Whether you adore sliced cucumbers in your salads or are just seeking a healthy, crunchy snack, growing your own cucumbers is a excellent way to receive a super-fresh supply of the delicious veggie. Before planting cucumbers, it’s important to remember that they prefer full sun, preferably 8 hours a day, to be able to prosper, and needs to be planted after there’s not any longer a danger of frost.
How to Plant
Cucumber seeds must be planted 8 to 12 inches apart, with each row spaced 36 to 72 inches apart. Normally, slicing varieties like “Dasher II,” “Conquistador,” “Thunder,” “Slicemaster” and “Sprint” will have broader spacing, while pickling varieties like “Eureka” and “Valaspik” are spaced a bit closer.
Temperature Considerations
Cucumbers are warm-season plants that needs to be grown in temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees F, ideally not exceeding 90 degrees. The soil temperature has to be at least 60 degrees for cucumber seeds to properly germinate. The plants are highly susceptible to harm from the chilly, and prolonged periods of temperatures under 55 degrees cause chilling injury, which includes symptoms such as decay, water-soaked spots and pitting.
Soil Factors
Since cucumbers have deep roots, they are best grown in rich, well-drained dirt. Keep away from light soils that don’t hold moisture well. Prior to planting, you may add manure or compost into the soil to enhance its water-holding capacity and nutritional worth.
Sun Requirements
Cucumbers will grow best when planted in full sun. Cucumber plants that don’t get enough sunlight are far more likely to have a poor fruit set and also create an overall lower yield. Thus, it is ideal to plant them in areas that get at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Irrigation Considerations
Cucumber plants need to be watered frequently while they’re growing. When they don’t get adequate water, the cucumbers can get misshapen. The Utah State University Cooperative Extension recommends that pepper plants get 1 to 2 liters of water weekly, depending on their magnitude.
