Table of contents
Cucumbers have two different growth habits:
Bush and Vine
Bush varieties are compact and do not require a trellis. They are ideal for growing in containers or small places.
Vining cucumbers produce more fruit, but they require large space than bush varieties.
Both vining and bush cucumbers produce abundant fruits!
(ads1)
(ads2)
Harvesting homegrown cucumbers is one of the most anticipated moments of the summer gardening season. Cucumbers should be ready to harvest in approximately 50 - 70 days.
Vining cucumbers grow on vigorous vines shaded by large leaves. They grow very fast, and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly. These varieties grow best when they are trained up a trellis or fence. They will be easier to harvest. Vining cucumbers produce an amazing amount of fruit.
Bush cucumbers
Bush cucumbers take up very little space with their extremely short vines, and most varieties require only 2 to 3 square feet per plant. Bush cucumbers are ideal for container gardening or small gardens, they produce abundantly for their size.
How to grow Organic Cucumbers
Cucumbers are members of the cucurbitaceae family, which includes summer squash, winter squash, gourds and melons. Cucumbers are heavy feeders. Cucumbers are a subtropical crop, they require long, warm days, plenty of sunshine, and adequate moisture. To grow and thrive well, they require warmth, fertile soil and consistent moisture. In this post, I will guide you step by step how to grow your organic cucumbers successfully.
When to Grow Cucumber
Plant cucumber seeds when all danger of frost has passed and when the soil has warmed up to at least 18 C (65 F) AS cooler soils lead to poor germination.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
- Cucumber plants need a lot of sunlight to produce well, and build strong, sturdy and productive vines. Grow your crop in an area that receives a minimum of 8 hours of sunlight each day.
- Whether cucumber is planted in the ground or in containers, cucumbers plants need rich, fertile soil to grow strong and thrive, and the soil needs to be light and airy to allow for good drainage.
- Add well aged manure before planting to a depth of 2 inches and work into the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Always make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy and compacted. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic with a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0.
- You can improve clay soil by adding organic matter, and improve heavy soil by adding, compost, or well rotted manure. I always add well rotted chicken manure to my soil to improve it, and give the best condition to my plants to grow and thrive well!
- Always good soil makes cucumbers stronger and healthier, and healthy plants have a better chance of fighting off diseases and pest attack.
- Each season, you have to rotate your crop to a new location in the garden. This allows the soil to recover, and minimizes disease. After at least three years, you can plant cucumbers in the same location.
Planting Cucumber Seeds
From ➡️ Here you can buy certified organic cucumber seeds and enjoy this easy-to-grow crop in your garden.
Once you have the perfect cucumber seeds, it is time to plant. Regardless of the type of cucumber you grow, the planting process is the same. You must know that when planted properly, and give the right growing condition, a few cucumber plants can keep you and your family supplied for the entire summer!
- Pre-soak your cucumber seeds in a glass of water overnight before sowing them.
- Make approximately 5 mm depressions in the soil, place 2 or 3 seeds and cover them up with loose soil.
- Water gently so that the soil is not disturbed to expose the seeds.
- Keep the soil moist all the time.
- Cucumber seeds will germinate in 5–10 days.
- If you're planting a vining variety, install a trellis that is at least 6 feet tall.
- When the seedlings have reached 4 inches tall, thin them to 1 seedling every 16 inches by cutting them. Avoid disturbing the soil by pulling out seedlings, use scissors to cut off the unwanted seedlings at ground level. When your plants have plenty of room to grow, they're more likely to perform well.
- Water as needed to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.
Female Flower
- Female cucumber flower blooms singly, one per stalk, and have a small fruit at the base of her stem.
Male Flower
- Male flowers differ in appearance from female flowers, they have shorter stems and grow in clusters of three to five.
Training your cucumber plants to grow vertically through trellising will prevent the plants from competing with each other, and his also allows for extra airflow for the plants, which helps to prevent rotting and the spread of some fungal diseases.
Companion Plants for Cucumbers
Growing companion plants around cucumbers such basil, radishes, marigolds, sunflowers, peas, beets, carrots, and dill will be helpful.
Fertilizing Cucumbers
Cucumbers grow fast, they need lots of nutrients. You can fertilize your cucumber plants about a week after they produce blossoms, and about every 3–4 weeks. Remember to never over fertilize. It can lead to deformed cucumbers.
Cucumber Plants Care
Cucumbers grow fast and don’t demand a lot of care.
- Feed your cucumber plants with a high nitrogen feed every two weeks.
- Cucumber plants like to stay well-hydrated so make sure the soil is moist at all times.
- Especially when they start flowering and producing fruit.
- Keep the soil consistently moist with an inch of water per week.
- Keep the cucumbers as weed free as possible.
Cucumbers Pests and Disease
Cucumbers are susceptible to fungal issues and pests. Some fungal problems can be prevented by trellising, but others, such as downy mildew, powdery mildew and black rot, may require intervention.
Cucumber Problems
If the vines bloom but don’t make fruit, there's a problem with pollination. First, make sure that you see both male and female blooms. Male blooms usually appear first and then drop off. Within a week, female flowers will appear, and each one have a small cucumber-shaped at the base that will become a cucumber. The problem is that, if you are not seeing those small cucumber-shaped turn into fruit, you may need to hand-pollinate.
Hand pollination is the manual transfer of pollen from the stamen or male part of the flower to the pistil or female part. Simply pick a male flower (Male flowers differ in appearance from female flowers they have shorter stems and grow in clusters of three to five) and touch it lightly onto the center stem of the female flower (the one with a small fruit forming at the base), that's all!
Growing Cucumbers In Containers
Growing organic cucumbers in containers is indeed a great choice, especially when space is limited. Container gardening offers several advantages, including the ability to control soil quality, water usage, and pest management, and with proper care and attention, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of organic cucumbers even in limited space using containers.
Watch How To Grow Cucumbers In Containers Video
How to Harvest Cucumbers
The key to the highest yields, in addition to proper care and culture, is to pick cucumber regularly. Once cucumber plants begin to produce, they need to be picked on a regular basis to continue to produce. When fruits have reached the proper size for the variety, use a sharp pair of pruning shears to cut the cucumber from the stem.
It’s better to harvest them early before they grow bigger. When mature fruits are left on the vine, the plant will stop producing. You must harvest them before they turn yellow.
➡️ Here You can choose your favorite cucumber varieties to grow!
I hope you found this article helpful. Please share it with your friends. If you have any questions about how to grow organic cucumbers, please leave a comment below.
Want to read more:
Cucumber related video to watch:
This web site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Some of the links to products on this site are affiliate links. These are products that I've used or recommend based from homesteading experience. I do make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) from these sales.(alert-warning)
(full-width)
