How to Plant and Care for Cucumbers—and Ensure a Bountiful Harvest All Summer Long
This tender crop grows best in areas with full sun and well-draining soil.
Growing your own cucumbers to pickle or add crunch to salads is easier than you may think. This tender fruit loves warm weather and can grow in the ground or containers, so long as they have access to full sun and well-draining soil. Once they reach maturity, harvesting your cucumbers will encourage more growth for a continuous supply of fruit. Ahead, we spoke to gardening experts about how to plant and grow cucumbers to ensure you have thriving, productive plants all summer long.
Meet the Expert
Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app
Hélèna Dove, head kitchen gardener at Kew Gardens
Related: 7 Unique Cucumber Varieties Worth Trying ASAP (and Exactly How to Enjoy Each One)
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When to Plant Cucumbers
When you plant cucumbers depends on your gardening zone, but generally the best time is in late spring or early summer after the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. "This is typically around mid-May in most areas," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app, which can help you determine planting dates based on your location.
How to Plant Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be grown in containers if there is enough room for their roots to spread and they have access to plenty of sunlight. "A container with a depth of at least 12 inches is recommended, and make sure to choose a pot with good drainage," says Spoonemore.
Whether you're planting cucumber seeds in the ground or containers, full sun and well-draining soil are important. Vining varieties like to climb, so providing a trellis or other support will give them a place to go; keeping them off the ground also helps prevent disease.
In the garden: loosen the soil and remove any rocks or debris.
In containers: fill the container with well-draining soil.
Make small holes about 1 inch deep in the soil and place 2 to 3 cucumber seeds in each hole.
Cover the seeds with soil and water thoroughly.
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Thin the seedlings to one plant per hole once they start to grow.
How to Start Cucumber Seeds Indoors
Get a head start on your garden by starting cucumber seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost. "Once the cucumber seedlings have developed true leaves and frost danger has passed, transplant them outdoors into the garden or larger containers," says Spoonemore.
Fill small containers with seed-starting soil, leaving some space at the top for watering.
Place 2 to 3 cucumber seeds per container, covering them lightly with soil.
Water the containers gently.
Move the seeds to an area with full sun. Grow lights may be necessary.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Related: The Right Way to Store Cucumbers
How to Care for Cucumbers
Cucumbers are relatively easy to grow, but they need ample light and well-draining soil in order to thrive.
Light
Cucumbers require at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight every day, says Spoonemore. If you're growing them indoors, make sure you provide ample artificial light.
Soil
Cucumbers like rich soil that is amended with compost, says Hélèna Dove, head kitchen gardener at Kew Gardens. But keep in mind that cucumbers hate sitting in water so ensure the ground is free-draining (or your pots have drainage holes if growing in containers).
Water
Water cucumbers consistently, ensuring the soil is moist to around a knuckle’s depth. "This may only need doing once a week as the foliage of the plant will mulch the ground, stopping water loss, but in hot spells, this might need doing several times a week," says Dove. "Always water directly on the base of the plant to avoid water waste and stop diseases occurring on the leaves."
Temperature
Cucumbers like warm temperatures that are between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. As tender plants, the fruit won’t survive past autumn when the temperature drops, says Dove.
Fertilizer
After planting cucumber seeds, apply a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Once your cucumber plants start to vine and produce flowers, switch to a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to promote fruit development, says Spoonemore. Follow the fertilizer manufacturer's recommendations for application rates.
Types of Cucumbers
There are two main types of cucumbers: pickling and slicing.
Pickling: Pickling cucumbers are short and blocky with firm flesh that's ideal for pickling. Most varieties make crisp, firm pickles when picked at about 4 inches long. If they grow bigger than that before being harvested, they may be used fresh for slicing as long as the seeds haven’t begun to harden.
Slicing: Slicing varieties, like Burpless and Armenian cucumbers, are longer, thinner, and have less firm skin than pickling types. They are best at about 6 to 12 inches in length and are typically enjoyed raw and in salads. Some varieties of slicing cucumbers have very tender skins and bruise easily.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About English Cucumbers—Including How to Best Use and Store Them
How and When to Harvest Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be harvested when they are firm, and crisp, and reach their mature size. "This can vary depending on the variety, but most cucumbers are ready to be picked within 50 to 70 days after planting," says Spoonemore. "To harvest, simply cut the cucumber from the vine with a sharp knife or shears, leaving about an inch of stem attached." Harvest your cucumbers regularly to encourage more growth.
How to Save Cucumber Seeds
Save cucumber seeds from your harvest and plant them as an affordable way to grow more cucumber plants.
Fill a bowl with water.
Scoop the seeds from a fully ripe cucumber and place them in the bowl.
Let the seeds soak for 2 to 4 days until they sink to the bottom.
Rinse the seeds to remove any remaining pulp and debris.
Spread them out to dry thoroughly.
Once dry, place the seeds in an air-tight container labeled with the variety and date.
Place the seeds in a cool, dry place until you're ready to plant them.
Common Problems When Growing Cucumbers
Pests like aphids and cucumber beetles can be a problem for cucumbers. "To prevent these issues, properly rotate crops and use organic pest control methods when necessary," says Spoonemore. "Providing enough support for the vines to prevent plant damage is also essential." To prevent diseases like powdery mildew, keep the soil consistently moist while avoiding overwatering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cucumber plants need to climb?
Some cucumber varieties, like bush cucumbers, do not need support to grow, but most cucumber plants benefit from climbing. They are considered vining plants and can grow quite tall, so using a trellis, stake, or other support system can maximize space and prevent plant damage.
What are the best companion plants for cucumbers?
Companion plants for cucumbers include arugula, banana peppers, broccoli, beans, carrots, tomatoes, hot peppers, and eggplant. They also grow well alongside flowers like marigolds, sunflowers, and chamomile.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
