Cucumber Seeds
Thoroughly moisten the seed-starting mix, and then fill the containers with it. Firm the mix but don’t compact it. Place seeds into each small container or each cell of a seed starter. Cover the seed with about ¼ inch (0,5 cm) of soil and gently firm it over the seeds. Water to ensure good seed-to-mix contact. You can use a plant mister or just dribble a stream of water over the top. You don’t need to soak the soil, just moisten the top layer. Place the pots in a warm spot. Keep the mix moist but not soaking wet. If your seed-starting system has a greenhouse top, use it to help hold moisture. Check pots daily. As soon as you see sprouts, remove the covering and place the pots in a sunny window. You can transplant the extras into bigger pots or transplant seedlings to the garden. Cucumber plants should be transplanted outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after the last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost and cold damage; Transplant 36 to 60 inches (91 to 152 cm) apart.
An easy-care vegetable that loves sun and water, cucumbers grow quickly as long as they receive consistent watering and warmth. Most varieties will grow in any amount of space, thanks to the plant’s ability to climb. There are two types of cucumber plants: vining cucumbers and bush cucumbers. The most common varieties grow on vigorous vines shaded by large leaves. The growth of these plants is fast, and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly. Bush cucumbers, however, are nicely suited to containers and small gardens. In already-warm summer soil, cucumbers will grow quickly and ripen in about six weeks. Cucumber plants should be seeded or transplanted outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after the last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost and cold damage; the soil must be at least 70ºF (21 °C) for germination. Do not plant outside too soon! To get a head start, sow cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you transplant them in the ground. Sow cucumbers from mid spring into small pots of seed starting or general-purpose potting mix. Sow seeds about an inch (2,5 cm) deep, then water well. Or Place pots a site with full sun. When they get bigger it is time to transplant seedling. So choose a place where they can get warmth and lots of light. Cucumbers require fertile soil – rich, fertile soil, so dig in plenty of well-rotted organic matter such as compost before planting. Mix in compost and/or aged manure before planting to a depth of 2 inches (5 cm) and work into the soil 6 to 8 inches (15 – 20 cm) deep. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy and compacted. Soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline with a pH of around 7.0. The main care requirement for cucumbers is water—consistent watering! They need at least one inch (2,5 cm) of water per week (or more, if temperatures are sky-high). Don’t let cucumbers get too large or they will taste bitter. At peak harvesting time, you should be picking cucumbers every couple of days. Cucumbers are best picked before their seeds become hard and are eaten when immature. Do not let them get yellow. A cucumber is of highest quality when it is uniformly green, firm, and crisp. Cucumbers are over 90 percent water. Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to retain moisture.
