Cucumis sativus are one of the most democratic , carefree , and easiest vegetables to grow in your garden . They can be grow in garden beds , containers , or farm handbag and thrive on cheery balconies and decks . The summertime garden – and your salad shell – simply is n’t stark without delicious cucumber refreshing off the vine .
Did you know that cucumbers are actually fruits?
Even though we call a Cucumis sativus a veg , botanically speaking , it ’s a fruit . A fruit is the mature ovary of a industrial plant , developing after the blossom is fertilise and containing the seeds of the plant . cucumber are just like cantaloupe , tomatoes , squelch , common pepper , apple , pear tree , and eggplants ( all are technically yield ) .
A vegetable is the edible part of the plant itself , such as leaves ( dough and kale ) , stems ( celeryand rhubarb plant ) , roots ( carrotsand beets ) , tubers ( potatoesand yam ) , bulbs ( onionsandgarlic ) , and flower ( broccoliand cauliflower ) . seed such asbeansandpeasare also considered veggie ( but technically are leguminous plant ) .
Types of Cucumbers
Cucumbers are of 2 kinds:
Both can be grown as vining types or bush types.
Growing cucumbers in containers
Vining cucumbers are large plants that need to scatter , so if you ’re produce one of these type , select a large container so the plant has plenty of room . If the container is too small , root outgrowth will be restricted by mid - summertime and the works may become more susceptible to disease due to stress , with a drop cloth off in yield . Each plant ask at least 2.5 gal of grime , so embed a scoop of 2 cucumbers in a 5 - gallon pot . you could use a love apple coop fitted to the container as a treillage .
For best results , pick out a bush - character cucumber ( which might also be referred to as “ succinct ” ) . Bush smorgasbord provide undecomposed disease electric resistance and bring about high - quality fruit in much less distance . Bush cucumber have less outer space between leaves , outgrowth quicker , and place yield in the beginning and nigher to the base of the flora . Some bush varieties will even produce output comparable to standard - sized vine .
If you live in a coolheaded mood , place the containers in a Confederacy - facing expanse if possible . This orientation gives them maximal sunshine all day and keeps them tender if thing cool off . In areas with gamy heat – on a regular basis over 90 ( F ) – avoid black plastic container and give them nuance in the late afternoon to save them from the hottest part of the day . Containers capable to high passion should be elevated at least four inches off the priming , specially on concrete and brick surfaces .
For container growing , do not use garden soil , whether bagged or native . This is too dense and wo n’t supply enough air for the etymon and may become waterlogged . Only use high - lineament potting soil , which is looser , set aside for ascendent growth and air and H2O circulation . And remember that your container must have trap in the bottom to reserve water to drain . The types of containers without pickle are mostly meant to throw less cosmetic , functional containers with holes . The preferred type of container for cucumbers is one with 4 hole on the edges of the container , not one central yap .
How to plant cucumbers
In the garden , Cucumis sativus demand a generous amount of organic cloth in the land – it must run out well and never be waterlogged . If your garden is heavy clay filth , ameliorate it with 2 - 3 inches of compost before planting Cucumis sativus . After the flora spud , add 2 - 3 inches of compost around the root zone to feed the plants all season .
How and when to sow cucumber seeds
Cucumber seeds will not germinate in cold grease , so there is no use trying to sow cum early . For an early planting , start seeds indoors 2 - 4 weeks before last frost . They grow quickly so do n’t commence them any earlier or they ’ll quickly outgrow the starter lot .
arrange out transplants no earlier than2 week after the last frost in your expanse . Cucumbers are a tropic plant and are extremely sensitive to cold temperature . A recent insensate snap in spring may belt down them .
Like melons , cuke can also be planted in “ hills ” . produce pitcher about 6 - 8″ high and 5 fundament aside . industrial plant 2 - 3 seeds in each mound . When industrial plant reach 4 inches in meridian , thin to one industrial plant per cumulation .
Keep cucumbers damp but never waterlogged
After the flora emerge , water profoundly at least once a week , retain the soil damp but not drenched . Do n’t give up the radical to dry out , as fruit production will chop-chop slack , flush development will slow up or terminate , and leaves will draw in to keep up wet .
Trellising cucumbers and mulching
If you ’ve chosen a vining variety and have spate of blank space , you may let the plant ramble through your garden . If space is modified , or to make harvest easier and abridge the possibility of disease , grow the cucumber vine on a trellis . Trellises are the superior means to grow cukes as the improved air circulation and access to direct sunlight vastly improve fruit production .
Use a mulch such as straw , barque , or wood flake around cuke to suppress locoweed , isolate the land , and maintain moisture . If the vine are left to sprawl in the garden , fruit should be positioned on top of the mulch to keep it juiceless and aside from pests and disease .
When to harvest cucumbers
cuke can be harvest as before long as the fruit reach mature distance , which reckon on the variety you ’ve planted . Early harvests , about 1 week ahead of time , are the good time to harvest , as the fruits are their sweetest and fewer seeds have develop . Late harvest home turn the yield flaccid and bitter .
cuke are quick for harvesting approximately 45 - 70 mean solar day from plant , calculate on the variety show ( check your plant tag or cum packet ) . Harvest cuke by cut the stem 1/4″ above the yield ( do nottear it from the shank or the entire works may come with it ) . Frequent pick of cucumber is all important – waiting until cuke are the maximum size of it reduces the quality of the fruit and make the plant less productive .
Because of their high pee content , cucumbers will only put in for about 1 week in the icebox , so eat them unused , in salads , or stir - fry recipe . Some variety are specifically develop for canning and pickling to be enjoyed all winter long .
Cucumber growing tips
Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener has a good video on growing cucumbers on a treillage or in a homemade container .
Sources : Texas A&M Agrilife Extension;University of Minnesota Extension;University of Georgia Extension;Michigan State University Extension .
We garden in Pennsylvania , United States , geographical zone 6B. Much of the info we share is based on garden in our temperate area . But many of the flush , vegetables , and fruit we write about can be grown in stain other than ours ( Lucius Clay ) and significantly different conditions conditions and elevations . You might need to opt specific varieties for your region , modify your garden , sum soil amendments , or adjust the land pH to match our consequence . Please check your local university telephone extension website for particular for your area .
