Experimental Bamboo/Inner-Tube Cucumber Trellis
by John Laumer, Philadelphia 
on 05. 4.06
Continuing with our Victory Garden series, we offer this trellis design to increase your vine crop production in a small area. Admittedly, what you see pictured here will never be on Home Depot's inventory; and you'll never see it in one of those luxurious suburban dream garden magazine spreads. That's because the trellis is pure function, held together at the base by the earth itself. But the virtues are many. First is simplicity. Only two materials are used: 6 bamboo upright poles and two pieces of bicycle inner tube form the structure; four more diagonal poles are added to help the plants climb. The bamboo poles were purchased for about 20 cents each in bulk, and will last 5 years or more if you put them away at season's end. The bicycle inner tubes were got from the repair shop waste basket and cut into segments with a knife. The second virtue is design for rapid assembly and rapid disassembly. Experienced gardeners know that at year's end they'll be busy putting the harvest by, the weather can be nasty, and we're about "gardened out." So anything that makes clearing debris and putting away equipment easy is going to be much appreciated. Because there's no tying of twine, you don't even have to cut it away when you're done.
Here's the plan.
Turn over and rake your soil. Then plant your vines per the usual method. Shown here is a 4 inch high container "mound" planting of cucumber vines. You can skip the container and just make a mound like it says on the seed package.
While the soil is still very loose, insert four bamboo poles into the ground in a square that encompasses the planted area. They must be at least 5 inches in. More is better. Try to get them even. Now add another pair, one each on two opposing faces of the square. This middle pair is to allow pole "weaving."
Now slip an inner-tube segment over the top end of one pole and then another, using it to pair them together, teepee style, like in the photo. You might need several tube types to get the right fit per pole pair. If the fit is loose, just insert a bit of wood or piece of bamboo shard in between the pole and the tube opening. You can see done that in the first photo.
Now "weave" in some more uprights in a diagonal pattern, and insert their butt ends into the soil a bit also. No cross members were used on this design, although with some vine types that may be adviseable.
The alternative approach would be to erect the trellis with two primary faces, and then plant two varieties of vine, one in front of each face. Your choice. Experiment. See what happens. That's the fun of gardening.
At year's end the sun will have destroyed the inner tube segments so you'll toss them and put the poles back in storage.
Note: if you live in a very windy area, put several trellises in a cluster, not a line. Use tube strips to tie latteral bamboo poles across the tops of trellises. Because the poles are 8 feet high you will be able to walk beneath this superstructure.
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I'm just starting my cucumbers this Sunday! But I haven't seen any cheap bamboo in the area (Chicago). Tried to grow my own in a big pot few years ago but didn't end up well.
Any suggestions?
=== author's response follows ====
I bought mine a bundle of 50. Looked like they came direct from Asia. Your cucumber vines will not need trellis for about two weeks...until they are ready to seriously climb. So there is still time to find some online and get them shipped. If I can find a catalog source I will post another comment.
Prices vary widely and seem to have gone way up from when I bought my bundle 6 years ago! Here's some choices I found.
$3/pole in bundle of 50 from http://www.bamboogardener.com/objects.html
$1.12/pole in bundle of 50 http://www.sukkahcentral.com/sukkah-accessories.shtml
$1.30/pole http://www.esroghq.com/Bamboos_1412.htm
$1.40/pole in bundle of 50 (#6) http://www.gardeners.com/Bamboo-Stakes---Poles/default/11806.prd
The latter one looks good, but ask if a local nursery can special order for you from one of their suppliers. May save on shipping.
I plant seeds early in my recycled solar cloche. You can see a picture and read an explanation at http://solarray.blogspot.com/2005/03/recycled-solar.html
It seems important to point out that bamboo is an incredibly fast growing weed in many parts of the country. If you drive around you may be able to find free sources, and it is easy to cut when it is green. Property owners in my area are happy to have people cut it down, as it takes over vast areas and can damage concrete and garden areas. MY wife and I just built a 12' x 12' bamboo gazebo out of bamboo that we found within two miles of my Austin Texas home.
Di you get problem of bamboo poles cracking,weathering, and looseness?how to pre-treated poles to prolong its life,here is a useful link http://www.chinabamboogarden.com/tech.asp
In Chicago, If you're looking for Bamboo, you can find 2'-7' long pieces at Gethsemane Garden Center. The 2' are $0.10 cents a piece and the 7' are $3.50. I just called them today, June 3rd and they gave me those prices and they do have it in stock. Good luck!
www.gethsemanegardens.com
MOUND CONTAINER?
What is the container on the ground holding the mound? I'm interested in the trellis but I REALLY want to know about the thing the mound is in. What is that called? Looks like 3 pieces of something??? Can you please enlighten me as to what the mound is created in?
Thanks