Almost pickles. That’s where the cucumbers are at right now — vining up the trellis in one of the raised beds, tangled in with scarlet runner beans and a stray dahlia that muscled its way in. It wasn’t exactly planned that way, but it’s working.
Cucumbers on a trellis
Cucumbers want warmth, sun, and something to climb. Once the frost risk is behind us, seeds go straight into the ground, and a trellis keeps the vines up off the soil — healthier plants, easier picking, and it frees up bed space for everything else crowding in underneath.
Scarlet runner beans for height and color
Scarlet runner beans do double duty: they’re a real harvest, and those vivid red flowers turn a vegetable bed into something worth stopping for. Sown after the last frost with a little breathing room, they’ll climb right alongside the cucumbers and add the kind of vertical interest a flat garden bed is usually missing.
And then a dahlia shows up
Tucking dahlias in among the vegetables isn’t just for looks — they pull in pollinators that end up benefiting the whole bed. It’s a small reminder that a garden doesn’t have to choose between beautiful and productive.
What’s climbing your trellis this season?
Forest Girl Farm 
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