Cucumber friends and foes

According to the National Garden Bureau, Cucumber (Cucumis sativa) plants are grown in at least half of home gardens in the United States. There are many different varieties to choose from, including slicing, pickling, and burpless. Cucumbers are great plants for the backyard edible garden - they require full sun, and do fantastic against fences or trellises, where their tendrils will have fun climbing up a vertical surface. They are actually great for covering areas of fence, reaching between 2 and 8 feet tall during the growing season. If you are growing your cucumbers to be eaten fresh, 2-3 plants per person in the household should be sufficient, and if you are growing your cucumbers with the intention of pickling, about 3-4 plants will create a quart of pickles.

To maximize harvest even more, companion plants can be installed near Cucumbers. Growing these plants alongside one another is incredibly beneficial to the overall health of the garden, increasing yields and repelling pests, as well as enticing beneficial pollinators to enter the space. 

1. Legumes

Peas, beans and lentils make great companion plants for cucumbers because they fix nitrogen levels in the soil and enrich it with essential nutrients for growth. As legumes grow and mature, their sprawling habit helps to create dappled shade that conserves precious soil moisture during the warmer months of the year and protects the soil from erosion. This is a win-win situation for neighboring plants.

2. Corn

Corn, a critical member of the Three Sisters farming method, can act as a natural trellis on which cucumbers can climb. This maximizes space utilization in beds, and also provides food for hungry neighborhood birds and other animals.

3. Radishes

These root veggies are great at repelling one of the peskiest pests that affect Cucumbers - the Cucumber Beetle. These plants mature quickly and their root systems can break up compacted soils with their strong growth. If radishes aren't your thing, other veggies like carrots, garlic, onions, and beets can provide the same benefits.

4. Flowers

Certain flowers, such as Nasturtiums, Marigolds, and Sunflowers, are fantastic pairings for Cucumber. From being natural deterrents for common veggie garden pests to their aesthetically-appealing look, these flowers will enhance fruit set and yield.

5. Dill

These plants, aside from being great culinary additions to salads, soups, and pickled cucumber juice, are also wonderful for repelling pests in the vegetable garden. Oregano can work in place of dill, if its flavor isn't quite your bag.

In addition to there being great companion plantings for Cucumbers, there are also some plants that should be avoided:

1. Potatoes

This mismatch is due to the fact that Potato plants are very heavy feeders, and will likely steal most of the nutrients that your Cucumbers will need to produce well. They will also increase water competition in beds, and can be prone to issues with blight, which can spread to Cucumber plants.

2. Sage and Mint

These two aromatics may stunt the growth of Cucumbers grown nearby, and can impart a strong fragrance that affects the taste of harvested Cucumber fruits. Mint also has the tendency to invade the spaces of other plants, and can choke them out relatively quickly by stealing both moisture and nutrients.

3. Melons

These plants take up a large area of valuable planting space, and the scent of melons is actually a natural attractant to insects that feed on Cucumbers.

Now that you've got a better idea of how to build a synergistic garden space for Cucumber plants, it's time to plant! The best time to plant seedling Cucumbers is right now (the best time to sow Cucumber seeds for planting was back in mid to late spring, though they can still go in the ground now). For more information on Cucumbers, including their relatives and varieties, visit the Cucumber page.

Cucumis

​Happy planting!