We are heading into growing and gardening season for most of the United States. Here in Maine we are readying the raised beds and prepping the garden for planting. Thought I’d republish this as it seems pretty timely. With the world continuing to go insane gardening and being able to provide as much food for yourself is critical. ~ Rourke
Cucumbers are not only a popular garden vegetable but also a refreshing addition to salads and a healthy snack. It’s such a rewarding experience to walk out to the garden and snip a couple cucumbers off the vines to have with dinner. In this continuing series on Preparing for the Next Great Depression, we will discuss growing cucumbers in your garden, including planting from seeds, fertilization techniques, preferred soil conditions, and container gardening options. Additionally, I’ve shared my list of favorite heirloom cucumber varieties. Let’s go!!!
Growing Cucumbers in the Garden:
1. Planting:
– Start cucumber seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost or sow them directly into the garden once the soil has warmed up. Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep and space them 12-24 inches apart in mounds that are 3-5 feet apart. I prefer mounds to rows as mounds help with drainage. Cucumber seeds typically germinate within 7-10 days.
🥒 GARDEN TIP: Provide a trellis or stake at planting time to support vine growth and prevent fruit from touching the ground. I’ve used tomato cages as well.
2. Sunlight:
– Choose a location in your garden that receives full sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day. Cucumbers thrive in warm and sunny conditions.
3. Soil:
– Cucumbers prefer loose, well-draining soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0.
– Prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This improves soil fertility and moisture retention.
🥒 GARDEN TIP: If you have access to Black Kow brand composted cow manure it’s really good stuff. I’ve used it for years. My local Lowe’s carries it.
4. Watering:
– Cucumbers require consistent moisture to prevent bitterness and ensure proper fruit development. Water deeply and regularly, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
– Mulching around cucumber plants helps retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
5. Fertilization:
– Before planting, add a balanced fertilizer, such as water-soluble 10-10-10, to the soil following the package instructions.
– Once the plants begin to flower, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus, such as 5-10-10, to promote fruiting. Apply the fertilizer according to the recommended rates.
6. Pollination:
– Cucumbers rely on pollinators such as bees for successful fruit development. To attract pollinators, consider planting flowers nearby..
7. Pest and Disease Control:
– Monitor your plants regularly for common pests such as aphids, cucumber beetles, and powdery mildew.
– Practice good garden habits by removing any diseased or infested plant material promptly.
Harvesting:
– Cucumber varieties have varying maturity times, typically ranging from 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Check the seed packet or plant label for specific information.
– Regular harvesting is crucial to encourage continuous production. Harvest cucumbers when they reach the desired size, typically 6-8 inches in length(depending on variety). Overripe cucumbers can negatively affect future fruiting, so remove them promptly.
Container Gardening Tips:
– Select a large container with drainage holes to ensure proper water drainage. If holes are on the bottom keep the container off the ground to stop holes from plugging.
– Use high-quality, well-draining potting mix enriched with compost or organic matter.
– Cucumbers grown in containers may require more frequent watering, as containers tend to dry out faster than garden soil. Monitor soil moisture regularly and water when needed.
– Provide a trellis or stake for vertical growth, securing them to the container for support. Again – tomato cages can work as well.
Rourke’s Recommended Heirloom Cucumber Varieties:
Boston Pickling Cucumber: If you enjoy homemade pickles, the Boston Pickling cucumber is an excellent choice. These small to medium-sized cucumbers have bumpy skin and a crisp texture, making them ideal for pickling or adding to salads.
National Pickling Cucumber: Another favorite for pickling enthusiasts, National Pickling cucumbers are blocky and uniform in shape. They have a crunchy texture and can also be enjoyed fresh in salads. MY FAVORITE!! 👍
Straight Eight Cucumber: True to its name, the Straight Eight cucumber produces straight, uniform fruits with dark green skin. They have a classic cucumber flavor and are versatile for various culinary uses, including slicing, salads, and pickling.
Marketmore 76 Cucumber: This popular variety is known for its disease resistance and abundant production. Marketmore 76 cucumbers are dark green, firm, and have a slightly sweet taste. They are perfect for slicing and salads.
Spacemaster 80 – Are you dealing with limited space or growing in containers? The Spacemaster is the perfect high-producing, heirloom for you. Excellent for pickling or slicing, plant the Spacemaster indoors or out.
Summary
By following the tips and techniques outlined here, you can grow a ton of cucumbers and avoid the cost of going to the grocery store. Whether you choose to grow cucumbers in the garden or in containers – proper planting, watering, fertilization, and pest control are essential for maximum production. Experiment with different heirloom cucumber varieties now to discover what works best for you now before you have to rely on the garden in a more serious situation.
BTW – fresh cucumbers are best sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper. YUM!! 😋
Happy gardening!
Rourke
While I love cucumbers, especially on bread with a bit of mayo and salt, I’m not a fan of dill pickles. However, this is a reminder to people that you can pickle pretty much any vegetable and then water bath can them in a big stew pot with a towel or old canning rings in the bottom to protect the jars. As long as you follow the recommended ratio of vinegar to water, you can add whatever herbs or sugars you want.
I’ve been on a pickling frenzy lately, with my favorites being cherry tomatoes and 3-bean salad. I’ve also pickled mixed veggies, cabbage, and brussels sprouts, but I haven’t sampled them yet so I can’t recommend them. I can’t help but think that the day is soon coming when we might be grateful for the pickled foods on our shelves.
SingleMom – All I eat are dills. I’ve tried several others and after several violent contortionist hurls I just venture back over to the dills. As a kid I remember my father taking me to a huge country store in Helen, Georgia while on vacation and I’d get a whole pickle out of a big barrel. Yum!
I’ve also never pickled anything else although I’m not against it.
Thanks for sharing!
You should share that 3 bean recipe! That sounds great!
John another product for you to investigate is Coast of Maine products. Made up in Whiting, Maine, where I used to live. Good stuff should be easy to find.
I’ll check that out John C. I think I’ve seen them at a local greenhouse/farmers exchange.
another great article, thank you. but i would put more effort into more nutrient dense foods like corn, beans of all types, Potatoes!! and squash.
they all should do well there. they are easy to grow and all but corn take up very little space for the return. we’ll be pulling a half acre of corn in about a month if the weather cooperates, we plant corn in late Feb. here
PS. try some okra, as long as you keep picking them they will keep making, great fried with cornmeal or in soups or stew. a 20 ft row will be all you need. best of luck and get better soon
Scout – appreciate the info. MPG and I are fighting over corn right now as I type this. She doesn’t want me to grow corn but I’m going to sneak a bed of it this weekend. I’ve never had much luck growing it but I think this is my year.
Okra. I’ve grown it many time down in SC and the stuff produced an amazing amount of food. I hate the stuff though….LOL. I’ll get some beans in the ground this weekend as well as more squash and some more potatoes.
I have 4 National pickling seedlings going now. I don’t know if they will do well getting them started so late here in SW Florida but if they do, they will be sharing arch trellises made from cattle panels with Asian long beans which do love the heat and humidity we will have from now through the summer.. It will be interesting to see if the cukes can take the heat!
National Pickling is my favorite! They should do well just keep them watered. That heat there may dry them out. When I was in SC I would start them in mid-April and harvest end of June then plant a second round of plants beginning of July. The 2nd round never did as well as the first due to the extreme heat in August.
MPG
i found this recipe at https://creativecanning.com/canning-three-bean-salad/
it sounds good
it looks like a great site for canning. i’m going to try some of these recipes myself this summer.
Interesting recipe. Never heard of Three Bean Salad. Might give it a shot!
You can get a can of 3 bean salad in the canned vegetable aisle at Hannaford to see if you like it before you decide to make it yourself. One of the most common brands is Reed.
I bought a Veg Pod last year, think I’m going to use it to experiment whether certain plants will grow in my area before putting them in a bigger garden.
JR…if you like pickled things, try something called dilly beans. Basically, it’s just pickled green beans. But boy howdy!!!! They are so good. Same with asparagus. Make sure you only use pencil-sized stalks of asparagus though. Too big and it’s like eating sticks. One thing to remember… make sure you use the vinegar that says 5% acidity. Evidently, vinegar acid “rules” have changed.
Another thing to plant is borage. It’s not a perennial, but it self-sows like Satan himself and is a major bee attractor for pollinating, especially if you want to try your hand at beekeeping. Glad you are feeling better and able to get into the garden.
Cucumbers have an amazing number of wonderful vitamins. You can just pick and date, no fire or heat. Any way you can them, if you grow some easy to grow ginger (be patient, it will come up) You can add thin slices to the cucumbers (any kind) and use them in canned carrots. Ginger is aa wonderful health aid for arthritis and other ailments.
Scott is spot in, in his assessment if needed veggies, but variety is the spice of life. If one crop fails, another will do well in the same year. Hedge your bets. Jade cucumbers do not need a pollinator.
Thanks for the info Abigayle on the ginger. Going to look into that for sure.