Cucumber plants are a useful plant. They grow fast. Their fruit tastes fresh. However, cucumber plants do not need much care. In just a few days, you can enjoy fresh cucumbers from your own grown cucumber plants. Usually, cucumbers are full of water content which helps keep you cool in summer. Besides, they can provide important nutrients to your body. If you want, you can grow cucumber plants in your backyard or on the rooftop. Do you want to grow cucumber plants in your garden? No problem. In this article, I will give a detailed idea about the cucumber plant growing. After reading the article, you will grow some cucumber plants in your garden according to the instructions below and enjoy fresh and juicy cucumbers from your garden.
Cucumber Plants
What is a Cucumber Plant?
Cucumber plants belong to the gourd
family. They originate from South Asia. They have been grown for thousands of
years. Nowadays, cucumber plants are planted in gardens and fields around the
world. They are vine-like plants. They grow long stems. However, they also grow
well in warm climates. They require a lot of sunlight and water to grow. The
fruits of cucumber plants are cylindrical, dark green, and light yellow. At
present, cucumber plants can be grown all year round.
Types of Cucumber Plants
There are several types of cucumber
plants. Let's see the types of the cucumber plants:
1. Slicing Cucumbers
These Cucumbers are the most common
variety and are eaten raw. They have a mild flavor. They are very popular in
salads, sandwiches, or as a fresh snack.
2. Pickling Cucumbers
These cucumbers are small and ideal for
pickling. They have a firm texture that remains crunchy even after they are
stored.
3. Burpless Cucumbers
These cucumbers have few seeds. They have
thin skin. They are suitable for people who regularly suffer from bloating or
indigestion after eating cucumbers.
4. Lemon Cucumbers
They have a round shape and yellow skin.
They are a unique variety that looks like a lemon. They taste slightly sweeter
than other common cucumbers.
How to Plant Cucumber Plants in a Garden
It is very easy to grow cucumber plants.
Now let's learn how to grow cucumber plants.
1. Suitable Climate and Soil
Temperature: Cucumber plants
grow well in warm temperatures (65°F to 95°F). Rainfall can damage them. So,
you should plant them after the rainfall in the spring.
Soil: Cucumber plants
grow well in well-drained soil rich in organic manure. A slightly acidic to
neutral pH (6.0-7.0) soil is good for them.
2. Planting
Direct Sowing Seeds: Sow cucumber
seeds directly into the garden once the soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Sow
seeds 1 inch deep and 12-18 inches apart.
Transplanting: Sow the seeds
indoors 3-4 weeks before the last rainfall and transplant them outdoors after
the last rainfall.
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3. Sunlight and Watering
Sunlight: Cucumbers need
full sunlight for about 6-8 hours a day.
Watering: Water cucumber
plants daily because they are drought-sensitive. So, always keep the soil moist
but not waterlogged.
4. Support System
Cucumber plants are vine-like plants. When
they are 2-3 feet tall, provide trellises or other supports to help them grow
vertically.
5. Pests and Diseases
Cucumber plants are affected by various
pests and diseases. Sometimes, small pests called aphids suck the sap from the
plants and weaken them. In addition, cucumber beetles damage the leaves and
spread bacterial rot. Powdery mildew, a fungal disease, causes a white and
powdery coating on the leaves. To prevent these problems, use disease-resistant
cucumber varieties and apply neem oil and fungicide to the cucumber plants once
a week.
6. Harvesting Cucumbers
You can harvest cucumbers within 40-50
days of planting the cucumber plants. The cucumbers should be harvested when
they are 6-8 inches tall. Pickling cucumbers should be harvested when they are
2-4 inches tall.
7. Storing Cucumbers after Harvest
To store cucumbers, keep them in the
fridge, especially in a crisper drawer. Wrap them in a paper towel to absorb
moisture and place them in a plastic bag or container. Avoid storing fruits like apples because they release ethylene gas, which can cause cucumbers
to spoil faster.
Finally, cucumber plants are a wonderful
addition to any garden. A cucumber plant produces a large amount of
fruit that is not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. You can
enjoy cucumbers fresh, pickled, or in salads. You will benefit from them in the
same way that you enjoy cucumbers. Now grow cucumber plants in your
garden by following the instructions in this article and fill your garden with
cucumbers.
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