Cucumber is one of the most used vegetables in the kitchen for tasty raitas and salads. It gives an amazing flavor to the sauces. So why don’t we grow this amazing vegetable in containers at your home? Growing cucumbers in containers/pots are quite tricky and rewarding. But for growing Cucumbers in containers need to follow some necessary steps. Cucumbers require warmth, fertile soil with enough moisture conditions.
Cucumbers are from the Cucurbitaceae family, scientifically known as Cucumis Sativus. Cucumber in Indian languages:
Cucumber Names.
Tamil: Vellarikka.
Malayalam: Vellarikka.
Hindi: Khire/ Kheera/ Kakdi.
Bengali: Sasha/Sausha.
Marathi: Sitalchinni.
Telugu: Dosakaya.
Kannada: Sautekaya.
Cucumbers are sprawling vines, climbs high, so you choose a compact variety and make the vine climbers up using threads or wires. Growing Cucumber in containers could be a wise idea to give the plant enough heat and enough moisture, which is necessary for the ideal plant growth.
Choose the best varieties for growing Cucumbers in containers
There are two types of Cucumbers, bush and Vining.
Bushy varieties of Cucumbers are better to grow in the containers than vine varieties. Bushy Cucumbers have smaller yields.
Varieties of Cucumbers in containers: Diva, Lemon Cucumbers, Northern pickling, Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Space Master, Hybrid Bush crop, Baby Bush, Bush pickle, and potluck.
The perfect variety of Cucumber well suited for the container is Arkansas Little leaf.
When you’re growing any size variety, you should provide 12- 18-inch stakes that are required to support and can also help to increase the yield.
A large variety of Cucumber is Patio pike and bush whopper is the best variety to grow in containers.
Select your variety of Cucumber-based days to harvest.
How to choose the container for growing Cucumbers in containers
Cucumber plants need more than 3 gallons of soil to grow properly. Cucumber required enough space to develop properly.
The container you choose should be a minimum of 12 inches in both diameter and depth. Before you choose the container for Cucumber both diameter and depth should be equal.
Containers should have proper drainage holes. Too much water can spoil the roots of the Cucumber. A container with a minimum of two drainage holes is the best choice to maintain the moisture levels for the plants.
Some varieties of Cucumbers like Spacemaster need more than4-gallon soil to grow. So, in that case, you need a large container.
For bush variety Cucumbers like Bush Champion, the containers should be at least 9 inches wide and 15 inches deep.
It’s best to plant one plant per container.
Before planting the Cucumber, you should clean the container properly with soap and water.
Half whisker barrels, bushel baskets, and plastic pots are best to grow Cucumbers.
You should place a fiberglass screen at the bottom of the container to prevent the insects and control soil from washing out.
Potting mix for growing Cucumbers in containers
You should use high-quality potting soil that keeps your plants healthy and maintains moisture levels.
Ordinary gardening soils do not drain well, so choose potting mixes available in the markets.
Add some good fertilizers to your potting mix for the healthy growth of plants. Use a fertilizer that has a good proportion of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. The fertilizer with a 5-10-2 proportion of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium will strengthen the growth of plants gives good yields.
Cucumbers grow well in temperatures around 20 Degree Celsius to 35 Degree Celsius temperature.
So, the soil temperature should be 20 Degrees Celsius.
Sun Light: Cucumber plants need 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight.
Read this: Growing Radish in Containers.
Steps for planting / growing Cucumbers in containers
The ideal time to grow Cucumbers in contains is 20 to 22 degrees celsius. So, the best time to plant is early July and the harvesting period will be September.
Before adding potting mix in the containers, set up the stakes at the bottom of the containers.
Fill the container with the potting mix, do not make it too compact. Soil should be filled loosely, so the roots can grow freely.
Leave 1 to 2 inches of space between the surface of the soil and the mouth of the container.
Now make ½ inch hole in the soil, and sow 4 to eight seeds. And cover the holes with potting mix.
When the seedling has two sets of leaves, then choose two or three of the strongest plants and pinch off the other at the ground level.
After sowing seeds, water the seeds. Now spread the coconut moss or mulch over the soil. This thin layer protects the soil from drying out.
After sowing place, the container for six to eight hours in sunlight.
Growing cucumbers in containers by transplantation
Fill the container with potting mix, rake the top of the raised bed flat.
Now transplant the Cucumber seedlings that are four to five weeks old. The seedling should have at least two to four leaves.
Dig holes deeper than the peat pots containing the Cucumber seedlings. Now transplant the seedling properly. Then cover the holes with soil loosely.
Now water the bed regularly checking the moisture levels of the soils.
Watering for growing cucumbers in containers
Cucumber plants need good moisture. For good growth of the plant, you should water consistently.
You should keep the soil moist without drying out.
You check the moisture levels in the soil by popping fingers into the soil regularly. Water the plants as per the moisture levels.
Morning is the best time for watering the Cucumber plants.
Protect your plants from the heavy winds. Strong winds can damage the plants.
Use Trellis for better growth in growing cucumbers in containers
Vining variety Cucumber plants require lots of growing space. In containers, you should train vertically using a fence or a trellis.
Growing plants on a trellis can give the leaves more exposure to the sun.
For trellis, you use iron wires, plastic wires, or supporting bamboo sticks that are more flexible.
Place the containers with trellis protected from heavy winds. Heavy winds spoil the vines and even the fence.
Pests and diseases in growing Cucumbers in containers
Cucumbers are less prone to pests and diseases. Some rare diseases that you may face are:
Sometimes you may observe powdery mildew, a white powder on the leaf. You can observe when the climate is more humid, and plants don’t get good air. You prevent this problem by keeping the containers where you get more fresh air. And remove the affected leaves.
Beetles and squash bugs are other common problems you face with Cucumber plants. For these use insecticidal soap sprays. And remove the leaves that are affected by these insects.
Aphids, pickle worms, mites can also affect the plant. Use Neem oil to kill these insects.
A Cucumber plant Caring Tips for Growing Cucumbers in containers
Cucumber containers should be placed in areas where you can get full sunlight.
You should not allow the soil to dry, Cucumber grown in this condition will have a bitter taste.
You can use a drip irrigation system with automatic controls is recommended to keep the container moist.
You should feed your plants with water-soluble fertilizers with a composition of 20-20-20 or 14-14-14.
In the case of pests, use only horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps.
Harvesting Cucumbers in container growing
You should harvest the Cucumbers when they are about ½ inch.
Many varieties of Cucumbers are ready to harvest within 55 to 77 days.
If the Cucumber overripe they get a bitter taste. So, harvest them before they ripen.
Some varieties can be picked when they are small and some have great taste.
For the harvest size of the Cucumber, you can check the seed packet to find out the optimal size.
For harvesting, the Cucumbers use a garden clipper or scissors. If you pull hard with hand vines of the plants can be damaged.
Harvest often, the more you harvest the more you will have.
In case if you are interested in this: Hydroponic Nutrient Chart.
