Growing Guide - Cucumber
The cucumber has been grown for centuries. Early varieties were bitter and it was used as a cooked vegetable served with oil, vinegar and honey. Cucumbers are super nutritious containing Potassium, Magnesium and Vitamins K and C.
Plant
- Cucumber grows best in the Spring and Summer months. In cooler climates position in full sun and with part shade in the warmer climates.
- Space 60-100cm apart.
- Cucumber is a vine and can ramble across the ground or grow up a trellis if you want to save space.
- Plant alongside corn and eggplant.
Grow
- Cucumber likes a moist soil so apply a 3-5cm layer of mulch to lock in moisture and prevent the soil from drying out between waters.
- Water plants regularly and feed with a liquid fertilizer fortnightly. We recommend Seasol.
Harvest
- To avoid harm to the vine, use scissor to cut the cucumber or twist it in one direction until it breaks off.
- Cucumbers take around 8 weeks to reach maturity but can be harvested at any size.
- They're best picked under-ripe than left too long on the vine. Harvesting will also encourage further growth.
Varieties
You may notice some cucumber varieties being called 'burpless' and it does mean what it suggests! These varieties grow cucumbers with thinner skin and less seeds which is less likely to cause burping. There is a huge variety of cucumbers with differing qualities. Here are some common outdoor and compact varieties for container growing we recommend you try.
COMMON
- Long Green Supermarket - Reliable, heavy cropper, cucumbers best picked at 20cm long
- Telegraph Improved - Popular large cucumber variety with smooth skin & sweet taste
- Lebanese - Sweet tasting burpless variety, best picked at 10cm long.
COMPACT
- Long Green Supermarket - Grows well in a large pot in sunny position protected from wind.
- Spacemaster - A compact plant, cucumbers best picked at 10cm long.
- Patio Snacker - Small vine suitable for containers, pick at 20cm long.