If we had to name just one vegetable that screams summer, it's definitely the cucumber. Light, refreshing and very healthy - the crunchy vegetables are a welcome guest on the table and enrich our summer salads and smoothies. Plus, no vegetable garden would really be complete without a few cucumbers - after all, everything you grow tastes so much better, right? Want to grow cucumbers this year but don't know where to start? Then you've come to the right place! So that you can enjoy a generous harvest, we will tell you the most common mistakes when growing cucumbers that you should definitely avoid.
Growing cucumbers: How to do it right
The easiest way for youPlanting kohlrabi, we have already explained to you. And now it's time for the Germans' absolute favorite summer vegetable. Cucumbers (Cucumus sativus) belong to the pumpkin family and are one of the most commonly grown vegetables. Where and how you grow the cucumbers depends primarily on the variety you choose. While cucumbers are usually grown in greenhouses, peeled and pickled cucumbers are ideal for outdoor cultivation. It is best to plant summer vegetables between the end of March and mid-May. You can then put the cucumbers outdoors. And if you don't feel like growing, you can plant the cucumbers outside in mid-May.
Grow and grow cucumbers in the greenhouse or indoors
Before you put the cucumbersplant in the greenhouse, you should first prepare the soil and enrich it with mature compost. Also note that the distance between the planting pits is at least 40 centimeters. Next, soak the pots in water and peel them away from the root ball. Then place the cucumbers in the middle, press lightly and water. You want cucumberswithout a greenhousegrow? Then you can easily grow them in the cold frame or on the windowsill. To do this, fill a few pots with potting soil and, depending on the size of the pot, plant two to three seeds about 2 centimeters deep. Since the plants like it warm and sunny, place the pot in a bright and warm place where the temperature is at least 20 degrees.
Plant outdoors
To ensure a great harvest and to prevent the vegetables from freezing, you should only plant the cucumbers outside after mid-May. Make sure that you plant the plants deep enough in the soil that the cotyledons are covered. If necessary, install trellises and ensure a row spacing of around 1 meter. Here, too, you should first enrich the soil with mature compost and always keep it moist, but not wet.
Cucumbers are among the easiest plants to care for and are therefore ideal for all hobby gardeners. But so that you can enjoy a generous harvest, there are still some mistakes when growing cucumbers that you should definitely avoid.
Don't plant the cucumbers too early
If you want to grow cucumbers, you should definitely pay attention to the right time. Since summer vegetables need a lot of warmth and light, you should only plant them outdoors from mid-May or when the soil has reached a minimum temperature of 15 degrees. The plants also reactvery sensitive to frostand cannot tolerate cold. It is best to plant the young plants in the vegetable bed about 2-3 weeks after the last frost date. To increase the soil temperature and protect the cucumbers, use a black mulch or covering. Alternatively, you can also use small buckets or mason jars to store heat.
Water cucumbers properly
As you know, cucumbers are 90 percent water. It is therefore logical that you have to continuously supply them with water and always keep the soil moist. However, a bit of sensitivity is required here because the plants must not be flooded. In the hope of getting a better harvest, amateur gardeners flood the plants and overwater them. As a rule, the plants require approximately 11-12 liters of water per kilogram of cucumber harvested.
When growing cucumbers, you should remember the following rule of thumb: The daily water requirement for a cucumber plant is between 1.5 and 3 liters. It is best to water the cucumbers in the morning with lukewarm, standing water. If it is really hot outside, water the plants again in the evening. When watering the cucumbers, be sure to only moisten the soil with water, not the leaves.
Neglect the soil
Although this sounds pretty logical, this is actually one of the most common cucumber growing mistakes that most beginners make. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and in order for them to grow well, they need humus-rich and loose soil. A neutral to alkaline soil is considered optimalwith a pH valueof 7.0. You should pay attention to good soil structure, especially in areas with heavy soils. Ideally, you should work some half-rotted horse manure into the soil before planting in the vegetable patch. Alternatively, you can mix some mature compost with some chopped straw. A mulch layer of grass clippings and straw between the cucumbers also keeps the soil moist during the cultivation period.
Growing cucumbers and not keeping the distance
So that the cucumbers grow well and you have a good harvest, you should pay attention to the correct distance when planting. If you want to grow the cucumbers in the greenhouse, then the distance between the rows should be 130 to 170 centimeters and within the row 40 to 55 centimeters. For outdoor use, a plant spacing of 100 x 40 centimeters is considered optimal. To prevent the cucumbers from growing too close to the ground, use trellises.
Harvesting the cucumbers incorrectly
So you've reached the final stage and your cucumbers look super appetizing. Congratulations! But your work doesn't end there, because an incorrect harvest is actually one of the most common mistakes when growing cucumbers. Depending on the variety and sowing, you can harvest the vegetables as early as July. But to avoid injuring the plants, you should never pick them by hand. It is best to cut the cucumbers individually with a sharp knife or secateurs.
