NOTHING SAYS YUMMIE THAN THE CRUNCH OF A CRISPY CUCUMBER
I know – The first question by many is “is it too late to be planting cucumbers?” My answer is an emphatic NO!!!! June is a great time to be planting sun loving summer vegetables. Cucumbers love growing in the heat of summer. One thing that I have learned from our produce growers with our farmers’ market is “succession” planting. This means to stagger the planting times so that you have fresh vegetables throughout the growing season.
I am writing this blog on cucumber plants for two reasons. First, last week one of my sons asked for three climbing cucumbers plants for his vegetable garden. The second reason is that our produce vendors with our farmers’ market now have cucumbers. I bought a bunch and ate them raw like candy.
In general, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a warm-season crop that grow best in the warm temperatures of summer.
There are two types of cucumber plants: climbing ( or vining ) cucumbers and bush cucumbers.
The best climbing cucumber is the STRAIGHT EIGHT. Climbing varieties are best managed when grown on a trellis or a fence. My son using a large tomato cage with his climbing cucumbers.
The bush cucumber has a more comp0act mounding growing habit and do not produce the large and long cucumber.
Cucumbers can be successfully grown in many different types of soil, but thrive in loose, well-draining soils with good organic matter. Cucumbers produce the best yields in slightly acidic soil with a pH range between 6.o and 6.5. If you are not sure of your pH, we provide a free test of pH. Just bring us a sandwich bag of soil to test with our pH priobe. We will have the results in about one minute.
Most cucumber varieties are ready for harvest 40 to 70 days from planting. Cucumbers should not be allowed to reach stage when the skin begins to turn yellow, as they become bitter with size.
Lastly, you can grow cucumber plants in containers on a sunny deck or porch. The bigger the pot the better with good, enriched, well-draining soil.
PLANT A LITTLE “HEALTHY” HAPPINESS !!!!!!!