CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS HOW TO
CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS PATCH
CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS FULL

CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS FULL

Select a site that gets full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day). For crispy pickles, be sure to prepare them within a few hours of harvesting! If you’re interested in making pickles, we recommend several prolific varieties below that are bred especially for pickling, such as heirloom ‘Boston Pickling’ or ‘Calypso’. Bush cucumbers, however, are nicely suited to containers and small gardens.Since they grow off the ground, the fruits will be cleaner-versus those that grow directly atop soil-often more abundant, and easier to pick. Vining varieties grow best when trained up a trellis or fence. The growth of these plants is fast, and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly. Vining cucumbers, the most common varieties, grow on vigorous vines shaded by large leaves.There are two types of cucumber plants: vining cucumbers and bush cucumbers.

CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS HOW TO

Harvest your cucumbers when they are young and tender for the best flavor.An easy-care vegetable that loves sun and water, cucumbers grow quickly as long as they receive consistent watering and warmth. Don’t let cucumbers get too large before you pick or they will taste bitter! See how to plant, grow, and harvest cucumbers in your garden. How long does it take to grow cucumbers from seed?Ĭucumber seeds take up to two weeks to germinate, and around 12 weeks to produce fruit. When planted in warmer weather, the plants will establish much more quickly than when planted in the spring.Īugust will likely be too late to plant cucumber seeds, though you may be still able to find young plants at the garden center that you can grow on at home. ‘If you sow in April you can expect a good harvest from August onwards, although you can always try a March and May sowing too if you are particularly keen to maximize your chances of a long and heavy haul.' Is it too late to plant cucumbers?ĭepending on your local climate, June or July is the latest possible date you can plant cucumbers in order for them to be able to yield any fruit.

CUCUMBER SEEDLINGS PATCH

‘I get them going under cover in March or April, potting them on as needed before planting them out in May (after hardening them off for a couple of days),’ says Mark Diacono, expert grower and author of River Cottage Handbook: Veg Patch (opens in new tab).

Spring is the best time to plant cucumber seeds, but there is flexibility within this time period, and you might want to try succession planting to ensure a steady summer supply. When is the best time to plant cucumber seeds? It's a good idea to look at options for cucumber companion planting, to deter pests and improve flavor. There are many wonderful vegetable garden trellis ideas to explore.Īlternatively, allow the cucumber vines to sprawl across the ground as they grow. If you wish to train the plants onto trellis or canes, it's best to insert these now. Position them in a sunny spot that's sheltered from strong winds, and plant them in single rows around 35 inches apart. Sow the seeds between late spring and early summer – roughly May to June, depending on your local climate. If you wish to plant your cucumber seeds directly outdoors, then you will need to start them off later than if grown indoors. (Image credit: Getty Images) When to plant cucumber seeds outdoors Make sure you know how to prune cucumber plants to maximize fruit production as they grow. ‘Cucumbers will need daily watering once the fruits start to develop – after all, they are 96 per cent water – and a dose of liquid feed every ten days or so,’ says Bertelsen. Keep the soil moist, but not over wet.īefore planting out your cucumber seedlings, it’s best to harden them off in a sheltered area for a couple of days, so they will cope with the change of weather. They should be planted about half an inch deep. To minimize the chance of seed rot, it’s a good idea to position them at the outer edge of the pot, and lay them on their side. ‘As cucumbers need plenty of time in the sun to ripen, sow the seeds in early spring to ensure that you have good-size plants – say, 4 inches (10cm) or so in height – by the time the frosts are over and they can go outside,’ says Aaron Bertelsen author of Grow Fruit and Vegetables in Pots (opens in new tab). This is usually March or April, but can be as early as February in a heated greenhouse.

Cucumber seedlings