Cucumber Seeds Planting Guide: Tips For A Healthy Harvest

Are you planning to add a vegetable to your kitchen garden? While there might be a range of options available, cucumbers can be one of the best ones. Neither do they require space in your backyard as you can grow them in a container, nor do cucumbers require you to be a seasoned gardener.

So, if you are a beginner and are starting a home garden with limited space, cucumbers will be the best choice. Since they are the perfect pick-me-up vegetables to add to a salad bowl, can used to whip up a quick smoothie, or can even make a bowl of raita extra special, you must go over the below-mentioned tips and plant cucumber seeds in your kitchen garden.

Choosing The Variety

Before directly sowing the cucumber seeds in your kitchen garden, one of the most important steps is ensuring that you are picking the right variety as per the weather conditions. For a typical Indian home garden, some of the common types that are suitable are Pusa Sanyog, Poinsette, and Japanese Long Green.

Also Read: Home Garden Hacks: Veggie Seeds You Can Plant In Autumn

Preparing Soil

Once you have bought the seeds, the next step is to prepare the soil that can aid in the healthy growth of cucumbers. Some of the favourable conditions for cucumbers include loamy and loose soil with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. You should also ensure that the soil or pot has proper drainage to protect the roots from rotting.

Temperature Of Planting

The ideal temperature to plant cucumbers lies from 20°C to 30°C. Thus the best months to grow cucumbers are February to March or June to July. But if you live in a cooler place, you can plant it after checking the weather, but you should make sure that the temperature of the soil is above 18°C. However, avoid planting the vegetables during typical winter months when there are more chances of frosting.

Planting Techniques

For a high germination rate, you can follow some of the best planting techniques, like direct sowing and avoiding transporting the immature plant to another container or space. While sowing, you can space the seeds at least 30-45 cm, giving the vines enough space to grow. Applying a layer of mulch to retain moisture has also helped in a healthy harvest.

Watering And Pest Control

Being a water-rich vegetable, the cucumber plant also requires consistent watering to grow well. However, if water-logging occurs, it can cause the plant to rot and also cause diseases. So, while you ensure proper drainage, it is also important that you protect the plant from pests and manage diseases by spraying organic pesticides like neem oil spray. You can also grow plants like marigolds or basil near cucumbers, which help deter pests naturally.