Cucumbers are reliably easy to grow as long as you give them the conditions they love, and for us that means a greenhouse. I have successfully grown ‘ridge’ types outside, such as ‘Long Green Maraicher’ and ‘Crystal Apple’ – which are small and round. These are hardier and have tougher, rougher skins but as a rule, all cucumbers need warmth and wet to thrive. Whilst this part of the world is quite good at being wet, the warmth is nearly always insufficient – and if we do have a really hot summer, it is nearly always a dry one, which is not ideal either. So I cram my cucumbers into the far end Courgettes are all fairly easy and undemanding to grow.
Family | Cucurbitaceae |
Growing zones | N/A |
Growing season(s) | warm weather |
Spacing | 9 inches |
Start indoors or direct sow | direct sow |
Indoor sowing date | N/A |
Earliest outdoor planting | after last frost |
Soil temperature | 60° to 95° |
Fall planting | 12+ weeks before average first frost |
Sun needs | 8+ hours |
Water needs | high |
Harvest category | all season |
Troubleshooting Tip: | Uneven watering can cause bitter cucumbers. To curb the bite, cut off the blossom end of the fruit and rub the two pieces together until a foam appears. Wash the foam away. Then peel the cucumber; much of the bitterness is contained in the skin. Ensure the remaining plant stays on a consistent watering schedule to prevent bitter cucumbers in the future. |
Snapshot | Because cucumbers do not transplant easily, direct sow the seeds once soil temperatures warm. Keep the soil moist but not soggy; soggy soil can cause the seed to rot. Sow seeds 1 inch deep every 3 inches, thinning to a final spacing of 6 to 9 inches for vining types and 12 inches for bush types. Ensure the soil contains rich organic matter such as compost. |
Starting | Cabbage is best planted as a transplant, whether grown in spring or fall. Start seeds indoors or purchase transplants from a local garden center. Plant transplants a little deeper than they were in their containers, to where the leaves touch the soil level. Cabbage requires a neutral pH soil in a highly fertile location; plant it where other brassicas have not grown for at least the previous three years. |
Growing | Keep cucumbers evenly watered throughout the growing season but especially when they’re flowering. Use a drip system or soaker hose to prevent common diseases such as powdery mildew or downy mildew. Train climbing varieties up their structure by weaving the stems through the support. Tendrils latch on to both vertical and horizontal structures, making a fence or weave pattern ideal. |
Harvesting and Storing | Harvest pickling cucumbers when they reach 3 to 4 inches long. Pick slicing varieties at 6 to 8 inches long. If any grow too large, cut them off anyway, otherwise the plant will slow production. Store the cucumbers in a refrigerator; if pickling, try to use freshly picked cucumbers as soon as possible. |
Common Problem | Powdery mildew and downy mildew can stunt the growth of and eventually kill the cucumber plant. Spray leaves with a baking soda mixture (see here ) at the first sign of either mildew. Sudden wilting of the plant can be caused by bacterial wilt, transmitted by cucumber beetles. Destroy the plant; it cannot be saved. |
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