Cucumbers can be difficult to grow in pots, as they take up a lot of vertical space. You will be able to do this, however, if you select a bushy variety rather than a creeper or if you give the plant enough space to grow on a stake or trellis. Use well-draining, nutritious soil, keeping it moist throughout the growing season; this way you will get lush potted cucumber plants.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Jars
Step 1. Choose a cucumber variety suitable for growing in pots
In general, bush varieties are easier to grow in pots than climbing ones, which need a trellis to climb and grow on. Choosing a variety suitable for growing in pots will give you a better chance of success.
Varieties that are ideal for growing in pots include Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Picklebush, Baby Bush, and Potluck
Step 2. Take a vase with a diameter of 25 cm
The pot should be at least 25cm wide and equally deep. If you want to grow more than one plant in a single pot, choose one that is at least 50 cm in diameter and has a capacity of 20 liters.
- If you are going to keep the pot outdoors, choose a larger one if possible. It will retain moisture more effectively.
- You can even use a rectangular planter if you add a trellis to grow cucumbers on.
Step 3. Create drainage holes if the pot does not have them
Cucumber plants love water, however stagnant water can cause root damage. Look for pots that already have drainage holes if possible - just flip them over to check.
- If the pot doesn't have drainage holes, use a drill to make them yourself. Choose a masonry drill bit that is suitable for unfinished terracotta or a drill bit for tiles and glass or glazed surfaces. Choose a diameter between 6 and 12 mm.
- Place adhesive tape on the bottom of the vase in the points where you want to drill the holes: it will help make the area less fragile. Press the tip lightly on the tape and start the drill at low speed. Apply light and constant pressure until the tip passes the other side. Repeat the process to make at least one more hole.
- If you press too hard or try to pierce too fast you could break the pot.
Step 4. Thoroughly clean the jar with warm soapy water
The pots can contain bacteria that risk rotting the plant. If you've used the pot before, it may contain hidden insect eggs that will hatch and attack cucumber plants.
Scrub the jar thoroughly with a rag or dish brush and soapy water, then rinse several times to make sure all the soap is removed
Step 5. Prepare a framework
Climbing cucumbers require a trellis or stake to grow on; bushy ones don't need it, but they still benefit from it. Create a structure yourself by taking three sticks or bamboo canes: secure them at the top, tying them together with a rope or string. Then widen the base of the posts creating a shape similar to a red Indian tent.
- In some hardware and gardening stores, you will find similar ready-made metal structures.
- Such a structure encourages the cucumber plant to climb on it right from the start.
- Insert the structure into the vase with the stakes widened inside, all in contact with the bottom of the vase. It should stand upright without the need for additional support. If it is wobbly, adjust the posts to make them even.
Step 6. Fill the pot with a well-draining soil mix
If you want to mix with soil that you already have, try combining 1 part sand with 1 part compost and 1 part sphagnum or coconut peat. Otherwise you can choose a pre-mixed soil specially designed for growing vegetables.
- Put the mixture in the jar, compacting it carefully around the stakes. Don't press it too hard, however, as plant roots grow best in soft soil. Leave about 2-3 cm of space between the surface of the earth and the edge of the pot.
- Check the structure. Try to move it: if it still wobbles a lot, compact the soil in the pot a little more to stabilize it.
- You can find all types of soil you need at your local garden store.
- Do not use soil from your garden, which may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites.
Step 7. Increase soil nutrition by adding a good fertilizer
Use a 5-10-5 fertilizer or a slow-release 14-14-14 formula. Mix it into the soil in the proportions suggested on the label, as they vary considerably by brand and type.
- Alternatively, you can use soil that already contains pre-mixed fertilizer.
- The numbers shown on the fertilizer bags indicate respectively the quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contained in the product. Each element nourishes a different part of the plant.
- A 5-10-5 fertilizer gives cucumbers gentle nutrition, which focuses on better plant yield. A 14-14-14, on the other hand, keeps the plant's health in balance, allowing for a slightly higher dosage.
- Buy an organic fertilizer if you want to make an environmentally conscious choice.
Part 2 of 3: Planting Seeds and Seedlings
Step 1. Sow once the climate has stabilized around 20 ° C
Cucumbers need the soil to reach at least 20 ° C to grow. In many areas, you can plant in July and expect a harvest in September; if you live in a warmer area, you may want to start earlier. However, wait at least 2 weeks after the last frost.
If you are going to grow cucumbers indoors, you can sow whenever you want
Step 2. Make a hole in the ground about 15mm deep
Make it roughly the same in depth and width. You can create it using a little finger or the rounded end of a pencil.
If you are using a large planter, place the holes evenly along the edge (in the case of a circular planter) or evenly inside it (in the case of a rectangular one)
Step 3. Insert 5-8 seeds into the hole
Place more seeds than necessary in each hole to ensure that at least one plant is born. Planting so many seeds may mean that you will have to weed out a few sprouts, but you can be sure that you get all the plants you need.
Cucumber seedlings do not like to be pulled out of a container or handled. Buy seedlings in biodegradable pots, for example in coconut fibers or peat; in this way you can insert them into the ground together with their container without handling them too much. The roots will grow through the jar itself
Step 4. Cover the hole with more earth
Drop a little soil on the seeds and do not compress it, as this could damage them; pat gently when done.
If you are starting with seedlings, fill the hole around the container and dab it from above
Step 5. Use an old plastic bottle for protection
If the weather is still cold, you can create "bells" to protect the plants: cut the top and bottom of large plastic bottles, wash them thoroughly with warm soapy water, then place one on top of each plant. Press it into the ground so it doesn't fly away.
These bells provide warmth and shelter from the wind. They can also protect against some parasites
Step 6. Water the seeds or seedlings immediately after planting them
The soil should be completely and visibly moist after you water the seeds or seedlings. Don't overdo it, however, as creating stagnant water could lead to seed shedding.
Use a spray bottle that will spray the water gently so you don't risk the seeds shifting
Step 7. After watering, cover the earth with sphagnum peat or straw
Apply a thin layer of sphagnum or mulch to the earth, whether you are starting with seeds or seedlings - this prevents the soil from drying out too quickly, giving the plants a chance to grow.
Step 8. Place the pot in a location that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight
Cucumbers thrive in the heat, and the extra sunlight will keep the soil warm, in the right conditions. Make sure they get no less than 6 hours of sunshine a day.
- If you grow cucumbers indoors, make sure they are in a sunny room and get plenty of light. If your home doesn't have a sunny corner, you can buy a grow light; place it on top of the plant and keep it on for at least 6 hours a day.
- Placing the pot near a house wall or fence can minimize potential wind damage. A little air is fine, but strong winds can be harmful.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Cucumbers
Step 1. Thin out the cucumber seedlings once they have produced 2 sets of true leaves
Identify the two tallest seedlings in each group, which are the ones you will need to keep. Cut the others at ground level without pulling them out, as otherwise you risk damaging the ones you are leaving in the pot.
Use garden scissors or shears to cut off unnecessary seedlings
Step 2. Leave only one plant per hole once they reach 20-25cm in height
Examine the plants in each group and identify the tallest one; it should also be the one with the most leaves and the most luxuriant appearance. Cut the other one at ground level.
You should now have a plant for each group you created in the pot. In some cases, this could mean you only have one plant left if you used a small pot
Step 3. Water the cucumbers every day
If the soil surface looks dry, it's time to water. Provide the grown plants with enough water so that some of it flows out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Never let the soil dry out too much as this would prevent the plant from developing and give the fruits a bitter taste.
- To check the soil, stick a finger in it - if it feels dry, it's time to water.
- Lift the jar to check its weight. The heavier it is, the more waterlogged the soil is. Check it several times throughout the day to get an idea of how heavy or light it is when you water.
- Adding mulch around the plant will help it retain more moisture.
- If the weather in your area is particularly dry or hot, you may need to water twice a day.
Step 4. Add a balanced fertilizer once a week
Water the soil before adding fertilizer - supplying it to plants when they are dry can create problems. Use a water-soluble fertilizer and apply the amount indicated on the package. Fertilizers vary widely by brand and type, so always read the label.
Choose a 5-10-5 or 14-14-14 fertilizer
Step 5. Eliminate parasites using neem oil or other natural pesticides
Your plants will be targeted by aphids, spider mites and pests specific to cucumbers, such as Diaphania nitidialis and beetles of the Diabrotica and Acalymma varieties. You can create a natural pesticide starting from neem oil:
- To make a spray with neem oil, mix 240-350 ml of water with a few drops of dish soap and about 10-20 drops of neem oil.
- If you have a beetle infestation you can simply remove them by hand using gloves covered with petroleum jelly. Put them in a bucket full of water with a few drops of dish soap.
- There are also special "insect vacuum cleaners" designed to remove unwanted guests from plants.
Step 6. For fungal diseases, use an anti-mold spray
Mold and bacterial wilt are quite common. Many antifungal products eliminate mold from plants, but bacterial diseases are more difficult to fight. If your plants develop bacterial wilt, which can be carried by beetles, they are likely to die. Fungal infections are often characterized by a white, powdery substance present on the leaves.
- The bacterial wilt at first manifests itself through an opacity of the surface of the leaves, which wither during the day and recover at night. Eventually they will turn yellow and die.
- To create an anti-mold spray, try mixing 1 tablespoon (15 g) of baking soda in about 4 liters of water; add a drop of dish soap and shake everything. Spray it on the plant once a week if you notice white powdery mildew on the leaves.
Step 7. Harvest the cucumbers about 55 days after planting
Large fruits are more bitter, so harvest the cucumbers when they are still young by cutting the stem about 1 centimeter from the fruit. If it still has a yellowish color, it is probably too ripe to eat.
Most cucumbers are ready to harvest 55 to 70 days after planting
Advice
- If you want to have cucumbers ready early in the season, seed them indoors in biodegradable jars first, then move them outside when it's warmer.
- Cucumbers require a lot of water, so always keep them moist during the growing season.
