Hey everyone! I'm in my fifth year of vegetable gardening and have yet to experience the cucumber abundance that so many people talk about. I'm located in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm currently growing the Beit Alpha variety. I've tried both transplanting seedlings I started indoors and direct sowing them, but the results are similar each time. I usually plant them when night temperatures hit above 50°F—this is the warmest it gets here before August. I also use granular fertilizer at planting and reapply it 2-3 times during the summer. I'm trellising them on a cattle panel, but the plants only reach about 2 feet tall and produce one cucumber every two weeks. Any tips to change that?
3 Answers
It could be that the Beit Alpha variety isn't the best match for your climate. You might want to try a different variety that is better adapted to your area. Also, planting a bit later could really help!
Hey there! I'm also in the PNW, specifically the Portland area, and I can definitely relate. Here's the approach I take:
- I sow my seeds directly in early July, ensuring they get full sun.
- I buy seeds from Territorial Seed Co (they have tons of local testing data). This year, I planted the McPick F1 variety.
- Before planting, I amend my soil with their complete fertilizer, following the instructions.
- For trellising, I use garden twine to support them until they're strong enough to cling onto the trellis by themselves.
- Watering is crucial—this year, I have a soaker hose that runs for about 30 minutes every 3 days, and I increase it if it gets super hot (over 90°F).
- Every other watering, I add liquid fertilizer. I use Fox Farms; I mix a bit with a gallon of water and pour it around the base of the plants.
- I hand pollinate any new flowers every morning.
- I avoid watering the leaves to reduce the risk of mildew and prune off about a third of the lower leaves to promote better airflow.
Hope that helps a bit!
You might be planting a bit too early for cucumbers. They thrive best around 65°F. Also, starting them indoors can sometimes stunt their growth due to transplant shock. Consider either direct sowing a bit later or warming up the soil in advance.