Vertical cucumber trellising boosts yields in Brazil’s Itajaí Valley

On October 9, Santa Catarina’s Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company (Epagri) reported on vertical trellising for pickling cucumbers in the Itajaí Valley. Introduced by the agency in 2002, the method trains plants on supports rather than letting them spread on the ground; Epagri links it to more light and airflow and less exposure to soil moisture.

Epagri says average yields increased from 15 to 65 tonnes per hectare and about 2,000 farmers in the state grow pickling cucumbers. It also reports easier crop management and harvesting and less need for fungicides, while noting that hybrid cultivars also contributed to gains over time. The figures come from the state agency; the notice does not describe a controlled trial.