Cucumber is one kitchen staple you should have at home. So why not start growing cucumbers from seed in your home garden? Growing them is easy if you know the best garden hacks for them.
It is up to you on how you want to grow your cucumbers – horizontally or vertically – depending on your garden space. So there’s really no excuse not to plant your own cucumbers at home.
According to North County Farmer, it is best to grow cucumbers vertically using a vining cage since it allows it to grow faster and produce more harvest. Are you ready to plant some next season? Here are hacks to make cucumber gardening easier.
Design a planting space for growing cucumbers from seed
Cucumbers are pretty versatile when it comes to planting. You could even grow cucumbers in pots! If that’s not your style, you can also use a trellis or wire cage.
Choose something that leaves the plant lots of room to grow, like a tomato cage. According to urban Organic Gardner, bush cucumbers (grown horizontally) can take up to as much as 20 feet of land.
Most of us don’t have that kind of land available for cucumbers! Good news is there’s a way on how to grow cucumbers vertically. Use a vining variety to ensure this effect.
Find a location for your cucumbers
Cucumbers are warm weather vegetables.
Wait until after the cold weather has passed to plant them, and make sure you choose a sunny spot for your plants. Like most plants, cucumbers need plenty of access to sunlight to make energy and grow successfully.
Plant the cucumber seedling
Make sure your soil is nutrient-rich. You can work compost into the soil to make sure that the plants get all the nutrients they need.
If you are growing multiple cucumber plants vertically, plant the seedlings one foot apart.
Set up a support
Remember, vines need a sturdy support in order to grow properly.
Choose something strong like a 2X4, and loosely secure the vines to the support. As the vines grow, they will climb upward on their own. Eventually, they will be able to support themselves.
Check leaves regularly
How long do cucumbers take to grow? Not too long, actually. The best way to know when to pick cucumbers is to check under the leaves to see if any cucumbers are growing yet.
Cucumber plants grow fast and can produce a lot of vegetables. Checking on them will tell you how far it’s gone as far as the stages of growing cucumbers is concerned. You wouldn’t want a veggie to go bad before you even know it’s there!
Water Daily when growing cucumbers
Cucumbers need a lot of water, so make sure you water them regularly. Give them plenty of water each time – this will protect the flavors of the cucumber.
Takeaway
Growing cucumbers from seed has never been this easy. These hacks would make home gardening a breeze for you, and you’ll have those healthy, fresh cucumbers in your pantry always at the ready.