|
Fresh cucumbers straight from the garden are a cool delight on a hot day. These dark, slender fruits are must-haves for every garden! You can pickle them or slice them right into a salad. Hardiness Zones: 4-12 (Find your hardiness zone.) When to Plant: Plant seeds in the garden in mid-spring. Plant seeds 1-1/2 inches deep in "hills" of soil. Sow several seeds in each hill, thinning to the two strongest plants after they have germinated. Conditions: Cucumbers can grow in many different kinds of soil if they have an adequate supply of humus (decomposed plant matter that is part of the soil). Space Needed: Cucumbers like to sprawl a little. To save space, train them to grow up a small fence or trellis, otherwise space each plant 3 feet apart in rows or hills that are 3 feet wide. Maintenance: Cucumbers grow very rapidly and are most flavorful when picked before they get too large. They are heavy feeders and enjoy large amounts of nitrogen. They also require a moderate amount of water to thrive, so water them weekly and mulch around the plants to help retain water. When to Harvest: Cucumbers are ready after 55-65 days, with several weeks of harvest to follow. Average Yield: Two strong producing varieties of cucumber plants can yield approximately 15 pounds over a season.< Continuous Yield: Yes Life Cycle: Annual Difficulty Rating (1-5): 2 |
