Cucumis sativus
Refreshing and productive, cucumbers are great for fresh eating and pickling, with varieties suited for any garden size.
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Amend beds with compost and a handful of slow-release organic fertilizer. Cucumbers like warm, loose soil, so form raised rows or mounds for improved drainage.
Ensure cucumbers receive 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly. Deep morning irrigations help prevent bitter fruit and reduce disease pressure.
Side-dress with compost tea when vines begin to run and again after the first heavy harvest. Foliar feed with kelp for trace minerals if leaves pale.
Train vining varieties on trellises to improve airflow and produce straighter fruit. Pinch tips of lateral shoots after the fifth leaf to encourage branching.
Harvest slicing cucumbers at 6 to 8 inches and pickling types at 3 to 4 inches. Refrigerate in a perforated bag for up to a week or brine within 24 hours for crisp pickles.
These plants grow well together and can provide mutual benefits like pest control, improved soil health, and efficient space usage.
Watch out for these common pests and diseases. Early detection and prevention are key to maintaining healthy plants.
| Issue | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Bitter fruit | Maintain consistent watering and provide shade cloth during extreme heat. |
| Cucumber beetle feeding | Use floating row cover, introduce beneficial nematodes, and apply kaolin clay barriers. |
| Powdery mildew | Improve airflow with pruning, spray with potassium bicarbonate, and rotate plantings yearly. |
Reliable slicing cucumber with disease resistance and dark green fruit.
Pickling variety that produces uniform, crisp cucumbers and resists powdery mildew.
Round, pale yellow fruit with mild flavor that shines in salads and drinks.
Check out our companion planting guides and learn about creating productive plant guilds for your garden.
