Growing Cucumbers

GROW YOUR OWN CUCUMBERS

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a vegetable that belongs to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, which includes gourds, melons, and squashes. Cucumbers are a fresh crunchy taste of summer. Pickle them, slice them, or use them on your face because cucumbers are packed with nutrients. Cool, refreshing, and a perfect healthy snack, cucumbers deserve a spot in every garden. If you enjoy the taste of fresh cucumber, sow some seeds in spring for a summer-long supply. Here's our guide to growing your own.

Types of Cucumbers

Pickling cucumbers grow 2 to 6 inches
Slicing cucumbers grow 6 to 8 inches
Burpless cucumbers grow 5 to 15 inches 

Planting And Growing

• Start cucumber seeds indoors two weeks before planting in the garden. Plant seeds in peat pots. Seeds should germinate within a week - when seedlings are 2cm (0.7in) tall, remove the weakest of the pair.
• You can also plant seeds directly in the ground.Select a site with full sun. Ideally, soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline with a pH of 7.0. Improve clay soil by adding organic matter. Improve dense, heavy soil by adding peat, compost or rotted manure. 
• Mix in compost or aged manure before planting to a depth of 2 inches and work into the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy.
• Seed or transplant outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost damage; the soil must be at least 65ºF for germination. Do not plant outside too soon!
• Sow seeds in rows, 1 inch deep and 6 to 10 inches apart. Mulch to hold in soil moisture.
• If you are transplanting seedlings, plant them 12 inches apart.
• When seedlings emerge, begin to water frequently, and increase to a gallon per week after fruit forms.
• When seedlings reach 4 inches tall, thin plants so that they are 1½ feet apart. A trellis might be a good idea if you want the vine to climb, or if you have limited space. 
• Inconsistent watering leads to bitter-tasting fruit. Water slowly in the morning or early afternoon, avoiding the leaves.
• Many varieties have both male and female flowers on the same plants. The flowers are easy to tell apart - the female flower has a swelling beneath it that will become a cucumber.

Harvesting And Storage

• Harvest the first fruits small to encourage the plant to produce more. Cut the fruits when they are about 15-20cm (6-8in) long.
• Don't leave mature cucumber on the plants because this will stop the production of more fruit.
• Cut the cucumber off the steam with a knife or secateurs; pulling them away will damage the plant and cucumber.
• Cucumbers are over 90 percent water. Store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to retain moisture. They will keep for a week to 10 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.

Few Health Benefits Of Cucumbers

• Skin and hair care- If you don't like to eat the skin, it can be used for skin irritations and sunburns as aloe would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.
• Promotes Joint health- Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.
• Control Blood Pressure- Cucumber juice contains a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber that work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumber good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.
• Beneficial for teeth and gums- Cucumber juice is also beneficial for people with teeth and gums problems, especially in cases of pyorrhea. Cucumber is a good source of dietary fiber and this fiber massage in the teeth and gums.
• Fight cancers- Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
• Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins- Cucumbers are 95 percent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins. Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day.

Cucumber Tomato and Mint Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 5-8 garden cucumbers, peeled and diced (or not peeled, up to you)
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 an onion, diced
• Feta cheese (optional)
• Crushed garlic (optional)
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
• Fresh lemon juice to taste
• Dried mint, a few generous pinches (more if fresh)

Preparation Method

• Toss all ingredients together in a salad bowl. Easy-peasy!
• Best eaten when fresh, although this does keep for a day or so in the refrigerator.