If you are short on gardening space but love the taste of fresh home-grown cucumbers, you need to try growing cucumbers in containers!
Not only is it incredibly simple and easy, it’s also a great way to garden no matter where you live!
Cucumbers In Containers
Cucumbers are actually well-suited for growing in containers. Their relatively small root structure, along with their need for sunlight make them a perfect candidate for growing on sunny porches and patios.
All it takes is a few adequate pots or containers, the right kind of soil, and selecting the right variety for your needs – and big success is sure to follow!
How To Grow Cucumbers In Containers – The Secrets To Success!
Selecting The Right Container
For starters, cucumbers should be grown in containers at least 8 inches in depth, and 12″ in circumference. Large planters with at least 5 gallons of soil capacity work best.
This minimum size allows enough space for roots to have adequate room to develop fully. But even more, it provides enough soil space for plants to retain moisture between watering sessions.
Cucumbers are a high moisture vegetable that need plenty of water to continue growing and producing. Small containers will simply dry out too fast, leading to less growth and production.
Provide Adequate Drainage
In addition to being the right size, containers need to have the ability to drain excess water as well. Cucumber roots that sit it water for extended periods are highly susceptible to rot.
Be sure containers always contain a few holes drilled in the bottom to keep water from piling up.
Choosing The Right Soil
The next step to success is providing your plants with great soil for great growth. Unfortunately, ordinary garden soil does not work well for growing cucumbers in containers.
The soil needs to be light, able to drain well, and full of nutrients. Always begin by using a high quality potting soil with added vermiculite or perlite to aid in drainage.
In addition, add in a few cups of compost and / or worm castings to the potting soil mix prior to planting. This helps to provide plenty of nutrients for strong growth down the road. (See : How To Make Incredible Homemade Potting Soil)
Selecting The Right Cucumber Varieties To Grow
Not all cucumber varieties are the same, and selecting the right variety for growing in containers is another big secret to success.
Small bush-style pickling cucumbers are a great choice. As are smaller vining varieties good for slicing and fresh eating. Affiliate Cucumber Seed Links : Pickling Bush Cucumbe r Seeds – Slicing Spacemaster Cucumber Seeds
Both have growth that is slow and compact. But even better, they each can be supported easily with a small trellis, or allowed to spill down over a container without too much spread.
Fertilizing
Finally, it’s vital to provide plants a boost of fertilizer now and then to keep plants healthy and strong.
Whether it’s growing flowers or vegetables, all container plants benefit greatly from additional fertilizer. Plants grown in containers have a limited supply of nutrients. However, by providing them additional nutrients, it keeps plants strong, healthy and more productive.
The best way to do this is with a light solution of compost tea, worm casting tea, or liquid organic fertilizer. But the key is to apply it every few weeks. This low and slow dose keeps plants on a steady diet of nutrients they most likely have depleted from the soil’s reserves. Product Link : Jobes Organic Fertilizer
And as one final tip for success, be sure to keep your plants well harvested. Picking mature fruits as they ripen will keep a plant producing new blooms, and additional cukes.
Here is to growing a great crop of container cucumbers this year. Whether you happen to have the garden space, or not!
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