It is highly recommended to protect newly seeded cucumbers with a row cover over the surface of the bed. When direct seeding cucumbers, plant them about ½” to 1” deep. How to Direct Seed Cucumbers It is best to direct seed once the weather is warm. Cucumbers thrive in raised beds with lots of organic matter and aeration. Use a broad fork to loosen the lower layers of soil and a rake to smooth out the surface. To prepare the soil, add 2-3” of rich high-quality organic compost. How to Prepare Soil for Planting The soil you plan to use for your cucumbers should be nutrient-rich and slightly acidic.Ĭucumbers prefer a well-drained rich garden soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Cucumbers won’t germinate in soils below 50-60☏. Use a soil thermometer to check that soil temperatures are at least 70☏ for optimal germination. If you don’t have access to a greenhouse or grow light setup, it is best to wait until 3-4 weeks after the last frost date to direct sow cucumbers in the garden. Move them outside at least 5 days before transplanting to “harden off” and let them adjust to nighttime temperatures without the comfort of your windowsill or greenhouse. Make sure their roots have fully filled out their containers to avoid unneeded stress. Remember, these babies like it warm.Ĭucumber seedlings can be transplanted outside 1-2 weeks after the last frost date. For quicker, more even germination, use a heating pad beneath your cucumber trays. The nursery should be kept at a minimum of 60☏ ambient temperature. Be sure they are seeded in a large enough pot (I typically use 3-4” square nursery pots) so that they don’t get rootbound while waiting for the weather to warm. Plant in a high-quality potting mix ½” to 1” deep, or about twice as deep as the seed dimensions. When to Plant Cucumbers Seeding about 2-3 weeks before the last frost is ideal for cucumbers.Ĭucumbers should be seeded indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost date for your region. Don’t worry, you have a few remedies for these issues described below. In colder climates, this may mean later harvests or the potential risk of pesky rodents eating the cucumber seeds. If you can, it is best to direct seed cucumbers right into the garden. The most important thing to know when planting cucumbers is that they have sensitive roots which prefer to be disturbed as little as possible. A cucumber a day to keep the doctor away? Well, that will be a whole lot easier once you have a garden full of these delicious fruits! Propagation and Planting They also have polyphenols that may boost your immune system and reduce your risk of cancer. They contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids that protect brain health and improve memory. Despite all that water weight, cucumbers contain vitamins B, C, and K, as well as copper, potassium, and manganese. Since they tend to be pretty expensive in stores, growing cucumbers yourself also benefits your wallet.Ĭucumbers are 95% water, but their benefits extend far beyond hydration. Cucumbers fit the bill as one of the healthiest garden crops you can grow. I don’t know about you, but I got into gardening as part of my broader mission to live a healthier life more in tune with nature (while simultaneously cutting down on my grocery bills). Health Benefits of Cucumbers Not only are cucumbers hydrating, but they also contain vitamins and minerals healthy for humans. Cucumbers come in many unique flavors, shapes, and varieties that can be grown on a range of different trellises or allowed to vine along the ground. They cannot tolerate frosts of any kind and grow best at temperatures between 75° and 85☏. Like its cucurbit cousins, cucumbers are warm-weather annuals. They have hairy stems and yellow or white flowers that usually enlist the help of bees to facilitate pollination. This family is most recognizable by their large flat palmate leaves that shade out weedy competition and protect their fruits. All About Cucumbers These refreshing fruits come in multiple varieties with different textures, flavors, and shapes.Ĭucumbers are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with pumpkins, gourds, winter squash, watermelons, cantaloupe, and zucchini.
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