How To Grow Cucumbers

Cucumbers are one of the most refreshing things to eat straight out of the garden. Technically a fruit, this hydrating treat is made up of 95% water and can help keep you going on a hot day.

Cucumber seedlings can be planted outside two weeks after the last spring frost. They love the hot sun, so be sure to make room for them in a bright area with fertile, well-drained soil. Plant a second crop one month after the first.

• Cucumber seedlings
• Organic compost
• Organic fertilizer

• Garden tools

1. Mix 2″ of compost in with the soil to prepare for planting. Plant cucumber seedlings in rows or hills, spaced 18″-36″ apart. Space your rows 6 feet apart from one another, thinning as needed.

2. Cucumbers love water, so be sure to hydrate regularly. Give them 1″-2″ of moisture each week so that the soil to stays slightly moist at all times.

3. A great way to keep the soil moist and weeds at bay is to mulch around the plants. Straw acts as insulation and helps to keep moisture levels where they need to be without overwatering.

4. Cucumbers are heavy feeders, so fertilize before planting your seedlings and again once flowers appear. Aged manure is a fantastic fertilizer, as is liquid fish emulsion.

5. Your plants will start to grow very long vines that spread out across your garden, so make sure they have plenty of space to do so. Maximize your garden space by adding a fence or trellis for your vines to climb.

6. Depending on the variety and the weather, most cucumbers are typically ready to harvest 50-70 days after planting and will be 6″-8″ in length. As you continue to pick your cucumbers, they will continue to produce, so keep that in mind when determining the number of cucumber plants you need in your garden.

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