Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Cucumbers are difficult plants to grow in pots, as they require a lot of space to climb. However, you can still grow by choosing a bush cucumber instead of a creeper, or making a trellis or stakes for the plants to climb. Use soil that is rich in nutrients, has good drainage and retains moisture throughout the growing season so that cucumber plants can thrive in pots.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Prepare pots for plants

1. 

   Choose a shrub like cucumber to grow in a pot. In general, shrubs are easier to potted, as creepers need a scaffold to climb and grow. You will have a better chance of success if you choose the right plant for potting.
   • Potted varieties of cucumbers include Bush Hybrid Salad, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck.

2. 

   
   
   Choose a pot with a diameter of 25 cm. The cucumber pot should be at least 25 cm in diameter and equal in depth. If you want to plant multiple plants in the same pot, you'll need a pot that is at least 50 cm in diameter and 20 liters in capacity.
   • If you are placing the pot outdoors, choose a larger one. Large pots will keep moisture more effectively.
   • You can even use a square planter if you plan on making a trellis.

3. 

   
   
   Poke holes if there are no holes in the perineum. While cucumbers are a hydrophilic plant, waterlogging can damage the roots, so look for a pot with a drainage hole, if you have one. Just flip the pot up to see if there are holes in the bottom.
   • If the pot does not have drainage holes, use a drill to drill the hole in the bottom of the pot. Choose a concrete drill for a soft terracotta pot or a glass and tile drill for an enamel pot. You need a drill of 6.4 mm - 12.7 mm size.
   • Place a protective tape over the pot underneath the pot, where you plan to drill the hole. This type of tape will help keep the drill steady. Gently press the drill bit onto the tape and turn on the drill at a slow speed. Press gently, slowly and steadily into the adhesive tape until the drill pierces the perineum. Drill at least one more hole.
   • You can break the pot if you try to press the drill bit too hard or drill at high speed.

4. 

   
   
   Wash the pot thoroughly with hot water and soap. The potted plants can contain the bacteria that cause plant rot. If you use a pot that has previously grown another plant, you may already have insect eggs in the pot that will hatch and attack your cucumber plant.
   • Use a rag or sponge to wash the pots and soapy water to scrub the pot. Rinse the water several times to make sure the soap is clean.

5. 

   Prepare the pile. Cucumber varieties need a trellis or stakes to grow. The support piles are also good for a bush cucumber that doesn't need a prop. To make your own stakes, find 3 long sticks or bamboo stakes, tie the three stakes together at the top end and the bottom end to form a tent.
   • You can buy tent-shaped metal trusses for sale at garden tool stores.
   • The stakes will encourage the cucumber plant to climb up in the first place.
   • Place the stakes in the pot, the base of the stake will be spatter. The poles must touch the bottom of the pot. These piles must be self-standing without any additional support. If you find them wobbly, you need to adjust them to balance.

6. 

   Fill a pot with a well drained soil mixture. If you want to mix the soil yourself, try mixing 1 part sand, 1 part compost and 1 part peat moss or coir. If not, you can choose a ready-mixed vegetable soil type.
   • Pour soil into the pot, carefully patting the soil around the piles. However, you should not compress too tightly, as the roots of cucumber plants only grow well on loose soil. Pour the soil about 2.5 cm from the top of the pot.
   • Check the piles. Try to lay the stakes in the pot. If you find the stakes move a lot, you need to squeeze more soil into the pot to hold the stake firmly.
   • Find your soil mix and blending ingredients at the garden store.
   • Do not use your garden soil, as it can become contaminated with bacteria and pests.

7. 

   Replenish soil nutrients by applying high quality fertilizers. Use a 5-10-5 or 14-14-14 slow-release fertilizer. Since fertilizers come in many types and brands, you will need to mix the fertilizer into the soil according to the proportions indicated on the product label.
   • You can also buy soil with pre-mixed fertilizers.
   • The numbers on the fertilizer bag correspond to the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium present in the fertilizer. Each element provides nutrients for a part of the plant.
   • Fertilizer 5-10-5 provides cucumber plants in low doses, focusing on the effect of increasing yield. In contrast, the 14-14-14 fertilizer helps the plant to grow a healthy balance, and you can apply it at a slightly higher concentration.
   • You can also choose organic fertilizers that are safe for the environment.
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Part 2 of 3: Growing cucumbers from seeds and seedlings

1. 

   Sow seeds in warm weather up to 21 degrees Celsius. Cucumbers need to be grown in soil that is at least 21 degrees Celsius. In many regions, you can start planting in July and wait until September to be able to harvest. If you live in a warm area, you can start earlier. Wait for the last frost at least 2 weeks, then sow the seeds.
   • If you are planting cucumbers indoors, you can start sowing seeds anytime.

2. 

   Poke a hole about 1 cm wide in the center of the pot. The sowing hole should be equal in width to the depth. You can poke holes with your little finger or the rounded tip of the pencil.
   • If you are planting cucumbers in a larger pot, make sure to make evenly spaced holes around the edge of the pot in a circular shape or in a straight line in a rectangular pot, depending on the size and shape of the pot.

3. 

   Sow 5-8 seeds into holes more than 1 cm deep. You should plant more plants than you plan to plant to increase your chances of success. Sowing many seeds may also mean you have to remove the plants as they sprout, but often you will only have as many plants as you want.
   • The young cucumber plant is less stamina when handled or removed from the pot. Choose organic potted seedlings such as coir or peat so you can plant the whole pot in the soil without having to hold the seedlings too much. Plant roots will grow through the organic pot.

4. 

   Fill the sowing hole with soil. Spread soil over the seed you just sowed. Do not compress the soil to avoid damaging the seeds. You can pat the ground lightly when you have finished sowing.
   • If using a seedling, cover the plant with soil and pat it down.

5. 

   Use an old plastic water bottle to make a ring. If it is still cold outside, you can protect the trees by making a ring for each tree. Cut off the top and bottom of large plastic bottles, wash them thoroughly with soap and hot water, and then photograph each sprouting plant. Remember to press each ring against the ground to avoid being blown away by the wind.
   • These rings will keep the plant warm and shield the wind, while also helping to fight some pests.

6. 

   Water directly on the seed or seedling right after planting. The soil should be completely damp after watering. However, do not over-water the seeds, as puddles can wash away the seeds.
   • Use a gentle spray to avoid disturbing the seeds.

7. 

   Spread peat moss or straw on the ground after watering. Spread a thin mulch or peat moss over the seeds or seedlings and the ground. The mulch will keep the soil from drying out too quickly, giving the seeds and seedlings a chance to grow.

8. 

   Keep the pot in the sun for at least 6 hours a day. Cucumbers do well in warm conditions, and the sun warms the soil. If you put the plant in a place where the sun lasts more than 6 hours a day, even better.
   • If you are planting cucumbers indoors, place them in a sunny room so that they can get plenty of light. If there is no corner in the room with sunlight, you should buy a plant lamp instead. Install lights on top of plants and leave them on for at least 6 hours a day.
   • You can place the pot next to the wall or fence to minimize wind damage. Light winds are okay, but strong winds can damage the plants.
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Part 3 of 3: Caring for a cucumber plant

1. 

   Remove trees when the seedlings have 2 real leaf clusters. Select the two tallest seedlings of each cluster to keep and cut the remaining plants close to the ground. Do not uproot the plants to be removed, as this will disturb the soil and possibly injure retained seedlings.
   • Use scissors or scissors to cut off any trees that are on the ground.

2. 

   Prune so that there is only 1 tree left in each sowing hole when the plant is 20-25 cm high. Examine each cluster of plants and choose the tallest, most leafy and healthiest plant. Cut all remaining plants close to the ground.
   • You should now have one potted plant in each cluster. If it's a small pot, this also means you only have one plant left in the pot.

3. 

   Water every day. When the ground feels dry, it's time to water it again.Water the mature plant with enough water to allow excess water to flow through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Never let the soil dry out, as dry soil will interfere with the plant's growth and cause a bitter melon.
   • Poke your finger into the ground to check. If the soil is dry then it's time to water.
   • Lift the pot to estimate how heavy. The heavier the pot, the more water absorbed in the soil. You should check several times a day to see how heavy the pot is when watering.
   • Spread mulch around the plant to help retain water.
   • If you live in an area that is particularly dry and hot, you may need to water your plant twice a day.

4. 

   Add a balanced fertilizer once a week. Water well before fertilizing. Problems can arise if you fertilize when the plant is dry. You need to use a water-soluble fertilizer and apply the correct amount as directed on the package. The use of fertilizers will vary depending on the type and brand, so be sure to read the label.
   • Choose a 5-10-5 or 14-14-14 fertilizer.

5. 

   Eliminate pests with neem oil or other organic insecticides. Aphids, red spiders and melon beetles are all pests that attack cucumbers. You can make your own organic insecticide with neem oil:
   • Mix 240-350 ml of water with a few drops of dish soap and 10-20 drops of neem oil to make a pesticide spray.
   • For pests like melon beetles, you can simply put on Vaseline gloves and put them in a bucket of water with a few drops of dish soap.
   • You can also use a vacuum cleaner designed to attract insects from plants.

6. 

   Use antifungal sprays to treat fungal diseases. Bacterial and mold wilt is quite common. There are many anti-fungal products that will help you treat mildew, but bacterial diseases are more difficult to treat. In fact, if the plant is infected with bacterial wilt - which can be contaminated by beetles - it is very easy to die. Signs of a fungal infection are white powdered substances on the leaves of the plant.
   • Bacterial wilt will begin with leaf wilting during the day and recover at night. Eventually the leaves will yellow and die.
   • To make an anti-mildew spray, mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda with 4 liters of water. Add a few drops of dish soap and shake well. Spray the plant once a week if you notice white powdered mold on the leaves.

7. 

   Harvest cucumbers about 55 days after planting. Older cucumbers will be more bitter, so harvest them while they're young. Cut about 1 cm above the stem of the cucumber. If the melon has turned yellow, it is probably too old to eat.
   • With most varieties of cucumbers, you can harvest them 55-70 days after planting.
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Advice

• If you want to grow cucumbers earlier, start in organic pots and place them indoors first, then go outdoors in warmer weather.
• Cucumbers require a lot of water, so be sure to keep your plants moist throughout the growing season.

Warning

• Be careful with any pesticides you use to spray on the cucumber plant. Many chemical insecticides can be toxic when we ingest them, and chances are you or someone else ate cucumbers from the plants you grow. Always wash cucumbers before eating to remove dirt, bacteria and residual chemicals.