angles(45 degrees) supporting the uprights to the base of the 1. Just remember to make the base big enough to stop the frame from blowing over in the wind or sink in 2"x2" lengths of timber in the ground and attach the frame to these.

Neil

[saddad]

Or grow them on the flat in any commercial "cold frame"...  :)

[grannyjanny]

She's an old softy like her mum ;D. She wants a Mr Magregor type because she read the book to her three girls as I did to my three girls. History repeats itself in more ways than one. My daughters ages 41, 38 & 31 her girls ages 15, 11 & 3 ;).

[Robert_Brenchley]

How did Mr Magregor grow cucumbers? Was he the guy who was always chasing Peter Rabbit off his veg?

[grannyjanny]

That's the one Robert ;).

[elhuerto]

I was wondering what alternatives there were to the cucumber frames described above - I had them growing up canes last year but it wasn't really very good.

Cheers.

[1066]

Me too elhuerto and was wondering the same. Similar idea to Nilly in that I had thought of putting 2 posts / canes in the ground and then using netting between the posts, but I'm not sure about this either!
Does anyone have any photos?

[Digeroo]

Is this the type of thing you are after
http://www.oldandinteresting.com/victorian-garden-frames.aspx

[nilly71]

A few ideas for you... http://www.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=cucumber+frame&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=USHPS8uJL4SJ_AatwoCCAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB8QsAQwAw

By the looks of it, the cucumber frame in Peter Rabbit books was a type of cold frame.

Neil

[elhuerto]

Thanks Neil, didn't think of using Google images - good idea. I think I'll got for a tripod of canes with string and see how that goes.

Cheers.

[anemone]

I bought a trellis wigwams from wilkonsons last year that worked pretty well.  I can't find them on their website but they look like this but shorter http://clematiscottage.com.au/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=305.  They were £5 at wilkinsons.

[Digeroo]

I have a couple of old window frames which looks as if it could make quite a good old fashioned type frame.  Might give it a go. 

[1066]

That looks a VERY smart cucumber frame Digers  :) Now I see why grannyjanny's daughter would want one  :)

[grannyjanny]

Thank you everyone. I've got a couple of metal obelisk thingies about 1m high. They might have to do for  this year. Todays subject is manure 8 tonnes of 8 year old horse manure for £40. I really can't believe it she is having it as part of her birthday present from her hubby. Never thought I would see the day :o. Beats Channel ;).