In densely populated urban neighborhoods, outdoor space is limited. For many, the balcony becomes a small green oasis and kitchen garden at the same time. Luckily, there are a number of vegetables that thrive in raised beds. This also includes the cucumber. In today's post we will explain to you how you can plant cucumbers on the balcony.
This is how the cucumbers thrive on the balcony
A raised bed approx. 40 cm wide, climbing aid and regular care: This is what the cucumbers on the balcony need for a rich harvest. In principle, the vegetable is undemanding as long as the basic conditions suit it. They don't take up much space as long as the soil is loose and nutrient-rich. The planting distance in the raised bed can vary depending on the variety, but in principle you should plant most small species at a distance of 40 cm.
Prefer cucumbers and plant them in raised beds – instructions
By the way, all types of cucumbers have one thing in common: they prefer sunny and wind-protected places. Basically, young plants come into the raised bed from mid-April. But you can grow the cucumbers in the greenhouse on the balcony at the beginning of April. Proceed as follows:
- Mix up nutrient-rich foodsSoil with compost. Add some sand to improve permeability. Fill the substrate into pre-growing containers.
- Press the seeds into the soil with your finger (they should be about 2 cm below the soil). They will germinate in a week.
- You can plant the young plants in the raised bed after three weeks, as long as the temperatures outside are at least 18 degrees Celsius.
- Place the cucumbers as close as possible to the edge of the raised bed; they will then not climb up, but will protrude over the edge.
- Place the raised bed in a sunny spot on the balcony.
How to care for cucumbers on the balcony: watering and fertilizing
1. Water the young plants from above until the water begins to flow through the drainage holes. Never let the soil dry out; it should always be slightly moist.
2. Provide the cucumbers with the necessary nutrients - with regular watering, the nutrients are gradually washed away with the water. However, the vegetable is one of the so-called heavy feeders and therefore needs regular fertilization. Cucumbers grow quickly if you make your own fertilizer from banana peels. Put the chopped peel of a banana in 1 liter of water, close the container airtight and let it soak for 5 to 7 days. The fertilizer lasts for 6 months when sealed airtight, once opened it must be within 4 days. Then you can water the plants with it a week after the end of the flowering period and then a second time - three weeks later. In addition, you can supply the plants with nettle manure once a week.
Harvest the cucumbers about 60 days after planting by cutting off the fruit.
These types of cucumbers are perfect for raised beds
You don't have to limit yourself to a certain type, but you can experiment. For example with:
- Snack cucumbers (Cucumbus sativa) have a long harvest season - from the end of May to the beginning of September. The plants grow to an average height of 1.5 meters. If you want to extend the harvest time, then you canCucumbers in a greenhouseprefer. The Corentine variety is particularly popular - it is very aromatic and crunchy and is perfect for salads as well as for pickling. The fruits are also very disease resistant.
- Mini cucumbers are also very aromatic and there are varieties that also look very attractive (the Mexican mini cucumber looks like a small watermelon). They are also perfect for marinating.
- By the way, there are also mini snake cucumbers. In contrast to the other types of cucumbers, they are compact annual plants that do not require climbing support. The “MiniLongi” variety has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years.
Cucumbers are one of the Germans' favorite vegetables. Fortunately, they thrive easily both in the bed in the kitchen garden and in the raised bed on the balcony. As long as the location suits them - a sheltered and sunny place on the balcony is best - they bloom profusely and produce plenty of fruit.
