…and how to avoid them – for a rich cucumber harvest! Cucumbers are very popular in organic gardening – especially the classic Salad cucumber, also known as Snake cucumber. However, this member of the pumpkin family is demanding and sensitive in cultivation and care. To achieve a bountiful harvest, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes and what you can do better.
- Wrong Location The location is often the reason why cucumbers wither, droop their leaves, or turn brown. Especially through strong temperature fluctuations, cucumbers lose their resistance and become more susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew, cucumber wilt, or leaf spot disease.
The following location factors also weaken the plants: Draft Too cold soil Too dark Insufficient sun protection Here’s how to choose the right location: Plant your Salad cucumbers in a bright and sheltered place as they require a lot of warmth and light. A semi-shaded spot is ideal for this.
For most Salad cucumber varieties, the greenhouse is optimal. However, there are also more robust varieties that grow well outdoors.
Therefore, inquire beforehand about the best variety for you.
- Neglecting the Soil Like almost all heavy feeders, cucumbers require very good soil conditions. Poor soil structure or nutrient deficiency impairs the plant’s root development and inhibits growth.
Weak root formation, in turn, makes it difficult for the fruits to receive water. The cucumber plants then become more susceptible to diseases and pests.
Here’s what the optimal soil for your Salad cucumbers looks like: Loose and permeable Good heat and water retention capacity High humus content for many nutrients The humus content in the soil can be enriched with mature compost before planting the Salad cucumbers. The area around the cucumber plants can be covered with straw or grass clippings to better retain moisture in the soil. Attention: Plant your cucumbers in a new location every year. They are heavy feeders and will otherwise cause soil fatigue. They can only be planted in the same spot again after at least 4 years.
- Planting Too Early Cucumbers like it nice and warm and are very sensitive to cold. If the soil is still too cold when planting, the pre-grown seedlings will be severely weakened, from which they cannot recover.
Therefore, consider the following when planting cucumbers: The soil temperature must be at least 13°C. In the open ground, pre-grown cucumber plants can be planted around mid-May after the ice saints. Use black mulch film for early planting (increases soil temperature) and cover cucumber plants with fleece at night. In the greenhouse, young plants can be planted as early as the end of April. If you plan to grow your cucumber plants yourself, it’s best to check out our gardening guide on cultivation.
- Not Using Trellises Cucumbers love warmth, as they originally come from tropical regions. Salad cucumbers are climbing plants and therefore want to grow upwards to get closer to the sun and warmth.
However, if they lie on the ground, they dry less effectively. Moisture promotes fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
Therefore, be sure to use trellises. In the greenhouse, strings can be used as climbing aids. Outdoors, you can alternatively use trellises such as metal or wooden poles or grids for your Salad cucumbers.
- Not Maintaining Adequate Spacing Just like with trellises, too little spacing between cucumber plants leads to moisture on the leaves. This creates optimal conditions for fungal diseases, to which cucumbers are particularly susceptible.
The correct spacing for your cucumber plants: To prevent fungi such as powdery mildew, a spacing of 130 to 170 cm between rows and 50 to 60 cm between plants should be maintained in the greenhouse. Outdoors, it can be a bit closer. Optimal spacing here is: 100 cm between rows and 40 cm within the row.
- Improper Watering Improper watering is one of the most common reasons why cucumbers dry out or fall off. Cold watering promotes wilt diseases.
Too little water can cause cucumbers to dry out or fall off. These stress conditions can also be a reason why cucumbers become bitter.
Here are some points to consider for proper watering of your cucumbers: Water regularly and evenly – strong fluctuations weaken the delicate cucumber plant. Use tempered water, preferably rainwater from the rain barrel or stagnant water. Or: Fill the watering can with water the day before, then the water is at the perfect temperature for watering. Water in the morning when the soil is cooler so that the plants do not experience a cold shock. This also prevents fungal diseases if the cucumber plants are not wet or moist at night. Water only in the lower root area: This also prevents fungal diseases. Guideline: Depending on the weather, a cucumber plant needs approximately 1.5 to 3 liters of water per day.
- Not Using Fertilizer Cucumbers are heavy feeders and need a lot of nutrients not only during the growth phase. If they are not regularly fertilized, growth disorders can occur. Due to undersupply, the plant loses energy. The cucumbers dry out and die.
Here’s how to fertilize correctly: To avoid this, the plants should be regularly fertilized. It is best to use an organic vegetable fertilizer.
Organic fertilizers have the advantage of slowly releasing nutrients to the plants.
This way, they are continuously supplied with nutrients. To further promote humus formation, you can also incorporate compost into the soil. This is also important for healthy cucumbers In addition to all these factors, you can further strengthen and maintain the health of your cucumber plants with these additional care tips:
Spray the leaves of the cucumbers with horsetail to prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, gray mold, or wilt diseases. Choose the right neighborhood relationships in the bed: Good neighbors for cucumbers are peas, beans, lettuce, celery, and dill. Less suitable are vegetable varieties such as cabbage plants, radishes, and tomatoes. Regularly prune the plants to concentrate the plant’s energy on the main shoots. Harvest the fruits regularly, as this increases the yield, and if left to ripen for too long, the cucumbers become bitter. Attention: Always harvest cucumbers with a knife or scissors, as otherwise, the cucumber plant may be injured and weakened.
Checklist: How to Succeed in Cucumber Cultivation Here we have summarized the most important points for you again, so that nothing can go wrong when cultivating your Salad cucumbers:
Choose a warm and sheltered location Select a robust and resistant Salad cucumber variety Enrich soil with nutrients, e.g., with compost Plant pre-grown seedlings in the greenhouse at the end of April and outdoors in mid-May Consider neighborhood relationships Use trellises Water correctly Regularly supply cucumbers with organic fertilizer Strengthen cucumber plants against fungal diseases with horsetail Regular harvesting and pruning for a bountiful harvest and good ventilation
