How to Grow Cucumbers From Seeds

 

Without been told one of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow at home are cucumbers. Cucumbers plants actually grow quickly, and they produce heavily, and they can be easily planted in gardens, pots, or raised beds. The fresh cucumbers really taste far better than the store-bought cucumbers, and growing them from seeds is really simple even though you are a beginner.

This article explains everything you really need to know about growing this wonderful vegetable from seeds successfully.

Understanding The Cucumber Plants

Actually cucumber plants are warm-season plants that belong to the gourd family. Cucumber plants really love sunlight, warmth, fertile soil, and also regular watering. There are actually 2 main types of cucumbers you can easily grow:

·  The slicing cucumbers – this particular one is eaten fresh in salads and sandwiches

·  The pickling cucumbers – the pickling cucumbers  are smaller cucumbers used for pickles

A number of cucumber plants grow as vines that spread across the ground, while others are bush cucumber varieties that actually stay compact.

Choosing the Right Cucumber Plant Seeds

To get started you need to select a good-quality cucumber seeds. The popular varieties are:

·  Marketmore varieties

·  Straight Eight varieties

·  Lemon cucumber varieties

·  National Pickling varieties

·  Spacemaster varieties

When choosing the cucumber plant seeds, you need to consider:

·  Your climate condition

·  The available space you have

·  Whether you want the fresh eating cucumber or the pickling cucumbers

·  The disease resistance varieties

Make sure you purchase your cucumber plant seeds from a trusted garden centers or a good seed companies for a better germination and healthy plants.

Also read: How to Plant Scent Leaf Seed

The Best Time to Grow Cucumber Seeds

The cucumber plants really grow best in warm weather. You can easily plant the cucumber seeds after the danger of frost have passed and the soil temperatures are warm.

If you live in tropical and warm regions, the cucumbers can be easily planted during the dry season or the periods with moderate rainfall. In cooler regions, plant the cucumber in spring or early summer.

The ideal conditions for planting cucumbers are:

·  The soil temperature: between 20–30°C

·  The air temperature: about 18–35°C

The cold weather actually slows the growth and may kill the young cucumber seedlings.

Selecting the Planting Site For The Cucumbers

You need to choose a location that receives:

·  At least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily

·  A very good air circulation

·  A well-drained soil

Cucumber plants actually dislike waterlogged soil because it can cause root rot and also diseases.

Make sure you avoid planting the cucumbers where other members of the gourd family were recently grown, such as pumpkins, squash or melons.

Preparing the Soil For Planting

A healthy soil is very vital for strong cucumber plant growth.

Soil Requirements For Planting

The cucumber plants prefer soil that is:

·  Loose and also fertile

·  Very rich in organic matter

·  Also slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0)

How to Prepare the Soil For Planting

1.    You need to remove weeds and also stones from the area.

2.    You need to loosen the soil to a depth of about twenty to thirty centimeter.

3.    Mix compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting.

4.    You can create a raised beds or mounds if drainage is poor.

Organic matter actually helps to improve fertility and it also help retain moisture.

Planting The Cucumber Seeds

The cucumber plant seeds can be easily planted directly in the garden or started in pots.

Direct Sowing Of The Seeds

Direct sowing of the cucumber seeds is the easiest method.

Steps

1.    Make small holes that are about two to three centimeter deep.

2.    Place two to three cucumber seeds in of the each hole.

3.    Then cover lightly with soil.

4.    Water them gently.

Spacing The Plant

·  The cucumber bush varieties: forty-five to sixty centimeter apart

·  The vining cucumber varieties: ninety to one hundred and twenty centimeter apart

Make sure the rows are spaced wide enough for easy movement and airflow.

The cucumber seeds usually germinate within four to ten days depending on temperature.

Starting The Cucumber Seeds in Containers

You can also start the cucumber plant seeds indoors or in small containers.

Steps

1.    Just fill the containers with seed-starting mix.

2.    Plant 1 or 2 cucumber seeds per pot.

3.    Then water them lightly.

4.    Make sure you keep them in a warm, sunny place.

Transplant the cucumber seedlings carefully when they develop about two to three true leaves.

The cucumber plants dislike root disturbance, so make sure you handle the seedlings gently.

Watering the Cucumber Plants

The cucumber plants actually need consistent moisture for healthy growth and also good fruit production.

The Watering Tips

·  Water the cucumber plant deeply two to three times weekly

·  Make sure you keep the soil evenly moist

·  Try and avoid letting the soil to dry out completely

·  You can water the cucumber plants at the base of the plant

Uneven watering can easily cause:

·  Misshapen fruits

·  Bitter cucumbers

·  Poor growth of the cucumber

Mulching around the cucumber plants can really helps to retain moisture and also reduce weeds.

Providing Support For The Cucumber Plant

The vining cucumber plant varieties actually grow better when supported on trellises, stakes, or cages.

Benefits of Trellising

·  Help to saves space

·  Help to improves airflow

·  Help to reduces disease

·  Help to keeps the fruits clean

·  Also makes harvesting very easier

You can easily tie the vines gently as they grow upward.

Fertilizing The Cucumber Plants

The cucumber plants are heavy feeders and they actually benefit from regular nutrients.

Fertilizer Tips

Before planting the cucumber:

·  You need to mix compost or manure into the soil

After the cucumber growth begins:

·  You can use a balanced fertilizer every two to three weeks

·  The organic options are either compost tea or fish emulsion

Make sure you avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer because it canlead to the production of many leaves but fewer fruits.

Controlling Weeds On Cucumber Plants

Weeds actually compete for nutrients and water.

To reduce weeds on cucumber plant:

·  Mulch around the cucumber plants

·  You need to remove weeds by hand regularly

·  You also need to avoid deep cultivation that may damage roots

Mulching the cucumber plants also helps keep the fruits cleaner.

Pollination

The cucumber plants actually produce male and female flowers.

Insects and bees actually help to transfer pollen between flowers, which are essential for fruit production.

In other to encourage pollination:

·  You need to avoid excessive pesticide use

·  You need to plant flowers nearby

·  You need to grow the cucumber plants in sunny conditions

Actually poor pollination can really cause small or misshapen cucumbers.

Also read: How to Grow Basil From Seed

Common Cucumber Plants Problems

1. The Yellowing Leaves

The main causes:

·  Overwatering of the plants

·  Nutrient deficiency on the plant

·  Disease attack

2. Bitter Cucumbers

Mainly caused by:

·  Heat stress on the plant

·  Irregular watering of the plant

3. Powdery Mildew

This fungal disease actually appears as white powder on the cucumber plant leaves.

How to prevent it:

·  You need to space the cucumber plants properly

·  You need to improve airflow

·  Avoid wetting the cucumber plant leaves

4. Pests on Cucumber Plant

The common pests are:

·  Cucumber beetles

·  Whiteflies

·  Aphids

The control methods:

·  You can easily hand-pick insects

·  You can use Neem oil spray

·  You can also use insecticidal soap

Make sure you always inspect the cucumber plants regularly for early detection.

Harvesting The Cucumbers

The cucumber plants actually grow quickly after flowering.

When to Harvest the Cucumbers

You can easily harvest the cucumbers when they are:

·  Firm

·  Green in color

·  Also proper size for the variety

Make sure you don’t wait too long because the overripe cucumbers can become yellow, tough, and also bitter.

Cucumber Harvesting Tips  

·  You can use a sharp scissors or garden shears

·  Just cut the fruits carefully from the vine

·  Make sure you harvest regularly in other to encourage more production

A lot of cucumber plants actually continue producing for some weeks.

Saving The Cucumber Seeds

You can actually save the cucumber seeds from the healthy mature cucumbers for future planting.

Steps

1.    You can leave a healthy cucumber plant on the vine until they are fully ripe and yellow.

2.    Just cut open the fruit.

3.    Then scoop out the cucumber seeds.

4.    Then wash and dry the cucumber seeds thoroughly.

5.    You need to store them in a cool, dry place.

You can label the cucumber seeds with the variety and date.