All it takes is a few adequate pots or containers, the right kind of soil, and selecting the right variety for your needs – and big success is sure to follow! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 417,744 times. ", "I think this helped quite a bit! Use well-draining, nutritional soil and keep it moist throughout the growing season to help your potted cucumber plant grow. Also, snipping smaller leaves. Make the trellis 3 to 4 feet at least, as vine cucumbers like to spread out a lot. It's just enough, but doesn't get you bored. According to Harvest to Table, cucumbers thrive in temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with an ideal temperature at 70 degrees. A little wind is fine, but strong wind can be damaging. And feel free to think beyond the typical round flower pot; half barrels, plastic-lined bushel baskets, and window boxes can work just as well. Make sure you choose a container large enough to hold the variety you are planting. And planting them nearby can have devastating effects on your cucumber crop. How to Plant Cucumbers in Containers Transplanting The Cucumber Seedlings Into The Vegetable Garden Now that I have all my cucumber seedlings I am ready to transplant them in the vegetable garden. "First time planting cucumbers. The first thing to do before transplanting the seedlings is to make sure the bed is prepared by loosening the soil and amending the soil with compost. Be mindful of any pesticides you spray your cucumbers with. There are certain types of cucumber seeds that only grow to pickling size. Add an all-purpose, slow-releasing fertilizer to your potting soil when planting your cucumbers. If you use a trellis, they're are less likely to curve. The ones that I used are 5 gallons size. Cucumbers have fairly large seeds so sow them 1/2 to 1” deep. One thing to avoid for sure is growing cucumbers near potatoes. Choose a bush variety of cucumber for containers. Earth boxes and plastic black pots retain heat and will reach the required temperature faster. m and beyond the distance between the holes. Cucumbers can be tricky to grow in pots since they require a lot of vertical space. The numbers on a bag of fertilizer indicate how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the fertilizer contains, respectively. Choosing Started Cukes Growing pickling cucumber plants is just like growing other types of cucumber. Choose an organic fertilizer for an environmentally safe alternative. The cucumber seedlings which I transplanted can be seen in the picture below. Can the cucumber seeds be started in a pot and then be transferred to the ground? Press the bit lightly into the tape, and turn the drill on at a slow speed. The measure scoop that I used is the red one in the picture below. ", "Lots of great information. If yours haven't sprouted after a week and a half, you may have old seeds that won't germinate. Varieties that are well-suited for container growing include the Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck. Soak the pots to soften the peat. With pests like cucumber beetles, you can simply pick them off by hand using gloves covered in petroleum jelly. Placing your pot near the side of your house or by a fence can minimize potential wind damage. Also, all the pictures are very useful. Always check label warnings before applying a chemical to your plant. ", "I followed step by step and we have our first baby cucumbers now! This is generally about two weeks past the last frost. Dig in up to two bucketfuls of rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, and rake in 100g per square metre (3½oz per square yard) of general purpose fertiliser. Cucumbers, pickling or otherwise, are prodigious producers. To learn how to care for your cucumbers after the seedlings sprout, scroll down! The legs of the stake should touch the bottom of the pot. % of people told us that this article helped them. Either sow seeds or plant out young plants in early June, ideally under fleece or cloches. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Place the stake in the pot with the stakes spread out on the inside. Typically, it's due to gravity, as the weight of the cucumber rests on the ground. A 14-14-14 fertilizer, on the other hand, keeps the health of your plant balanced, making it safer to give your cucumbers the slightly higher concentration. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. "As this was the first time that I have grown cucumbers, I needed all the help I could get. Support wikiHow by Love how it has pictures, since I'm a visual learner, allowing me better, "I did not know I should hand-pollinate the cucumber. In this section I will regularly add pictures with the different stages of the cucumber plants throughout the season. The cucumbers should not be planted in the pots until the temperature of the soil is a minimum of 70°F. Please subscribe and you will receive as a bonus a free version of my gardening software. Wait until the weather is consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Repeat for at least 1 other hole. I planted a few of them in 3 pots (2 seedlings in each one) and the remaining ones in the ground. You should see the seeds germinating in … Check the stake. Like their relatives, cucumbers are heavy feeders—they require warmth, fertile soil and consistent moisture. This how-to was perfect, "This was very helpful. If you are growing cucumbers indoors, make sure they are in a sunny room where they get plenty of light. Apply 1 tablespoon per pot at planting, and again when you see the first true leaves on your cucumbers. Thank you!! I had no idea that they could be grown in pots. First I filled the pots with potting mix and I made a hole in the middle. Because it'll be the weaker one. Slowly and steadily apply light pressure to the taped area until the drill goes through the pot. Cucumbers need temperatures of at least 68ºF (20ºC) to germinate, so either place pots in a propagator for speedier germination, or simply wait until late spring to get started. Plus, make sure you use the organic potting containers that you can plant directly into the ground, as seedlings don't like be handled. Last year’s plants already took most of the nutrients from the soil, so it needed to be enriched. "I didn't know I needed to fertilize weekly, so now I'm off to the store. On the seed packet, check to see if that cucumber variety does well in plant containers. unlocking this expert answer. In general, bush varieties are easier to grow in pots than vine varieties, which need a trellis to climb and spread out on. Thanks for such a helpful post! Find potting soil mixes and the ingredients for potting soil at your local garden store. Select a site with full sun at least for 6 hours. Sow cucumbers from mid spring into small pots of seed starting or general-purpose potting mix. This article has been viewed 417,744 times. ", "Followed this and the step by step worked beautifully! Cucumber need be harvested when they are still young because they tend to be sweeter. If your pot doesn't have drainage holes, use a drill to make holes. They prefer a soil pH of 5.5, well-drained soil, and lots of nitrogen. If you don't have a sunny corner, you can buy a grow light instead. The quantities that I used are half of my scoop of starter fertilizer, half scoop of eggshells and a quarter scoop of epsom salt. Cucumbers can easily be grown in containers and pots on porches, patios, or any sunny location. By using our site, you agree to our. After cucumbers show true leaves, apply water-soluble, low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer weekly. Cover plants early with row covers, but once flowers for you must remove for pollinators. Picking a variety suited to a container will give you a higher chance of success. The ones that I used are 5 gallons size. Use garden shears or scissors to snip the extra seedlings off at the soil. To thrive, cucumbers require a warm temperature, ideally between 70°F and 95°F. Water your seeds immediately and place the pot in a bright, sunny spot while you wait for them to sprout. Firstly, I made my own potting mix using 3 buckets of wood chips, one bucket of peat moss, one bucket of steer manure, half bucket of perlite and the old soil from 4 pots. ", Here's hoping my child will be picking cucumbers in a few months. How can I get a mass production of cucumbers if I prune the entire bush? Use a fine sprayer so you don't stir up the seeds. I'm more anxious now to get my dirt prepared and my little garden started. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. These collars provide warmth and wind protection. If it still moves around a lot, pack more potting mix in the pot to stabilize the stake. Most cucumbers are ready to harvest 55 to 70 days after planting. A staking system encourages the cucumber to climb along it from the start. Pickling cucumbers should be ready to harvest between 50-65 days from planting and can be picked over the course of a several weeks. Yes, just don't forget to harden your plant first, though (prepare it for outdoor conditions) if it has been indoors. When growing cucumbers in greenhouses or greenhouses, they monitor how many seeds to plant per 1 sq. Vining or large types of cucumbers will require more space than dwarf or shrub varieties. Alternatively, use a potting soil that already has fertilizer mixed in. Better to pick these types of Planting pots for your cucumber … To make an anti-mildew spray, try mixing 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of baking soda into 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. To learn how to care for your cucumbers after the seedlings sprout, scroll down! If you want to start your cucumbers earlier in the season, start them in an organic plantable pot indoors first, and then move them outside once it gets warmer. All of it was very insightful. In today’s post I will explain how to transplant cucumbers in pots. To grow cucumbers in pots, start by getting a pot that has drainage holes and is at least 10 inches wide. If your area is especially dry or hot, you may need to water twice a day. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ", "All the advice was helpful, in particular how to support the plant. Pinch … With a small trellis or tomato cage for support, you can easily grow lots of delicious cucumbers in containers. Plant your cucumber plants from seed, rather than purchasing seedlings. Alternatively, you can transplant the seedlings into hanging pots or in growing bags. If you don't have a place on ground in sun, then you can grow cucumber in a large pot. Cucumbers need full sun to grow well. Many chemical pesticides can be harmful if consumed, and ideally, you or someone else will consume the cucumbers from your plant. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? This article received 23 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Not all cucumbers grow well in containers. If it's wobbly, adjust the legs so that they're even. Can I use rosemary stems to make a homemade trellis? Place the pots in a propagator or seal them inside a plastic bag at a … It will retain moisture more effectively. ", "This entire article was helpful and answered all my questions. It tasted sweeter than shop-bought. Place it above the plant, and keep it on at least 6 hours a day. Each element nourishes a different part of the plant. Is this a good plan? Planting cucumbers in a container conserves garden space, while still providing you with a good growing environment for the fruit. ", "Very helpful advice. Can I grow a cucumber for a school experiment in 2 kg of soil? Mix soil with equal parts of compost, potting soil, perlite and peat moss. Mulch tomato plant leaves extremely fine and soak them in water for a day. Cucumber seedlings don't like being taken out of a container or handled. Cucumber beetles will attack plants and spread wilt. ", place the seeds in the ground. They come in different sizes and colors--from tiny baby cucumbers to round lemon cucumbers. At the same time, we add a complete organic fertilizer every three weeks to help the vigor, the vegetative growth of the plants, the flowering and the production of cucumber fruits. for me. Adding mulch around your plant will help it retain more water. I placed one of them in the hole and covered it with soil. Cucumbers need large pots with p… Transplanting Your Cuke Seedlings. ", "Gave some good tips. ", with too much information on one thing. Cucumbers are a great vegetable for beginning gardeners to grow in containers. Do not use garden soil, which may be contaminated by bacteria and pests. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Initially, before transplanting the cucumber, we incorporate organic matter into the planting sites in the form of compost and well-digested manure. Cucumbers are tropical plants so don’t even think about planting them until the soil temperature is at least 21 degrees. Also, I thought a hill had to be made to, "I like this because it's nice and detailed but not too much reading. Check the pot throughout the day to get a feeling for how heavy or light the pot gets when you water. Thanks! Your email address will not be published. If you grow cucumbers indoors, be very careful when transplanting the seedlings. The seeds need heat to germinate – at least 20°C – so place pots in a greenhouse, heated propagator or on a sunny windowsill for the best results. You want to keep the strongest one, as it'll stand a better chance of thriving. Then, fill the pot with potting soil made specifically for vegetables and insert stakes into the soil so your cucumbers have something to grow on. Gently squeeze each pot, loosening up the compact soil and roots of the starts. The compost or rotted manure will get plants off to a good start, or blend in granules of a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. The heavier the pot, the more saturated the soil is with water. I now know what to do. Thanks for this information. Place painter's tape over the bottom of the pot where you want to drill holes. If you have a larger planter, place the holes evenly around the edge of a circular planter or evenly across a rectangular planter, depending on the size and shape. To make sure the seedlings receive enough light after germination, place them under shop lights with one warm and one cool bulb. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Covered all the basics. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. If you're using a seedling, fill in the hole around the container, and pat it down from the top. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Choosing seedlings with organic containers, such as coco coir or peat, allows you to plant them in the soil, container and all, without handling the seedlings too much. Cucumbers develop quickly, so they only need three to four weeks from seed to transplant. Thank you! Some varieties for containers include suyo, salad bush, Liberty, Sweet Success, Bush Slicer and more. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Allow the seedlings to continue growing in this container or transplant them once more if … Eventually, the leaves will turn yellow and die. Thanks. You can even use a rectangular planter box if you add a trellis for the cucumbers to grow on. Cucumber seeds will usually sprout 3 to 10 days after being planted. 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