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K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. By Zac Hoppenstedt. Remove any plant debris, which may harbor diseases or insects.
Water in the morning so that the leaves have a chance to dry out before evening; watering at ground level is preferable than by overhead. Thanks, it was probably the erratic watering travel-interruptus. And since I wrote in, there is new growth on a few of the vines, so I am reassured I drill 10 holes in the part that goes into the soil.
I start an inch from bottom and go up 3 inches with the holes. Then when the plants need watering I put a funnel in the top of the pipe and pour in a quart. It goes directly into the compost. I also plant much of my garden through discarded rugs. Put them over the soil upside down. No weeding Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cucumbers. By The Editors. When to Plant Cucumbers Cucumber plants should be seeded or transplanted outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after the last frost date.
Do not plant outside too soon! To get a head start, sow cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you plan to transplant them in the ground. Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site Select a site with full sun. Cucumbers need warmth and lots of light.
Cucumbers require fertile soil. 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. Improve clay soil by adding organic matter. Improve dense, heavy soil by adding peat, compost, or rotted manure. Get a soil test if you are unsure of your soil type; contact your local county cooperative extension.
Light, sandy soils are preferred for northern gardens, as they warm quickly in the spring. See our guide to soil amendments. How to Plant Cucumbers Plant seeds 1 inch deep and about 2 to 3 feet apart in a row, depending on variety see seed packet for details. For vines trained on a trellis, space plants 1 foot apart.
Once plants reach 4 inches in height, thin them to one plant per mound. If you live in the cooler climates, you can help warm the soil by covering the hill or row with black plastic. 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, or if you have limited space. Trellising also protects the fruit from damage from lying on the moist ground.
See how to build a trellis and support for vining vegetables. Cover freshly planted cucumber seeds with netting or a berry basket if you have pests ; this will keep them from digging out the seeds.
Check out this video to learn more about how to plant cucumbers. How to Grow Cucumbers The main care requirement for cucumbers is water—consistent watering!
They need at least one inch of water per week or more, if temperatures are sky-high. Put your finger in the soil and when it is dry past the first joint of your finger, it is time to water.
Inconsistent watering leads to bitter-tasting fruit. If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry. Mulch to hold in soil moisture.
When seedlings emerge, begin to water frequently, and increase to a gallon per week after fruit forms. Apply at planting, 1 week after bloom, and every 3 weeks, directly to the soil around the plants. Or, you can work a granular fertilizer into the soil. Do not over-fertilize or the fruits will get stunted.
If you have limited space or would prefer vertical vines, set up trellises early to avoid damage to seedlings and vines. Spray vines with sugar water to attract bees and set more fruit. There is probably a pollination issue. The first flowers were all male. Both female and male flowers must be blooming at the same time. Female flowers are the ones with a small cucumber-shaped swelling at the base that will become the fruit. Lack of fruit may also be due to poor pollination by bees , especially due to rain or cold temperatures, or insecticides.
To rest assured, you could always hand pollinate. Dip a Q-tip into the male pollen and transfer it to the center of the female flower.
Remember, gynoecious hybrids require companion pollinator plants. Squash bugs may attack seedlings. Aphids are always a nuisance for any vegetable plant but easily managed. Powdery mildew can be a problem if the leaves get wet water at the soil level.
Apply fungicides at the first sign of its presence. Cucumber Beetles may attack the vines and can cause disease. At peak harvesting time, you should be picking cucumbers every couple of days. Harvest regular slicing cucumbers when they about 6 to 8 inches long slicing varieties.
Harvest dills at 4 to 6 inches long and pickling cucumbers at 2 inches long. The large burpless cucumbers can be up to 10 inches long and some types are even larger. Cucumbers are best picked before their seeds become hard and are eaten when immature. Do not let them get yellow. A cucumber is of highest quality when it is uniformly green, firm, and crisp.
Lettuce Zones : Sow lettuce in August for a fall crop. Try growing early harvest varieties that will produce a harvest before cold weather rolls in. Peas Zones : Green peas and sugar peas are good to plant in August in order to produce a moderate fall harvest. Radishes Zones : Radishes are one of the fastest growing vegetables around and are easy to grow. Plant now and you can have them ready in 30 days! Spinach Zones : Spinach is more of a cool weather vegetable and is great to sow in August for a tasty fall harvest.
If you would like to see a detailed map and planting schedule for your state please select below:. New Hampshire. New Jersey. New Mexico.
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