Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cucumbers
Cucumbers are tropical vegetables that require long, warm days, lots of sunlight, and plenty of water to create a large harvest. Cucumbers are one of the summer’s delights: crisp, juicy, and sweetly flavored. Although most cucumbers are green, there are white and yellow cucumbers to sample for a change of pace.
Read on to learn how to grow cucumbers from seed!
STEP 1
Select a site with full sun. Cucumbers need warmth and lots of light. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy and compacted. Soil should be neutral or slightly acidic with a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0.
STEP 2
Plant seeds 1 inch deep and about 2 to 3 feet apart in a row, depending on the variety. For vines trained on a trellis, space plants 1 foot apart.in mounds or “hills” seeds are spaced 1 to 2 feet apart, with 2 to 3 seeds planted in each mound. Once plants reach 4 inches in height, thin them to one plant per mound. If you live in cooler climates, you can help warm the soil by covering the hill or row with black plastic.
STEP 3
After planting, mulch around the area with straw, chopped leaves, or another organic mulch to keep pests at bay, and also keep bush types off the ground to avoid disease. A trellis is a good idea if you want the vine to climb.
STEP 4
Water slowly in the morning or early afternoon. If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry. Mulch to hold in soil moisture.
STEP 5
When seedlings reach 4 inches tall, thin plants so that they are at least 1½ feet apart.
STEP 6
Don’t let cucumbers get too large or they will taste bitter. Cucumbers are best picked before their seeds become hard and are eaten when immature. Do not let them get yellow. A cucumber is of the highest quality when it is uniformly green, firm, and crisp.
STEP 7
Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to retain moisture. They will keep for a week to 10 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.
Frequently asked questions
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