Growing cucumbers is easy because it can be done in small spaces. Cucumbers will thrive as long as it receives full sunlight. Other varieties can be grown in containers. The following tips can help in growing cucumbers.
Site selection
Select site that receives full sunlight for strong and productive vines. Locate your crop in an area that receives a minimum of eight hours of sunlight each day. Make sure your plants receive early morning sunlight. This will help dry off the vines and foliage from early morning dew. If the vines and foliage remain wet, it can create conducive environment for diseases such as mildew and blight. The soil needs to be light and airy to allow for good drainage.
Planting
- Tips for farming Oregano
- Farmers earn Sh1b from coffee
- Kenyan agricultural traders eye market opportunities through CIIE
- Causes and solutions of pecking in flock of birds
Like other cucurbits, cucumbers don’t like to have their roots disturbed and can be tricky to transplant. The preferred method of cucumber planting is direct seeding. Push two or three cucumber seeds an inch into the soil, spacing the plantings 18 to 36 inches apart. If the soil condition is appropriate — moist and warm, the seedlings will pop out of the ground in a few days. Alternatively, you can start a few cucumber plants indoors in pots about two or three weeks before planting date.
To improve overall cucumber production, use black or brown plastic mulch. Because a warm, moist soil is essential for top production, use dark plastic mulch on the cucumber bed. This will speed up growth and increase yields by conserving soil moisture and maintaining a high soil temperature. The mulch will also keep weeds at bay.
You can consider vertical planting. When planning the garden, consider growing vining cucumber vertically on a trellis, fence, or other support. This makes the best use of garden space by containing the vines and keeping them from sprawling throughout the garden, as well as keeping the fruits clean. Research shows that growing cucumbers vertically dramatically increases yields because the vines receive better air circulation and more sunlight than vines on the ground. When planting directly in the soil, plant on slightly raised beds. This is because cucumber plants are highly susceptible to rot.
Pests and diseases
The major insect pests to look out for are cucumber beetles, aphids and spider mites. Cucumber beetles cause the most damage to seedlings, and carry wilt disease from plant to plant. A floating row cover placed immediately over emerging or transplanted seedlings will decrease cucumber beetle damage by keeping the moths from laying eggs on the plants. Remove the cover once cucumber plants flower to allow pollination. Applications of pyrethrum or rotenone will also significantly reduce pest damage. Avoid growing cucumbers near potatoes. Potatoes release a substance in the soil that greatly hinders the growth of cucumbers.
