![]() ![]() ![]() If cucumbers are trellised, plant four to five seeds per foot in rows 30" apart. If direct seeding, cucumbers can be planted in hills consisting of four or five seeds per hill spaced 4-5' apart. Planting outside should be delayed until the danger of frost has passed in the spring. Use peat pots or pellets and avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. Get a head start on growing time by starting the plants indoors 10 to 14 days before anticipated planting time. Do not over fertilize as this encourages vine growth and retards fruiting. Cover the fertilizer with soil using a hoe or rake. Apply this fertilizer along one side of the row and approximately 6" from the plant’s base. Side dress cucumbers with an additional application of nitrogen fertilizer one week after blooming begins then again three weeks later using 1 pound of 33-0-0 per 100 square feet of bed. If a soil sample is not taken, make a pre-plant application of 5-10-10 at the rate of 3 pounds per 100 square feet. Contact your county Extension office for information on soil testing. Lime and fertilizers are best applied using soil test results as a guide. Soil temperature should be at least 60 degrees F before seeding for optimum germination. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.5. In soils void of organic matter, work in 4-6" of finished compost or other humus to a depth of 10". The preferred soil is loose, well drained, and well supplied with organic matter and plant nutrients. SoilsĬucumbers can be grown successfully in many types of soils. Water is especially critical for cucumbers during the fruiting stage. Since they are a quick-growing crop, they must be well supplied with moisture and plant nutrients throughout the growing season. These varieties tend to bear fruit earlier with a heavier yield because of the increased number of female flowers.Ĭucumbers thrive best at relatively high temperatures, between 75 to 85 degrees F. Recently, gynoecious plants (those bearing female flowers only or mostly female) have been introduced. Subsequent flowers will include both male and female. They drop from the vine and do not bear fruit. The Georgia climate is well suited for growing cucumbers and gardeners can enjoy a harvest all summer long.Ĭucumbers are in the cucurbit family with vines that bear two kinds of flowers–pistillate (female) and staminate (male). Climatic RequirementsĬucumbers are a subtropical crop, requiring long, warm days, plenty of sunshine, and adequate moisture. As a gardener, you can choose from the many varieties available to suit your needs. The cucumber ranges in size from the small gherkin type to the long, thin slicing variety. Although they require substantial growing space, they can still be grown in small gardens by training vines onto vertical structures or in containers that conserve garden space. ![]() There are two types of cucumbers that can be grown–those for fresh slicing and those for pickling. Cucumbers are one of the most popular crops in today's home garden. ![]()
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