Everyone reading this has consumed salad. It includes so many things but cucumber makes it easier and more delicious. Cucumbers are among the most widely grown and sold time in this world. I hope you know how to grow cucumbers in containers. So, here are the tips for growing cucumbers in containers.
It is easier to grow cucumbers in pots or containers rather than in a garden or open ground. They are grown in summer and you can grow them anywhere. The benefit of growing cucumbers in pots is that they are less susceptible to pests and diseases and easier to take care of.
Tips for growing cucumbers in containers
If you want the fruit to come out sweet then you must follow the steps written down. Some cucumbers taste bitter. To avoid growing bitter cucumbers in containers or pots, here are the tips.
Select the cucumber type
First, select the cucumber type. There are several types of cucumber varieties available in the market but mainly there are only two: the bush and vining cucumber. Each cucumber differs from the other in terms of characteristics.
If you are a beginner in gardening, then bush cucumber would be best for you. As they grow up easily in the container and don’t require much space. They even don’t need a trellis to grow because bush cucumber vines are only 3-4 feet long. It would be much easier for newbies to grow this particular variety of cucumber.
In terms of space, vining cucumber needs more space to grow. So big containers or pots and big trellis would be needed to grow them fully. Choose the vining cucumber variety only if you have space to grow. Otherwise, growing bush cucumber needs less space.
Sow the seeds
The crop of cucumber prefers hot weather to grow. This is why it is sown during late spring. Cucumbers seeds can be sown in seedling trays, small disposable glass, or even in old trays of eggs.
Sow the seeds in the soil about one inch, and spray some water on the top of the soil to keep it moist. Use potting soil instead of normal garden soil. Doing this will increase the chances of germination of seeds.
The seeds of cucumber will germinate within a week. You can transplant the seedling into a large big container when they have three to four true sets of leaves. Moreover, do not transplant cucumber seedlings until the weather is hot outside.
Cucumbers are fond of sunlight and they require 7 to 8 hours of sun daily. Low temperature can make your cucumber turn bitter. So plant them once the weather becomes hot outside and grow them in full sun.
Choose right size container
Another important tip is to select the right-size container. Select deep size container for growing cucumbers. Mainly you should choose the size of the container on the type of variety you are growing. The bush cucumber does not need more space. But the vining cucumber variety does. Whatever container you choose, make sure it Is deep about 25 inches. Growing cucumbers in buckets could be an option.
Rinse thoroughly the container before use. As it would wash away all the unwanted things such as eggs of pests and germs that can harm the plant.
Prepare the Soil
If you do not want to spoil your cucumber crop, read this tip carefully. Soil preparation is the most important part of growing any type of crop. If you are not using the right type of soil that is suitable for growing the plant, it would not grow well or maybe die.
Cucumbers grow healthy in soil with having a pH 6.0 to 7.0. some gardeners do not check the pH levels of the soil and spoil the crops. Hence, it is very important to check the pH of the soil according to your plant type.
Add nutrients to the soil through good fertilizers to the soil. You can make your own potting soil if you do not like chemical fertilizers. Keep in mind that you cannot grow cucumbers in garden soil as it may contain eggs of pests and it is low in drainage and nutrients. They may damage your crop in the future.
Fertilize the Plant
Before sowing the plant add fertilizer to the soil so that it could help in the development of roots and overall growth of the plant. If you are using a good potting soil mix, then there would be no need to add fertilizer prior to sowing. Cucumber needs more food for their growth. Therefore the cucumber plant should be fertilized 3to 4 times a week.
Furthermore, you could make your own potting soil by mixing an equal amounts of compost, manure, and garden soil. You can also add a little amount of cocopeat to it.
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Harvesting
When the cucumber plant becomes mature and the fruit is ripe, harvest the cucumber. You should harvest the fruit as soon as possible as it will give an opportunity to grow more flowers and fruits to come soon. Avoid pulling or plucking out the fruit from the vine, it could harm the plant. Use scissors to cut cucumber from the vine.
For More See the Video.
I will be looking forward to growing my cucumbers.
So excited, thanks for the video.
Happy gardening!!