How To Grow English Cucumbers

How To Grow English Cucumbers

English Cucumbers are a warm weather crop that is easy to grow.

They are a member of the cucurbitacea family which also includes melons, pumpkins and squash. English cucumbers were bred to have a thinner smooth skin with less seeds, which make it perfect for eating fresh.

Starting Seeds Indoors

To get an early start on the season you can start English Cucumber seeds as early as 3 weeks before your last frost.

Start your seeds in planting trays, planting two seeds per cell at a depth of a 1/2 inch. Water well, cover and place under lights or set the tray in a warm spot in the house. Seeds should begin to germinate in 8 – 10 days.

Once sprouted remove the lid and keep the tray in a warm sunny location. Keep an eye on the soil and do not allow it to dry out, water as needed.

The transplants should not be moved outdoors until the soil is warm and all chances of frost have passed.

Sprouted cucumber seeds

Hardening Off The Transplants

Any plants that are started early in the season indoors need a period of hardening off before being transplanted to the garden.

To harden off indoor started cucumbers place the plants outdoors in a semi shaded and wind protected area. Leave them outside for a few hours, extending their time outside an extra hour everyday. At the end of the second week, weather permitting and if all chances of frost gone they can be safely planted outdoors.

If you have a cold frame, place the transplants in the frame until it is warm enough to move into the garden.

Cucumber seedling in the garden

Planting Outdoors

Cucumbers do best in full sun so select a spot where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. English cucumbers can be grown in raised beds as well as in traditional in  ground gardens.

Work the soil well adding amendments like peat moss, compost and sand if the soil is compact. Sand loosens the soil and creates better drainage. Compost helps feed the plants through the early part of the season. Cucumber seeds germinate best when the soil is warm, do not plant too early in the season.

Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep spacing them  6 – 8 inches apart with rows 24 inches apart.

For transplants gently remove the seedling from the planting cell being careful to not disturb the roots. Set them into the ground leaving 6 – 8 inches of spacing between plants.

Growing Cucumbers In Containers

Cucumbers can be grown in containers but there are a few things to keep in mind for success.

Container size is very important. You should use a large planter that is minimum 24 inches deep and 20 inches in diameter. Make sure it has sufficient drainage holes.

Use a lightweight garden soil with added pearlite or peat moss. Do not use soil from your garden, it will become compact and the plants will not be healthy and growth will stall.

Trellising the plants should be considered to avoid the vines from becoming tangled. Put the supports in place before planting seeds or transplants.

And most important is keeping the plants watered well to avoid them from drying out. If you are planning to be away for large parts of the summer, it might not be advisable to grow in containers. Check the soil moisture daily, in hot weather you will need to water more often.

supporting growing cucumbers

 Supporting Your English Cucumbers

English Cucumbers do best when allowed to grow vertically. If left to grow on the ground the cucumbers will become misshapen and risk rotting on the soil.

Fencing can be made using chicken wire or garden netting and landscape pegs.

For a chicken wire or netting trellis, place the fencing material a half inch away from the row where the cucumbers will be planted. Support the fencing with meter long landscaping pegs. As the vines grow you can assist them by guiding them towards the fence.

No chicken wire or netting, no problem. Use any sort of structure that the tendrils of the plants can cling to and climb on. Long twigs, old lattice or even bamboo poles will work.

flowering cucumbers in the garden

 How To Care For English Cucumbers

English Cucumbers have a very shallow root system take care when weeding near the plants to not disturb the roots. If you practice mulching mulch the plants as soon as they are an inch tall. This helps retain moisture and slows down weed growth.

Throughout the season assist any plants onto the supports by gently weaving the leaves and stems through the support. Extra support for the vines is required once the plants start to grow cucumbers.

Support Those Vines

There are a few options when it comes to supporting vines. There are clips that are specifically designed to be used in the garden. They also make rolls of green twist tie or velcro which is designed to be used as support in the garden that works well.

They are available in garden centers though recently most dollar stores now have beautifully stocked garden supply rows worth checking out.

growing English Cucumbers

 

Harvesting English Cucumbers

Harvesting the cucumbers throughout the season will result in a larger harvest. You can start harvesting as early as 10 weeks after moving transplant into the garden.

To harvest, use scissors or a sharp knife to cut the stem of the cucumber. Pulling on the plant will result in damage and may harm the plant or pull the roots from the soil.

You can harvest cucumbers up until the first frost.

harvested English cucumbers

 Storing English Cucumbers

The best storage practices for cucumbers is to store them in a dark cooler spot in the pantry. Cucumbers should not be stored in the fridge. They can suffer chilling injuries and will actual decay faster. The cold also converts the sugars making for a less flavourable cucumber.

Store English Cucumbers in a dark cool spot for up to 2 weeks.

If you must store your English Cucumbers in cold storage, select a spot close to the front of the refrigerator. The higher shelves are best as they are warmer than near the bottom. Try to eat within 5 days.

This was written for and first published on Earth, Food and Fire.

How To Grow English Cucumbers

Published by Redawna

Garden & Food Writer/Educator/Photographer. NFT artist. Management Professional. Community Builder. Entrepreneurial spirit.

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