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
2. Corn 3. Radishes
4. Flowers 5. Dill In addition to there being great companion plantings for Cucumbers, there are also some plants that should be avoided: 1. Potatoes 2. Sage and Mint
3. Melons 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. Happy planting!
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AuthorAn Alameda County Master Gardener with a love for the outdoors, gardening, self sufficiency, and the environment. Archives
January 2025
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