Cucumbers are a versatile vegetable and a staple in our garden every year. They can be enjoyed fresh out of the garden, in salads or on sandwiches and of course, made into pickles and relishes. Let’s go through the steps and some considerations to ensure a bountiful cucumber harvest!

Choosing the right variety

Cucumbers fall into two main categories: slicing and pickling. Slicers have thicker skin and are larger in size while pickling cucumbers are smaller with thinner skin. Consider what you plan to do with your harvest, do you want them for fresh eating or for canning? While you technically can make pickles with slicing cucumbers, typically by slicing them into spears or coins, they do not hold up as well as pickling cucumbers.

Starting Seeds

Seeds can be started indoors if you’d like a jump start on the growing season but most growing seasons are long enough to handle direct sowing after the danger of the last frost has passed. If starting indoors, sow them 3 weeks before the last frost. If direct sowing, I typically wait 1-2 weeks after the predicted last frost date as they will have a hard time surviving a frost without frost cover.

Whether you are planting indoors or out, sow the seeds 1 inch deep with the more narrow end pointed up. Cover and give them a good watering.

Trellis

Cucumbers are a vining plant that can be trained to climb up a trellis. When selecting your trellis, make sure it is sturdy enough to handle the weight of the plant when it is filled with several cucumbers. They typically adhere to the trellis on their own but you can help them out if they aren’t finding it. Gently wrap the vine along the bottom of the trellis and they should take it from there. Because they can grow vertically, they only need about a foot of space. 

Planting

Like most vegetables, they like well-draining soil. You can add organic matter to the soil if it is too compact. The ideal pH is between 6.0 and 7.0. See my post on Amending pH if your soil is too acidic or alkaline.

Because they can grow vertically, they only need about 1-2 feet of space between plants. If growing in rows, space them 2-3 feet apart.

Care

Cucumbers are considered heavy feeders that take up a lot of nutrients from the soil. I suggest using an organic fertilizer once a month. They especially seem to thrive from compost tea in my experience. 

They need 1 inch of water per week at the base of the plant. If you have an especially hot week, check the soil with the fingertip test. Push your finger one inch into the soil, if it is dry give it another water. Watering in the morning is always ideal. 

Pests and Disease

There are several pests to watch out for with cucumber plants. I always suggest you start with prevention techniques first such as companion planting that can help deter pests such as Dill or Marigolds. 

Cutworms: These are one of the first potential pests you may run into as they typically attack young seedlings. They can be controlled by sprinkling DE around the base of the plant or making a physical barrier out of foil. 

Aphids: You can spot aphid damage by checking the leaves for yellowing or other discoloration. They can be treated with Neen Oil.

Cucumber beetles: These beetles munch on the leaves, leaving holes behind. These are a bit more difficult to deal with, I suggest covering them with insect netting. I have seen sticky tape used but you risk catching beneficial insects or pollinators. 

The leaves of cucumber plants are prone to fungal diseases. To prevent this, avoid watering overhead and water directly at the base of the plant. Also, keep the plant trimmed off any dead leaves for good airflow. You can use an organic fungicide to treat fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. 

Harvest

Most cucumbers mature between 50 and 65 days. The more consistently you prune, the more harvest you will have! Keep a close eye because once they begin to develop, they grow very quickly! If they get too big, while technically still edible, they are not nearly as enjoyable. Check the back of your seed packets or the seed catalog to see what is the ideal size for that particular variety. 

Storage and Preservation

Cucumbers can last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks if kept whole but just a few days if cut. You can keep them at room temperature as well and they will last about 1 week.

Preservation Methods

• Canning
• Freezing (prepared relishes or pickles)
• Fermenting