How to Grow Cucumbers Indoors in Containers?
Let Grow Cucumbers Indoors
Latin Name: Cucumis sativus
| Plant Type: | Vegetables |
|---|---|
| Description: |
Many types of cucumbers, either for pickling or slicing, have gained popularity in home gardens over the years. The main consideration for cucumbers is real estate, as they require substantial amounts of space to thrive. Those working in smaller spaces should consider training vines onto vertical structures to increase the growing surface of the garden. They can also be grown in containers, a good option for residential farmers The cucumber ranges in size from the small gherkin type to the long, thin, slicing variety. There are also yellow and fruited varieties. A gardener has a great number of options when selecting what type of cucumbers to include in the vegetable patch. Cucumbers are a subtropical crop, requiring long warm days, plenty of sunshine, and balmy nights. Many new cultivars have been bred to produce shorter growing seasons, making them ideal for cooler climates. Cucumbers thrive best at relatively high temperatures, 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature range. The plants will die in frost conditions. Since it can grow quickly, it must be well supplied with moisture and plant nutrient elements throughout the growing season. Cucumbers can flourish successfully in many types of soils. The preferred soil is loose, sufficiently drained, and adequately supplied with organic matter and plant nutrients. Work in organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost before planting. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0. Lime and fertilizers are best applied using soil test results as a guide. Over-fertilization interferes with the production of the fruit. |
| Uses: | Culinary, Specimen |
| Foliage: | Yes |
| Flowering: | Yes |
| Fragrant: | No |
| Lighting Needs: | Full sun |
| Soil Type: | Mildly acidic, Neutral |
| Flower Color: | Yellow |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3 to 10 |
| Height: | 18-24 |
| Width: | 9-12 |
The methods and principles for growing cucumbers indoors are very similar to that of many indoor plants.
There are certain requirements that you should follow if you want to get the most out of your efforts.
The cucumber is thought to originate from Eastern Africa/Asia and has been grown indoors by people, it is thought, as far back as the ancient Egyptians.
Gardening Basics to Get Started Growing Cucumbers indoors in your Home
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Choosing & Planting the seeds
What you need to know about which seeds you should pick for the best crop. As with most indoor vegetables and fruit, it is very important to choose a variety that suits your growing environment as well as the conditions you can provide in order to get the best of the seeds that you plant. With cucumbers that is no different.
Most varieties of cucumber plants grow to several feet in height. They also produce crawling vines that hoist the plant up and out (usually these are trained around a trellis). They are also notorious for sending huge tap roots down into the soil below them. For the indoor gardener, there are varieties of cucumbers that are much more suited to space typically provided by the average home.
For an indoor cucumber plant, you should choose a bush variety which is way more compact than the standard variety. They also require less soil and can still bear cucumbers of normal size. You can plant these in a 7-inch pot. Just sprinkle some seeds over loosened soil and then cover them with another inch just to make sure they are covered. Cucumber plants usually germinate within 10 days provided they have the right conditions and ‘should’ take around 60 days to fully mature.
You should aim to grow AT LEAST 2 plants for pollination purposes.
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Light & Temperature
How to provide the correct environment for your plants to ensure growth.
In the early stages of growth, if you can provide continuous light for the plants then do so as this will provide stimulation. If this is not possible, then provide light for as long as possible for a similar effect.
Tip to growing cucumbers –
You can also provide high temperatures of around 25-30 degrees Celsius for a further boost in growth. However, this is not completely necessary! In the latter stages, especially when fruiting, the plants will need consistent, strong light for 8 hours a day, which must need to be supplemented by a grow light if natural light will not suffice.
Note – With Cucumbers plants, it is still possible to grow the fruit in less than optimum conditions, however, you will find that the production of the plant is greatly reduced. E.g., You can also compensate for low lighting with longer periods of lighting around 16 hours.
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Watering
-Watering techniques specifically for cucumbers. – Cucumbers are very thirsty plants and will require large amounts of water especially when they begin to fruit. – Keep the soil completely moist at all times so that the plant can constantly draw water for the fruit, etc.
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Feeding & Nutrition
How to make sure that your plants get all the nutrients that they need in order to survive and produce juicy fruits! Cucumber plants will require feeding with a Nitrogen-based plant food dissolved in water. Two feedings should carry the plant through to maturity.
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Pollination
How to ensure that your plants are productive in their indoor environment.
Cucumber plants produce both male and female flowers. Male flowers outnumber female flowers which can be identified by the tiny cucumbers growing behind the flower.
To pollinate your plant/s, pollen must be transferred from the male flowers to the female flowers. To do this clip a male flower off the plant and peel back the petals to use the flower as a brush. Ideally, you should use males and females from alternative plants for the best results.
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Harvesting
How to collect your fruit safely and how to maximize crop growth for the future. Once the cucumbers reach a desirable size, pick the fruit by cutting the stem with hand shears roughly an inch or so from the end of the fruit. You should remove any fruit that shows signs of yellowing as this can cause the entire plant to stop growth and production.
