FAQs
Select a site that gets full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day). Cucumbers like warmth and lots of light! Cucumbers require fertile soil. Prior to planting, add about 2 inches of aged manure and/or compost to the bed and work it into a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
How do you grow cucumbers successfully? ›
Top tips for growing cucumbers
You want them to be moist, not wet, so little and often is best. Feed your cucumber plants with a high nitrogen feed every two weeks. Cucumber plants like sun, but are prone to scorching, so some shade is preferable. Encourage greenhouse varieties to climb to boost yields.
How do farmers grow cucumbers? ›
Field grown cucumber plants are typically started as seeds and are either mechanically or hand planted. Many commercial operations train their plants to grow on poles or trellises to keep the fruit suspended. Several training systems are used for trellis growing, but the umbrella system is the most common.
How quickly do cucumbers grow? ›
The best time to plant cucumbers outside is when there is no longer any danger of frost. Depending on the variety, cucumbers can take 55 to 80 days to grow to maturity. This is usually enough time to have a summer harvest between the last spring frost and the first fall frost.
What conditions do cucumbers need to grow? ›
Cucumbers thrive best at relatively high temperatures, between 75 to 85 degrees F. The plants do not tolerate frost. Since they are a quick-growing crop, they must be well supplied with moisture and plant nutrients throughout the growing season. Water is especially critical for cucumbers during the fruiting stage.
Do cucumbers need to climb to grow? ›
Let Cucumbers Climb
Trellised cucumbers are easier to pick and less susceptible to disease. Cucumbers do best if they can climb instead of spread over the ground. The tendrils of the vines will grab fences, string, wire trellis, or tall cages so that the vines climb the structures.
What is the best fertilizer for cucumbers? ›
Cucumbers need moderate nitrogen and high phosphorus and potassium, so an organic plant food with the first number lower than the last two (like 3-4-6) is good. Keep plants well watered to avoid bitter-tasting cucumbers.
How do I grow more cucumbers in the market? ›
Cucumbers like well-draining, sandy soil with lots of aged compost or manure and a pH between 5.8-7. They also like full sun and warm growing conditions. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist and do not let it dry out fully. Check the top 1-2 inches of soil and if it is dry, then water it.
How many cucumbers do you get per plant? ›
how many cucumbers can you harvest per plant? Depending on the variety, you can expect to harvest around 20 cucumbers per plant.
What is the best way to pollinate cucumbers? ›
Remove the pollen with a small, clean artist's brush or break the flower off and carefully remove the petals. Roll the yellow pollen on the male anther onto the stigma in the center of the female flower. Pollen is sticky, so expect cucumber plant pollination to be a tedious and painstaking process.
Cucumbers are heavy feeders, and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cucumbers. Add compost when preparing beds, and then side-dress the plants throughout the growing season.
What is the best day to plant cucumbers? ›
Outdoors, cucumbers should be sown or transplanted into the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after the last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost and cold damage; the soil should be at least 70ºF (21ºC) for germination.
How far apart should I plant cucumbers? ›
Space cucumbers 36 to 60 inches apart (12 inches apart for trellised plants) in an area with abundant sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.
Should I prune cucumber plants? ›
'If you have a mess of cucumber plants, not pruning can prevent proper airflow, which is the perfect breeding ground for the powdery mildew to take hold. You can also keep your garden neater by pruning your plants when they get a bit overgrown. '
Should I pinch off cucumber flowers? ›
If you allow the male flowers to develop and pollinate the female flowers, the fruits that develop will leave you with a nasty aftertaste as the seeds contain a bitter compound called cucurbitacin. So make it a regular job to remove male flowers and keep your fruits seed-free and sweet.
Do cucumbers need Miracle Grow? ›
In addition to the initial infusion of nutrients from top-quality soil, growing cucumber vines need a steady supply of plant food throughout the growing season in order to produce the best harvest. Mix Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules.
Should I remove male cucumber flowers? ›
Removing flowers
Both should be left on outdoor varieties, but pinch off the male flowers when they appear on indoor varieties to prevent the fruit from becoming bitter. The flowers are easy to tell apart - the female flower has a swelling beneath it that will become a cucumber.
What is the best trellis for cucumbers? ›
What type of trellis is best for cucumbers? Simple trellises, like the stake and string variety, are perfect for growing cucumbers. Because the vines and fruit are relatively light, the setup can be simple. You can find materials to make a stake and string trellis at your local hardware store.
