Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Preparing the soil
• Part 2 of 4: Planting Cucumbers
• Part 3 of 4: Taking care of your cucumbers
• Part 4 of 4: Harvesting
• Tips

Cucumbers are high-yielding vegetables that can be easily grown in the garden. Shrub varieties of these delicious vegetables can even be grown in pots or boxes on your veranda or balcony. Prepare the soil correctly and plant the cucumbers - after that they only need enough water and plenty of sunlight.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Preparing the soil

1. 1 Find a sunny spot to plant your cucumbers. The cucumber is a tropical plant and therefore requires a lot of direct sunlight. Choose a location that isn't too shaded in the afternoon.
   • Cucumbers take root deeply (90–120 centimeters), so don't plant them near trees. Otherwise, the roots of the tree will compete with the roots of the cucumbers for water and nutrients.
   • How many plants you can plant depends on the size of the site. Climbing plants should be planted 90–150 centimeters apart. If you are growing your cucumbers vertically, the trellises can be placed 30 centimeters apart.
2. 2 Remove weeds from the area. The cucumbers should be grown in a weed-free area. Weeds will deprive the soil of water and nutrients, and cucumbers will feel a lack of them. Small fragments of weeds can be left in the ground as fertilizer.
   • It is best to pull the weeds by hand and try to remove as many roots as possible. If you leave the roots in the soil, the weeds are likely to grow back.
   • Don't use herbicides to get rid of weeds quickly and easily. Both chemical and organic herbicides make the soil unsuitable for plant growth, including cucumbers.
3. 3 Keep the soil pH as close to 7.0 as possible. Cucumbers prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil. A soil pH test kit is available at your garden supply store.
   • Add agricultural lime to raise the soil pH. Use sulfur or aluminum sulfate to lower the pH.
4. 4 Stir in granular fertilizer into the soil. If you are using an inorganic fertilizer, a granular slow-release fertilizer is best for cucumbers during the growing season. Grind and loosen the soil with a scoop or rake before adding fertilizer. As a result, the fertilizer mixes better with the soil and penetrates deeper into it.
   • Use nutrient-rich compost or seasoned manure as a natural fertilizer. Stir them into the ground to a depth of about five centimeters, then loosen the soil with them to a depth of 15–20 centimeters.
5. 5 Add organic material to improve soil quality. Loose, light, sandy soil is best for cucumbers. Such soil warms up faster and retains heat more easily.
   • If the soil contains a lot of clay, add organic material to it.Dense, heavy soil can be improved with peat, compost, or rotted manure.

Part 2 of 4: Planting Cucumbers

1. 1 Choose a bush or climbing plant. Curly cucumbers are much more common than bush cucumbers. However, if you have limited space, bush plants are better suited. Shrub cucumbers can be planted in pots or boxes.
   • Curly cucumbers can also be grown in confined spaces. Make or purchase trellises and use them as support for the cucumbers to grow vertically.
2. 2 Choose a tasty variety. There are many different types of cucumbers. If you're unsure of which to choose, head over to the local farmers' market, sample several types of cucumber, and choose the one that suits your taste.
   • If you don't like the bitter taste of pickles, try growing European or Dutch greenhouse varieties that have a gene that eliminates bitterness.
   • If you burp after cucumbers, try growing Asian varieties that advertisements do not cause burping. English and Dutch long-fruited cucumbers also do not cause burping.
3. 3 Plant the cucumbers when the soil warms up to at least 21 ° C. Cucumber is a tropical plant, so it is very sensitive to low temperatures. Wait at least two weeks after the end of the last frost before planting the cucumbers.
   • If you want to harvest early, plant the seeds indoors about three weeks earlier, and after that time, transplant the seedlings outdoors.
   • In cooler climates, you can warm the soil a few degrees by covering it with black plastic wrap.
   • If the climate in your area is not suitable for growing cucumbers outdoors, consider growing them indoors.
4. 4 Moisten the soil before planting cucumbers. Before planting cucumbers, stick your finger in the soil to check for moisture. If the soil is dry to the first joint, water it with a small hose or watering can before sowing.
   • Watering the soil before planting your seeds will reduce the risk of you washing them off with water.
5. 5 Start with seeds. Cucumbers have a fragile root system, so it is much easier to sow seeds directly into the garden than to try to transplant seedlings later. Sow them in groups of 3-4 seeds together, 45 to 90 centimeters apart.
   • Planting several seeds together will help you choose the strongest plant.
   • If you are replanting seedlings, remove the entire plant from the pot, including the soil. This way you will protect sensitive roots. If you transplant a bare-rooted cucumber, it will most likely die.
6. 6 Press the seeds lightly into the ground. Cucumber seeds should be immersed in the soil no more than 2.5 centimeters. You can also just leave them on the surface of the soil, and then sprinkle with a layer of earth of about this thickness.
   • Lightly compact the soil over the seed with the flat side of the hoe, but be careful not to compact it too much.
7. 7 Give your plants enough space. This is especially important for climbing species. Curly cucumbers can grow up to 1.8-2.4 meters in length. If you have a lot of space, you can simply let the cucumbers roam freely on the ground. However, if space is limited, fewer plants will need to be planted.
   • Tightness is bad for the growth of cucumbers. If the cucumbers do not have enough space, they turn out to be smaller and give off bitterness. In addition, their yield decreases.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Maggie moran

   
   
   Home and garden specialist Maggie Moran is a professional gardener from Pennsylvania.

   Maggie moran
   Home and garden specialist

   Cucumbers can also be grown in pots. Gardener Maggie Moran explains: “If you want to grow cucumbers in a container, choose a pot that is at least 30 centimeters in diameter and about 20 centimeters deep. In addition, the pot must have several drainage holes so that water does not stagnate in it. "

8. 8 Install the grates. Cucumbers that grow vertically have better access to sunlight, which increases the yield.It also makes the vegetables cleaner. If you want your cucumbers to grow vertically, prepare the trellises before the plants release the curls.
   • Take a 1.2-1.5 meter sheet of welded wire mesh and make a 30-45 centimeters diameter cage out of it. Such a cage will be able to support 2-3 vines.
   • As the plant grows larger, gently wrap the tendrils of the vine around the wire to train it to trellis.

Part 3 of 4: Taking care of your cucumbers

1. 1 Add mulch as soon as the seedlings have sprouted. Thanks to mulch, weeds, which can deprive cucumbers of nutrients, will not return. It will also help the soil retain heat and moisture. Use a dark mulch to keep the soil warm.
   • If using straw or sawdust, wait until the soil warms up to at least 21 ° C.
2. 2 Make sure your cucumbers have enough water. The soil around the cucumbers should remain slightly moist at all times. Cucumbers need at least 2.5–5 centimeters of water per week.
   • Take special care when plants are in bloom and beginning to bear fruit. Due to the lack of water, the fruits can turn out to be bitter.
   • Water the cucumbers at ground level. Do not wet the leaves as this can cause powdery mildew. The drip irrigation system allows you to constantly adjust the amount of water and keep the foliage dry.
3. 3 Protect cucumbers from excess heat. If the temperature in your area often rises above 32 ° C, cucumbers will need some shade to hide from the midday sun.
   • Plant taller plants on the southern edge of the cucumbers, or use a translucent cloth that blocks out at least 40 percent of the sunlight.
4. 4 Cover the cucumbers with a net to protect them from animals. The fine mesh will protect the cucumbers from rabbits and chipmunks. Cover seeds and small shoots with a wicker basket to prevent animals from digging them up.
   • Once the plants are larger, you can remove the mesh from them. A fence around the garden will better protect the cucumbers at this stage.
5. 5 Add fertilizer again when flowers start to set. If you've fertilized the soil before planting, wait for the vines to sprout and start to flower, then add a light liquid fertilizer or organic fertilizer such as compost or seasoned manure every two weeks.
   • If the leaves turn yellow, the plants need more nitrogen. Look for a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
   • If you are using inorganic fertilizer, make sure that it does not get on the leaves and fruits of the plants.
6. 6 Use insecticides and fungicides to protect your cucumbers from pests and diseases. Organic and inorganic insecticides and fungicides are available at your garden supply store. Spray plants at the first sign of pests or fungi.
   • Sulfur has anti-fungal properties. However, if you are using sulfur as an organic fungicide, check your soil pH regularly and make sure it stays suitable for cucumbers.
   • Read and follow the instructions that came with the insecticide carefully. Even organic insecticides can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Part 4 of 4: Harvesting

1. 1 Collect the cucumbers when they are the optimal size. For a larger yield, you should not leave cucumbers on the vine for very long or wait until they grow too large. The optimal size for picking cucumbers depends on the variety you are growing.
   • Typically, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cucumbers are shorter and thicker than American varieties. Conversely, Asian varieties are usually longer and thinner.
   • American varieties are usually cut off when they grow to 15–20 centimeters in length. Middle Eastern varieties are best harvested when their length reaches 10-15 centimeters, while cucumbers for conservation should be cut off at a length of 7.5-12.5 centimeters.
2. 2 Pick cucumbers often. Generally speaking, the more often you pick cucumbers, the more they will grow.Inspect the plants every day and pick those cucumbers that have reached the optimal size for their variety.
   • When picking cucumbers, check for weeds and any signs of insects or disease. Also check the soil and water if necessary. During the growing period, cucumbers require a large amount of water.
3. 3 Cut the cucumbers gently with garden shears. Grasp a cucumber and cut the stem about 0.5 centimeters above the fruit. Many people think that pulling or twisting a cucumber is enough to pluck it. However, this can damage the vine.
4. 4 Place the cucumbers in the refrigerator until crispy. Try to use the cucumbers as soon as possible after you have harvested them, as long as they retain their full flavor and texture. If necessary, you can store the cucumbers in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
   • Before you put your cucumbers in the refrigerator, wrap them in plastic wrap or put them in a plastic bag to keep them from drying out.

Tips

• If you have treated plants with an insecticide or fungicide, wash them thoroughly before using.
• Cucumbers usually produce a bountiful harvest. If you want to harvest even more fruit, spray the leaves with sugar and water to attract the bees.
• If you have limited space, plant fast-growing plants such as radishes or lettuce before planting cucumbers. These plants will ripen before the cucumbers grow and take up all the space.