Cucumber is an easy to grow vegetable that can survive as long as it receives warmth and water. This type of plant is either a bush or vining cucumber, and both these types grow fast thus growing cucumber is favorites among farmers.
If you give abundant care, you can yield a more abundant crop. The vining variety of cucumber needs a trellis or a fence to grow up while the bush cucumber is suited even for small containers.
If you have limited space, it is more efficient to use the vining cucumber. In warm soil, cucumbers can grow quickly. Check out the guide below if you are interested in growing cucumber.
Planting site for growing cucumber
Choosing an area that has a full sun is a good consideration for selecting the site to plant your cucumber. This type of crop needs lots of light and warmth.
It also requires healthy soil, so mix compost or aged manure with the soil before you plant. Work for about six to eight inches soil deep and make sure that the soil is moist and drained but not compact nor soggy.
The type of soil must be neutral or a little alkaline with a pH level of about 7.0.
Time to plant cucumber
Sow the cucumber seeds indoors three weeks before your date of transplant. The temperature of 70 degrees F or 21 degrees C is an ideal warmth for the soil.
Cucumber must be transplanted to the ground two weeks before or after the frost date. Although cucumbers are easy to grow, it is susceptible to cold, and frost so never plant your cucumber too soon if the frost date is just over or will then be starting.
Planting the cucumber
Plant the seeds of the cucumber in an inch deep and about two or three feet apart depending on the variety of cucumber.
For trellis cucumber, you can space the plants at least one foot away. If you live in a cold climate, you can make the soil warm by covering the hill with black plastic.
After planting, cover the cucumber with mulch. It can be chopped leaves, straw, and other another organic mulch. Trellis is an excellent idea if you plant a vine; putting a trellis protects the fruit of the cucumber from damage.
Caring for the cucumber
The main requirement for the cucumber to grow is to water it consistently. Cucumber needs at least an inch of water or more in a week depending upon the temperature of the sun.
If you fail to water the cucumber consistently, its fruits will taste bitter. The mulch that you put in the garden will hold the moisture, so if you put a mulch already, do not worry about putting it again.
If you wish to place a liquid fertilizer, apply it one week after the bloom and every three weeks. Do not put more fertilizer than what is required because the fruits may become stunted.
Harvesting the cucumber
Please do not wait for the cucumber to become too large before you harvest because it may taste bitter. During the peak of harvesting, pick the fruits every after a couple of days.
Cucumbers are best to harvest before the seeds become hard. Please do not wait for the cucumber to become yellow in color because it is better to eat this when it is firm, green, and crisp.
To pick the fruits of the cucumber, use a knife or clippers and cut the stem above the fruits. Do not just pull the fruits because it will damage the vine.
For more useful information, check out our other growing guide.
