How to grow Cucumber

How to grow cucumber in a garden

Choose a sunny spot in the garden and enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
Sow 4-5 seeds into mounds of moist soil spaced 40cm apart and water well.
As seedlings grow, thin seedlings and leave only the two strongest. Mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulch like sugar cane or pea straw to retain moisture.
Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.
To save space, train cucumber vines to grow on a fence or trellis – tie young stems to a wire support and eventually, the tendrils will cling to the wire.
Pick fruit regularly to prolong harvest.

How to grow cucumber in a pot

Cucumbers grow best in the garden, but can still grow well in pots. They like to spread, so if you’re short on space, it’s best to train vines to grow up on a trellis.

Choose a pot or trough at least 400mm wide and deep. Position in full sun and protect from strong winds.
Fill pot with quality potting mix, such Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Sow 4-5 seeds, cover lightly and water well.
Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.
As seedlings grow, thin seedlings and leave only the two strongest. Position a trellis behind the pot or a tripod frame in the middle and tie young stems to the support. Eventually, the tendrils will cling to the wire.
Pick fruit regularly to prolong harvest.

Growing tips

Keep moist always, as drying out may cause bitterness in cucumbers.
Failure to set fruit is often due to cold weather or the absence of pollinators, such as bees. You can hand pollinate to help – simply pick a male flower (the smaller yellow flower without fruit forming at the base) and touch it lightly onto the centre stem of the female flower.