How to Grow Cucumbers
Tips & Advice.
Cucumbers are notoriously difficult to cultivate from seed. With our professionally grown plants, you’ll be able to easily grow your own fresh, crisp cucumbers.
Greenhouse cucumbers are parthenocarpic, that is they produce fruit without fertilisation of the flowers. We supply a range of different cucumbers to fit all tastes and growing spaces!
Transplant your biogradeable pots on the day you receive them if you can. Use a good quality , free draining multipurpose compost. You can plant them straight in the supplied pots - so as not to case any root damage.
Just as with tomato plants, you can grow cucumbers up canes in a grow bag. Make sure they get enough compost for their roots by using grow pots in the grow bag ... or big pots (about 9”) with the bases cut away and planted into the bag. This makes them easier to water and feed ... and you’ll get healthy growth from your cucumber plants if you can keep them constantly watered and feed when the first fruits start to appear.
Plant Care
Watering and feeding should be carried out on a ‘little and often’ basis according to the requirement of the crop. However do avoid letting the plants run dry. This doesn’t mean you can drown your plants once a week and leave your plants standing in water and think you’ve down a good job! What you’ll need to do is ensure the soil your plants are growing in remains moist but not water-logged at all times – don’t water the plants rather water the soil or compost surrounding the plants – this will encourage the shallow roots to grow strongly. If possible, try to maintain the green house temperature around16 degrees Celsius , and avoid cold draughts as cucumbers are susceptible. Apply coolglass to protect the fruit from the glare of the midsummer sun.
Pests & Diseases to look out for
A whole host of pests and diseases can attack Cucumbers under glass, but not many are likely to trouble you. Whitefly, aphid and red spder mite will usually appear, and so will powdery mildew if the compost is dry and the air is moist. Keeping the compost too wet leads to root rot or botrytis. Monitor the pest population in the greenhouse using sticky traps.
Harvesting
Cut (do not pull) when the fruit has reached a reasonable size and the sides are parallel. Use secateurs or a sharp knife. Pick regularly – cropping will cease if you allow the fruit to mature and turn yellow on the plant.
Growing your own fruit and vegetables is such a rewarding hobby. When harvested these are great in your everyday salad, as a tasty snack on their own, in sandwiches, drinks ...... your options are never-ending!