Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus and Species: Cucumis sativus

Climate

Cucumbers are frost sensitive plants native to the tropics. They like humid weather, warm soil, and sunlight. Cucumbers grow grow well in most zones of the United States, as long as they are planted after the danger of spring frost has passed and harvested before the autumn frosts. Cucumbers have a 55-60 day growing period (from planting to picking) that fits neatly into the spring and summer months in many locales.

Soil

Cucumbers do well in warm, moist soil. Cucumbers grow best in fertile clay soils with a lot of humus - but don't plant them in a perpetually wet spot as they hate "wet feet". The optimal pH range for cucumbers is 6.0-7.0 and cucumbers benefit from moderate amounts of nitrogen and high amounts of phosphorus and potassium.

Adding compost to your garden soil and using a complete organic fertilizer, like fish emulsion, will help get your cucumbers off to a good start and provide nutritive support throughout their growing season.

Spacing

Most varieties of cucumbers are vines, they love to climb! Try growing them on a trellis or pole. Cucumbers grown on trellis' tend to produce 2-3 times more cucumbers. Trellised cucumbers tend to produce healthier fruits that are uniform in size and shape. Cucumbers grown on trellises are also cleaner at harvest time and the air circulation provided by the trellis helps prevent diseases. Trellising cucumbers frees up space in the garden - consider planting lettuces or other greens under the trellis in the shade provided by the growing vines.

Trellised: Cucumbers grown on a trellis should be planted 18 inches (45 cm) apart.

Building a trellis: A good trellis framework is approximately 6' high. If using wire use a No. 8 for the top and No. 12 wire for the bottom with plastic or sisal twine tied between the two wires at each plant. Posts should be no more than 15 ft apart and the top wire should be very tight. A "stiff knee" (additional brace) between posts may be required as the fruit load may become very heavy.

On Ground: Cucumbers grown on the ground should be given more space, plant them 36 inches (90 cm) apart and space the rows at least two feet apart.

Direct Seeding

The problem most gardeners have with direct seeding cucumbers is planting too early. Direct seeding should be done after the frost - free date when soil temperatures reach 70°-80°. Soils are usually this warm 3-4 weeks after the last frost. Consider covering the cucumber bed with black plastic for several days to one week to warm up the soil before you plant your cucumber seeds.

Seeding For Transplants

Plant cucumber seeds 1/2" deep in a warm moist growing mix. Use peat pots so the roots are not disturbed during transplanting.

Germination

These seeds germinate best in soils around 80°-95°.
Germination will take 3-4 days.

Transplanting Into the Garden

Transplant cucumbers carefully, trying not to disturb their roots. If seeds were planted in peat pots, plant the peat pot in the prepared bed when soils are warm enough. If peat pots were not used be careful, quick, and gentle when transplanting. Make sure the cucumber starts are planted in moist, warm soil.

Watering

Cucumbers need plenty of water to be juicy and crisp. Cucumber plants that do not get enough water produce small, bitter, deformed fruits. Soak the soils deeply during dry periods with soaker hoses or use a hand held watering wand to water the bases of the plants (not the leaves). If a sprinkler is used, water the plants in the morning so the leaves dry during the warm hours of the day. Watering at night can keep the leaves wet and encourage disease.

Harvesting

Cucumbers are mature when the skin is entirely dark green and they are large enough to use.

It is important to pick cucumbers before they are completely mature. A vine with a completely mature fruit will stop producing so regular, even daily, harvest is recommended. A cucumber with yellowed skin at the end of the fruit with the blossom is past its prime. Cucumbers are mature 60-70 days from germination in optimal growing conditions.

Check your cucumber vines daily so you can pick the maturing fruits before they become over ripe. Gently twist the cucumber until it comes off or clip it with gardening shears.

Post-Harvest Handling

Wash and dry cucumbers thoroughly.

Storage

Cucumbers can be stored for 2-4 weeks at 50°-55° and 90% - 95% relative humidity. Pickling cucumbers is the most popular way to preserve them.

Cucumbers are very sensitive to ethylene gas so do not store them with fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene gas.

Diseases

Bacterial wilt, mildews, and leaf spot

Pests

Cucumber beetles

Comments

Mulches are used to increase soil temperatures and rowcovers are used to maximize nighttime temperatures.

Ensuring that vines have proper spacing, air circulation, and are watered properly helps alleviate and disease problems.

Insects can be hand-picked off the plants. Floating row covers or mesh can be put over the vines to protect them from the bugs (as well as keeping them warmer at night). Remember to pollinate the flowers by hand if the plants are covered after flowering begins.

References

Bradley, F. M. and Ellis, B. W.(Ed.). (1992), Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener, Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press.

Oregon State University, Cucumbers, Commercial Vegetable Production Guides, Last modified 1999-01-02, http://www.oregonstate.edu/Dept/NWREC/slicing.html [1], Accessed 2003-5-11

Smith, E.C. (2000), The vegetable gardener's bible: discover Ed's high yield W-O-R-D system for all North American gardening regions., Storey Books: Pownal, VT.