Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Growing Cucumbers in a Greenhouse QUICKSTART GUIDE 2. Planting Cucumbers in a Greenhouse How and when to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse 3. Picking and Preserving Cucumbers How and when to harvest and preserve cucumbers 4. Cucumber Growing Tips Some tips to help you grow greenhouse cucumbers 5. Cucumber Pests, Problems and Diseases Help is at hand for troublesome greenhouse cucumbers
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse is reasonably easy. They do require frequent watering, and a support to climb up, but are absolutely worth the effort. They are very productive plants and most families will only need a few plants. Home grown cucumbers have a vastly superior flavour and texture to any shop bought cucumbers and are well worth the effort. You can also grow cucumbers outdoors, but those grown in the greenhouse will produce cucumbers earlier and for longer.
Sow in 8cm (3in) pots April to May Transplant into larger pots, grow bags or directly in the soil May to June Provide support Water little and often do not allow cucumbers to dry out or to become waterlogged
Pinch out growing tips when they reach top of supports to encourage bushy growth Cucumbers are ready for picking about 3 months after sowing and will continue cropping until the end of September Cut the cucumbers when they are about 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) long and still green
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse starts off with sowing the seeds, 2cm (in) deep, in 8cm (3in) pots around April or May time. Keep the pots indoors (or in a heated greenhouse) until all risk of frost has passed (ie. the very low temperatures are over). Starting them off in pots and planting out when they are small plants, helps to protect them from slug and snail damage. When you plant them out, make sure you
Preserving Cucumbers
Cucumbers, in their natural form, dont store longer than a couple of weeks in the fridge. They dont freeze, nor can you dry them (Im not sure thered be anything left if you tried) So, as far as you can, pick them young and enjoy them seasonally fresh. If youre faced with a glut of cucumbers and people are starting to avoid you for fear of being given more cucumbers, then you can turn your attention to either pickling them whole (mini-
cucumbers picked very young) or incorporating them in various pickles. Cucumber and Onion Relish in particular is a great pickle that goes very well with cheese.
Some tips to help you grow good cucumbers in your greenhoues or polytunnel
Increase watering as more fruit start to expand, but remember to avoid over-watering. The ground shouldnt be boggy Preventing the leaves from touching the greenhouse windows/walls helps reduce disease. With this in mind, plant them on the opposite side to the prevailing sun, so the leaves turn inwards towards the centre of the greenhouse rather than towards the windows where they are more likely to make lots of contact Harvest the cucumbers small to encourage a large crop (they taste their best small too)
Keep your plants as free of aphids as you can they spread diseases Avoid cold or overly wet growing conditions Avoid splashing the fruit when you water Avoid cucumbers resting on the ground. Provide a tile or flat stone for them to rest on Keep the greenhouse or polytunnel well ventilated Water regularly, but avoid over watering the soil should never be soggy
Slugs and snails are a danger to young cucumber plants but planting out small plants rather than seedlings, and a tray or two of beer for any passing slugs is the solution.
Cucumbers are somewhat prone to mildew, which looks like a white powdery covering to the leaves. Regular watering and feeding helps to reduce this problem. The stronger your plants and healthier the environment, the less likely they are to succumb to some horrid disease, so keep them regularly watered and fed (comfrey tea or a tomato feed) and look after the soil with mulches and organic matter. If youre growing direct to soil in your greenhouse or polytunnel, its a good idea to remove the soil to a spade or twos depth every 2 -3 years so that soil bourne pests and diseases dont build up to a level where they become an issue. This is also a good opportunity to dig in a good quantity of organic matter. Also, take a look at our page 10 Ways to Avoid Plant Pests, Diseases and Problems for some general advice.
2. Crop Rotation
Growing the same type of crops on the same ground each year can cause a build up of pests and diseases affecting that type of crop. Crops can be grouped as follows: roots, brassicas, legumes (peas, beans) and everything else (potatoes, onions, tomatoes). Move your crops around each year so that the same group of crops isnt in the same area for more than one season.
Plant spacings in books and on seed packets often look on the generous side and it is very tempting to ignore these and squeeze in as many plants as you can. But healthy plants need breathing room so that fresh air can circulate around them. If they are too close, then any dew, rain or garden watering isnt able to evaporate easily and the leaves will stay damp for longer, encouraging fungal and mould growth.
If you are finding the same disease or pest is attacking a particular crop year after year, then look for a disease resistant variety. In some areas, carrot fly can be a particular problem and there are now several varieties which show good resistance.
9. Crop Intermingling
Its very easy to get carried away with creating a very organised and regimented garden, with neat rows and blocks, but having all of one crop in the same place can make it very easy for pests and disease to spread. If these plants are spread out amongst your other crops then some natural barriers are created. Small groups and rows of crops spread out here and there can also make for a more interesting and varied vegetable patch.