Description
Botanical name
Cucumis sativus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Spacing
1 plant per square foot in front of a trellis. Vines can grow to 2.4 m (8′).
Depth
Plant seeds 2½ cm (1″) deep. Germination will be delayed if seeds are planted too deeply.
Requirements
Hot and sunny. pH around 6-6.5.
Germination
Seeds will sprout in 3-6 days.
Pests
Several diseases attack cucumbers, but problems with this plant are mostly caused by cultural practices that stress the plants. Make sure you keep the garden clean and tidy, water consistently and avoid spraying water directly on to the leaves. Cucumber beetles are our biggest problem, along with powdery mildew. Several home sprays are effective against powdery mildew: Spray any of the following at 7-10 day intervals. 1 tsp baking soda and 1 quart of water with a squirt of dish soap, or 1 part milk to 9 parts of water.
Timing
Direct sow in late May, or start transplants two weeks before planting to get a head start.
Growing
Mulch to keep up soil moisture and temperature and cover with insect netting to keep cucumber beetles away until plants start flowering. Cucumbers benefit from extra nutrition from periodic compost / fertilizer applications.
Harvest
54 days
Season
Warm, annual
