Cucumber growing is not rocket science, but if you want to experience a literal cucumber avalanche instead of an average harvest, you have to give them exactly what they love. Cucumbers are a bit of a “hungry and thirsty predator”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is a proven guide on how to get a double harvest from them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic building blocks: Light, heat and soil
Cucumbers are originally from the tropics, so forget about shade and cold places.
Habitat: They need full sun (ideally 6\u20138 hours of direct sun per day) and shelter from the wind.
Soil: It must be extremely rich in nutrients. Before planting, work a rich layer of compost or mature manure into the bed. Cucumbers love loose, permeable soil that holds moisture but doesn’t get muddy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vertical Growing (The Secret to a Clean and Big Harvest)
Let your cucumbers climb! Growing on a net, string or trellis (so-called vertical growing) has huge advantages:
Less diseases: Leaves dry faster, which dramatically reduces the risk of downy mildew.
More sun: The plant has better access to light, which stimulates fruit formation.
Easy to harvest: Cucumbers are straight, clean and you won’t miss them, so they don’t overgrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proper watering (The Golden Rule)
Cucumbers are made up of more than 90% water. Any water stress (drought or, conversely, waterlogging) leads to bitter fruits and flower drop.
\ud83d\udca1 Tip for a double harvest: Never water cucumbers on the leaves! Always direct the water stream directly to the roots. Settled, lukewarm water is ideal (cold water shock from a hose can stop growth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To prevent the soil from drying out, mulch around the plants with straw or grass clippings. Mulch will keep the roots cool and moist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nutrition or A Hungry Plant Won’t Bear
If you want to break records in yield, water alone is not enough. Cucumbers need a regular supply of “food”:
Growth Phase What the Plant Needs Best Fertilizer
Leaf and stem growth Nitrogen ($N$) Nettle infusion (their classic), compost
Flowering and fruit formation Potassium ($K$) and Phosphorus ($P$) Comfrey infusion, wood ash, organic fertilizers for fruiting vegetables
Frequency: Once the cucumbers start to bloom, fertilize them every 10 to 14 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pinching and pruning (Direct energy into fruit)
If you let cucumbers grow freely, they will invest all their energy into giant vines and there will be no energy left for fruit.
For snake plants (in the greenhouse): Keep the main stem up. Pinch off the side shoots after the first or second leaf (and after the emerging fruit).
For pickles (in the garden): It is often recommended to pinch off the main stem after the 3rd or 4th leaf, which will encourage the growth of the side shoots, which grow the most female flowers (the ones with the mini cucumber).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regular harvesting (Law of action and reaction)
This is a psychological trick that many gardeners underestimate. The more cucumbers you pick, the more new ones the plant will put out.
Once you let a few fruits on the plant grow and turn yellow, the plant gets the signal: \u201cMission accomplished, seeds ready, I can pack it up.\u201d For a double harvest, harvest every other day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you going to grow cucumbers more outdoors this year (pickles\/fields), or are you planning a greenhouse full of snakes?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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