Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Preparation
• Part 2 of 3: Planting seeds and seedlings
• Part 3 of 3: Caring for your cucumber
• Tips
• Warnings

Growing cucumbers in pots is not easy because these plants need to grow high up. However, this can be dealt with by choosing a variety that does not need a lot of space and placing a peg or trellis in the pot for the cucumber to wrap around. For the plant to take root, you will also need a nutritious soil with good drainage, which will need to be watered regularly.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Preparation

1. 1 Choose a bush cucumber that is suitable for growing in pots. Bushy varieties are usually easier to grow than curly varieties because climbing plants need a trellis to hold onto. Choosing a suitable potted variety will increase your chances of success.
   • The varieties that are well suited for growing in pots include "Baby", "Baby", "Shorty", "Kustovoy" and some others.
2. 2 Find a pot that is large enough. The diameter and depth of the pot must be at least 25 centimeters. If you want to plant several plants in one pot, its diameter should be at least 50 centimeters, and its volume should be at least 20 liters.
   • If you are going to keep your cucumbers outdoors, choose larger pots if possible. Large pots retain moisture longer.
   • You can even use rectangular plant boxes if you put grates in them for the cucumbers to rest on.
3. 3 If there are no drainage holes in the pot, make them. Cucumbers love water, but too much water causes the roots to rot. Try to choose a pot that already has drainage holes. Just flip the pot over and see if there are holes in the bottom.
   • If there are no drain holes in the pot, drill them with a drill. Use a drill bit for soft uncoated terracotta or for tiles, glass and glazed surfaces. Choose a drill with a diameter of 6-13 millimeters.
   • Place masking tape on the bottom of the pot where you are going to drill the holes. Masking tape will help hold the drill in place. Press lightly on the tape with the drill and turn on the drill at low speed. Slowly and at a constant speed, apply slight pressure to the drill until you drill the hole. Make at least one more hole.
   • If you push the drill too hard or try to drill too fast, the pot may crack.
4. 4 Wash the pot well with hot water and soap. This is especially important if another plant has once grown in the pot, as microscopic eggs may remain on the surface of the pot, from which harmful insects will develop. In addition, bacteria that are dangerous to cucumbers could have remained in the pot.
   • Rinse the pot thoroughly with a rag or dish brush and soap and water.Rinse the pot several times to remove any soap residue.
5. 5 Prepare the support. Curly cucumbers need a trellis or peg to grow. Although bush varieties can do without support, it is useful for them too. To make your own prop, use 3 long strips or bamboo stalks. Tie the ends together and tie them together with twine or simple thread. Move the opposite ends of the planks apart to create a triangular pyramid (tripod).
   • A tripod made of metal rods can be purchased at a hardware or garden supply store.
   • The cucumber will be able to cling to the support and grow upward.
   • Place the support in the pot so that the bases of the three rods are at the edges. In this case, the free ends of the rods should touch the bottom of the pot. The support must be straight and not require additional support. If it wobbles, reposition the legs so that the post is level and stable.
6. 6 Fill a pot with a water-permeable potting mix. If you want to make your own potting mix, try mixing 1 part sand, 1 part compost, and 1 part peat moss or coconut fiber. You can also purchase potting soil that is designed for growing vegetables.
   • Pour the mixture into a pot and gently brush it around the tripod shafts. Do not compact the soil too much, as the roots of the cucumber need loose soil to grow. There should be about 2-3 centimeters of free space between the soil surface and the top edge of the pot.
   • Check the support. Try rocking it in the pot. If it sways freely, press the soil harder to secure the planks.
   • The potting mix and potting ingredients can be purchased at your local gardening store.
   • Do not use regular garden soil as it can harbor bacteria and pests.
7. 7 Add fertilizer to the soil to enrich it with nutrients. Use a slow release fertilizer with a 5: 10: 5 or 14:14:14 formula. Mix it into the soil in the proportion recommended on the package - there are many different brands and types of fertilizers on sale.
   • You can also use a potting mix that has already been fertilized.
   • The numbers on the fertilizer bag represent the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. Each of these elements contributes to the development of a separate part of the plant.
   • Fertilizer 5: 10: 5 is relatively mild and improves the fruitfulness of cucumbers. On the other hand, the 14:14:14 fertilizer has a slightly higher nutrient concentration and promotes balanced plant health.
   • You can also use environmentally friendly organic fertilizers.

Part 2 of 3: Planting seeds and seedlings

1. 1 Plant the seeds when the temperature rises to 21 ° C. Cucumbers require the soil to warm up to at least 21 ° C to grow. In many regions, cucumbers can be planted in July to harvest in September. If you live in a warmer area, you can plant your cucumbers earlier. Wait at least 2 weeks after the end of the last frost.
   • If you plan to plant cucumbers indoors, you can do so anytime.
2. 2 Make a hole about 1.5 centimeters deep in the center of the pot. Its depth and width should be approximately the same. The hole can be made with your finger or the blunt tip of a pencil.
   • If you have a large pot, make holes about the same distance around the center (or along straight lines if you are using a rectangular box).
3. 3 Plant 5-8 seeds in a hole about 15 millimeters deep. More seeds can be planted to increase the chances of success. When the seeds have sprouted, you can remove excess shoots or leave a few plants.
   • Cucumber seedlings do not tolerate well when they are taken out of the pot and transplanted. You can purchase seedlings in an organic pot made of coconut fiber or peat, which can be planted with the pot.In this case, the roots of the plants will sprout through the organic pot.
4. 4 Cover the hole with potting soil. Sprinkle some soil over the seeds. Do not compact the soil to avoid damaging the seeds. You can level the soil slightly over the hole.
   • If you are planting seedlings, fill the hole with soil and smooth it lightly.
5. 5 Use an old water bottle for the plastic cap. If it's still cool outside, you can protect each plant with a hood. Take a large plastic bottle and cut off the narrow neck and bottom. Wash the remainder thoroughly with hot soapy water and place over the seedling. Press the wide part of the bottle into the ground to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.
   • These hoods will help keep warm and protect from the wind. In addition, they will protect the seedlings from some pests.
6. 6 Water the seeds or seedlings immediately after planting. Water the seeds or seedlings thoroughly to keep the ground visibly moist. Don't overdo it, though, as excess water can wash away the seeds.
   • Use a spray bottle to avoid washing away the seeds.
7. 7 After watering, spread peat moss or straw on the ground. Place a thin layer of peat moss or mulch on the ground over the seeds or seedlings. The mulch will keep the soil from drying out too quickly and will help the cucumbers germinate.
8. 8 Place the pot in a place that gets at least 8 hours of sun a day. Cucumbers prefer warm conditions and the extra sunlight will warm the soil. Try to keep the sun shining on the plants for at least 6 hours a day.
   • If you are growing your cucumbers indoors, place the pot in a well-sunlit room so the plants get enough light. If you don't have such a room, you can purchase a plant lamp. Place it above the pot and turn it on for at least 6 hours a day.
   • You can place the pot against the wall of a house or fence to protect the cucumbers from the wind. A light breeze is beneficial, but strong winds can damage plants.

Part 3 of 3: Caring for your cucumber

1. 1 Thin the sprouted cucumbers when 2 full leaves appear on the sprouts. Find the 2 tallest shoots in each group and cut off the rest of the shoots. Do not pull out unnecessary shoots, as this can disturb the soil and damage the roots of the shoots that you decide to leave.
   • Cut off unnecessary shoots with clippers or garden shears.
2. 2 Leave one plant in each hole after the cucumbers have grown to 20-25 centimeters. Examine the cucumbers in each group and select the tallest ones. In addition to being tall, these plants should have more leaves and look healthy. Cut off the rest of the shoots at ground level.
   • You are now left with one plant in each seed-planted hole. If you used a small pot, you are left with one plant.
3. 3 Water your cucumbers daily. If the surface of the ground looks dry, it's time to water it. Water the grown cucumbers well so that a small amount of excess water seeps through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Never wait for the ground to dry out, as this will slow down growth and the cucumbers will turn out to be bitter.
   • To check if the soil is dry, stick your finger in it. If the soil is dry, it should be watered.
   • Raise the pot to see how heavy it is. The heavier the pot, the more saturated the earth is with moisture. Check the soil in this way several times throughout the day.
   • Sprinkle mulch on the soil to help the soil retain moisture longer.
   • If you live in hot or dry climates, you may need to water your cucumbers twice a day.
4. 4 Add a balanced fertilizer once a week. Water the cucumbers thoroughly before using the fertilizer. Do not add fertilizer to dry soil as this can cause problems. Use a water-soluble fertilizer and follow the dosage indicated on the package. There are many different brands and types of fertilizers available on the market, so be sure to read the directions for use.
   • Use fertilizer at 5: 10: 5 or 14:14:14.
5. 5 Kill plant pests with neem oil or other organic pesticides. Cucumbers are harmed by aphids, moths, mites and potato fleas. You can make your own organic pesticide with neem oil:
   • To make a neem oil spray, take 1–1.5 cups (240–350 milliliters) of water and add a few drops of dish soap and about 10–20 drops of neem oil.
   • You can simply pick the potato flea from the leaves by hand. To do this, put on gloves covered with petroleum jelly and dip them in a bucket of water with a few drops of dish soap.
   • You can also use a special insect vacuum cleaner.
6. 6 Use a powdery mildew spray to prevent fungal infections. Downy mildew and bacterial wilting are two of the most common diseases in cucumbers. Many antifungal agents help to get rid of downy mildew, but it is more difficult to fight bacterial diseases. In fact, if the cucumbers are affected by bacterial wilting carried by the potato flea, they are more likely to die. Fungal infections are usually indicated by a white powdery coating on the leaves.
   • With bacterial wilting, the leaves become dull, they hang down during the day and come to life only at night. Eventually, the leaves turn yellow and die off.
   • To make a powdery mildew spray, mix 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of baking soda in 4 liters of water. Add a drop of liquid dish soap to the water and stir the solution. If you notice a white powdery coating on the leaves, spray the mixture once a week.
7. 7 Harvest the cucumbers about 55 days after planting. Large cucumbers usually have bitterness, so pick them while they are young. Tear off the stem on which the cucumber is hanging at a distance of 1-1.5 centimeters from the fruit. If the cucumber has already turned yellow, it is most likely overripe and unsuitable for eating.
   • Most cucumbers ripen 55–70 days after planting.

Tips

• If you want to start growing your cucumbers early, first plant them indoors in a pot of organic material, and when it gets warmer, move them outside with the pot.
• Cucumbers require a lot of water, so water them well during the growing season.

Warnings

• Be wary of various pesticides. Many chemical pesticides are harmful to health. Before spraying plants with this or that agent, be sure to study its description. Wash cucumbers before eating to remove chemical residues, dirt, and bacteria from them.