Many people are noticing that it is quite easy to grow cucumbers. This is especially when you see them as vines. Before one can learn how to plant cucumbers, more information about them is needed to ensure successful growth.
Cucumbers are members of the cucurbit family like pumpkins and melons. There are varieties for slicing and varieties for pickling. Slicing varieties can be eaten fresh and can grow to about 14 inches long, while pickling varieties are often pickled and can grow to about 4 inches long. They are especially loved for the beneficial nutrients they can provide to our nails, hair, and skin. It is the Burpless variety that is characterized by its good flavor and easy-to-digest properties.
When preparing to grow cucumbers, you need to dig a good amount of organic compost into the soil. It should be the depth of a shovel.
You can plant cucumbers indoors. To do this, plant them in biodegradable seedling pots. This ensures intact roots. You can only plant them before the last frost.
Make sure there is a space of about 40 centimeters between the seedlings. If you choose to grow from seed, group planting is recommended. You can sow three seeds in a single hole as this can increase the chances of germination. The seeds should also be planted about an inch deep.
To successfully grow cucumbers, location is very important. They need good amounts of heat and sun every day. This is the reason why greenhouses are preferred for cucumbers. Also make sure there are adequate spaces between each cucumber, as they can quickly grow to around 6 feet. If space is limited, you can also train the plant to grow against a stake, wall, or trellis.
The variety of soil, of course, is also vital. Well-drained soil is what cucumbers need. You can also plant them in raised beds about 6 inches tall. They also thrive in sandy loam soils. You just need to make sure that the soil contains good amounts of organic matter, as the manure can guarantee the nutrients for the plants.
When caring for your cucumbers, you should weed them regularly. Just make sure you don’t go below a few inches because there’s a risk you’ll damage the root system. This can harm plant growth.
Cucumbers should be watered every week if you want them to grow firm and juicy. In fact, cucumbers are known to have a very high water content.
Cucumber plants have male and female flowers. Between the two, the female flowers are the ones produced by cucumbers. It can also help in the pollination process to increase fruit count. You can use a cotton swab to transfer pollen from male flowers to the center of female flowers. You can tell the females from the males as they have small cucumbers at the base.
Cucumbers can already be harvested when they reach a suitable size. The usual term is 50 to 60 days after sowing. You will notice that his skin turns dark green. Once they turn yellow, they are already overripe.
Pull the cucumbers out by twisting them off the plant. Another option is to cut the stems on the tips of the cucumber.