Cucumbers: Overview

Well with summer well underway i'd like give some tips on growing a very popular vegetable:

Cumcumbers!

This deilicious little plant is good for all types of things: juicing, salads, pickling, ect. I'll just go over the basic requirements for cucumbers and a couple tricks and tips for growing them.

Sun

This plant enjoys HOT climate with plenty of sun. You shouldn't plant this plant until the weather is at a steady 70 degrees fareinheight, as this plant is very frost sensitive. To warm the soil you can use black plastic or any type of mulch over the soil if it is still cold outside.

Water

This plant enjoys plenty of water. However overwatering can lead to problems

• Powdery Mildew: This occurs when to much water is applied to the leaves and creates a fungus. This can be combatted by using:
1. Serenade (can be found on the internet)
2. Baking soda formula:
• 4 Level teaspoons or 1 1/3 tablespoons of Baking Soda
  1 teaspoon of Mild Soap (Dawn, Ivory, should be biodegradable with no phosphates)
  1 gallon of Water

• Yellowing leaves: This is the cause of root rot and is a definite sign of overwatering.

To prevent from overwatering or underwatering, when ever you are about to water make sure you check the soil; if it is moist then do not water. Once the soil an inch down is dry then you should water. Mark and take notes too make a watering pattern and schedule.

Soil
Cuncumbers like loose and well drained soil with plenty of organic matter. They are very greedy when it comes to taking alot from the soil so when growing these plants it would be better to use an ORGANIC fertilizer. Notice I said organic, I strongly encourage you to stay away from any commercial fertilizer as it will damage your soil.

Trellis

Now there are two types of cucumbers:

• Bush Cucumbers
• Vining Cucumbers

The vining cucumbers need a trellis of some kind so here is an easy do it your self trellis for cucumbers:

http://www.gardendesk.com/201105/building-a-trellis-for-the-cucumbers.html

Storage

When storing cucumbers it is important NOT to refrigerate them. It is better to keep them in a cool and dark place, because when you refrigerate they are more likely to spoil faster. 

• Here's an article on that: http://www.rootsimple.com/2012/06/dont-store-your-cucumbers-in-the-fridge/

Here are just a couple other ways you can store you cucmbers:

• Pickling Cucumbers (without boiling): http://www.diynatural.com/how-to-pickle-cucumbers/
• Pickiling cucumbers: http://kosherfood.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/pickles.htm

Thanks for reading and Enjoy your cucumbers!