Growing Cucumber Plants
On a hot summer day, there’s nothing like the cool crunch of a homegrown cucumber! They can be grown in a variety of ways, from indoor pots to outdoors in the ground, and enjoyed in salads, infused in water or pickled and kept in jars to enjoy.
Top cucumber plant care facts
- Different varieties require different growing methods
- Pinching out encourages bushiness
- Plants should be trained using plant supports such as a vertical cane or trellis
- They require regular watering
- Will benefit from a weekly feeding once the first fruits start to swell
- Requires monitoring for whitefly, mosaic virus and powdery mildew
Where To Grow Cucumber Plants
Indoor varieties of cucumber plants need to be grown under glass. Outdoor varieties need a warm, sunny spot with protection from cold winds.
How To Grow Cucumber Plants
Cucumber plug plants grow well in growing bags, pots or directly in the soil. Train them up a vertical cane or trellis, and with indoor plants, pinch out the tips when they reach the roof. Pinch out side shoot tips as this will encourage more to develop.
Cucumber plants produce fruits with a high water content - therefore, they’re thirsty plants. Water regularly and feed once a week when the first fruits start to swell. With indoor cucumber plants, keep the humidity high by spraying the floor with water.
Your plant will probably produce male and female flowers. The female flowers will have a mini-cucumber behind them, ready to develop, but the males will not, and should be removed to prevent pollination, and as a result, seedy, bitter fruit.
Every couple of weeks, give your cucumbers some high-nitrogen feed.
When To Harvest Cucumber Plants
Harvest regularly from early August onwards as this will encourage the plant to continue cropping. When the fruits are 15-20cm long, cut them from the stem using a sharp knife. Cropping will continue until the end of August. Harvest early in the day, in the cool of the morning. Feel free to just harvest half a cucumber at a time - the plant will harden off the end of the fruit that’s left, and it’ll keep perfectly well on the plant.
How to eat cucumbers
Crisp, raw cucumber is delicious when added to a salad or served as a crudité with a dip. Cucumber sandwiches paint a very English garden picture with hollowed-out cucumber chunks filled with cream cheese or similar,r making a tasty nibble. Alternatively, you could pickle smaller varieties of cucumbers in a jar to create your own gherkins for burgers, sandwich fillings and more.
Cucumber plant nutritional information
Not only are cucumbers fresh-tasting with a lovely, crunchy texture, they’re also low in calorie and very hydrating. Cucumbers are high in antioxidants and will contribute to your daily recommended intake of potassium, fibre and vitamin C.
You may also be interested in Suttons cucumber seeds and other popular vegetable plants. Suttons offer a good range of cucumber plants for sale so there is a cucumber to suit every outdoor space.
