CUCUMBERS
CULTURE:
Dig a fair amount of organic compost into the soil. The soil should be turned over down to about a spades depth. If you are planting more than one row then rows should be spaced at around 90cm.
Position- Cucumbers need a good amount of sunshine and warmth. They are a HIGH-TUNNEL favorite. Ensure that you have adequate space as Cucumbers can rapidly reach around 6 feet. Where space is limited train the plant against a wall, stake or trellice. They may also spread over the ground if you have the space.
Soil type- A well drained soil is important for cucumbers and so they are often planted in raised beds around 6 inches high. Cucumbers will thrive in a sandy loam soil. Ensure the soil has a good amount of organic matter within it, manure will give the plants the nutrients they require.
Tending- Weed regularly but be careful not to go below a couple of cm’s with your hoe as you may damage the root system which will slow down plant growth. Water the cucumbers well each week if you want them to be juicy and firm! The cucumber fruit itself has a very high water content.
The plant has both male and female flowers and the female flowers give rise to the cucumbers. You can aid pollination and increase the fruit count by using a cotton bud to transfer pollen from the male flowers onto the centre of the female flowers. The female flowers distinguished from the male flowers as the females have a tiny cucumber at their base.
Harvesting- You can harvest the cucumbers when they are a suitable size, this is normally around 50-60 days after planting. The skin should be dark green in colour, do now wait until the cucumbers have turned yellow as this indicates that they are over ripe and their quality of flavour will decline. Twist the cucumbers off the plant or cut the stalk just above the cucumber tip.
Varieties- Pickling varieties tend to grow to around 7-10 cm long and up to 2.5cm wide. Slicing varieties grow bigger (up to around 35cm) but can still be picked for pickling when they are smaller. The Burpless variety is easy to digest and has a good flavour.
Both salad cucumbers and picklers are easy to grow and a must for your garden-
-Sweet Marketmore Cucumber #GHC-1
Remarkable Chinese variety produces quantities of long, curvaceous fruits. Spiny skin protects the delicious, non-bitter flesh. One of the favorites in taste tests. Almost seedless, the fruits are burpless,crisp, and tender.-Suyo Long Cucumber #GHC-2
45 days. 10-16 in. Remarkable Chinese variety produces quantities of long, curvaceous fruits. Spiny skin protects the delicious, non-bitter flesh. Always one of the favorites in our taste tests. Almost seedless, the fruits are burpless, crisp, and tender.
-Lemon Cucumber #GHC-3
67 days- 7 foot vines are covered with crunchy round yellow cucumbers. Best harvested at 1 1/2 “ for pickling, 2” for salad. Excellent never bitter old fashioned cucumber flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Heavy Water, Partial Shade.
-Straight Eight Cucumber #GHC-4
-52-75 days. Oldtime favorite with a vigorous vine, male and female flowers on same plant, Smooth, dark green skin. 8 inch fruits with blunt ends. Bred by Ferry Morse in 1935- Hybrid. Heavy water, sun.