Tips for Growing Cucumbers

Growing cucumbers can be a rewarding experience for the home gardener. With the right soil, moisture and light conditions, you can easily have a plentiful crop of these delicious vegetables. Here are some tips for growing cucumbers:

1. Start your cucumber plants indoors at least 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. If planting outside, wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed up to at least 70°F. 

2. Plant your cucumber seeds in mounds or rows spaced 1-2 feet apart and cover with 1 inch of soil. Thin to 12-15 inches apart when they reach 3-4 inches tall. 

3. Provide your cucumber plants with full sun exposure for at least 6 hours a day for optimum growth and yield. 

4. Soil should be fertile, well drained and slightly acidic (6-7 pH). If planting outdoors, apply mulch around the plants to retain moisture in the soil and keep weeds down. 

5. Water regularly and deeply – keep soil moist but not soggy throughout the growing season – typically 1 per week during dry spells is enough but check frequently during hot weather to ensure sufficient water is being delivered to the roots. 

6. Fertilize your plants every 3-4 weeks using an all-purpose liquid fertilizer applied according to label directions – avoid over fertilizing as this may produce large foliage but reduce yields of fruits! 

7. For additional support while they grow, tie vines loosely onto stakes or build a trellis that can be attached to fences or other structures in your yard - this will help reduce diseases from having contact with wet soil on the ground below them which is often times a cause of disease in cucumber crops! 

8. Once fruit sets begin picking regularly as this encourages more production - you want fruits when they’re young, firm and dark green (this is usually when they’re 6–8 long). Remove any fruits that show signs of disease immediately so as not spread infection further within your crop! 

With these tips, you're sure to have success with growing cucumbers this season!