Backyard gardens are becoming more and more popular in urban areas, as the price of fresh fruits and vegetables rise. Container gardening makes it possible for those who do not have the space to create a full garden to grow their own fresh vegetables.
Cucumbers are a hardy plant that do well when grown in a container. You can grow cucumbers using a large pot, or a five gallon bucket, but my personal favorite is a wheeled garden barrow. There are some easy steps to follow and you will have an abundant crop of cucumbers to have fresh in your salad all during the growing season.
Cucumbers love sun and so you should place your containers where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. In hotter climates, such as the Las Vegas desert, a shadier spot is necessary. Keep your cucumbers watered thoroughly to prevent your plants from becoming stressed. If your plant becomes stressed, your cucumbers will have a bitter taste.
Your container must have enough depth to handle the extensive root system that cucumbers develop. A container of 18″ is ideal. Surface space is also important, as cucumbers will spread out in vines to fill the space. A minimum of 18″ in diameter is preferred. A shallower container will work if it has enough surface area. When using a bucket or a barrow, you must make sure that you have adequate drainage. Drilling several holes in the bottom will provide drainage, and help prevent rotting from excess water.
A good garden soil is recommended for growing cucumbers. These hardy plants love compost, so mix your garden soil with compost in preparation for planting your seeds. When all danger of frost is past, plant 3 or 4 seeds together in the middle of your container about a ½ inch below the surface. Cover the seeds lightly with soil.
Place a trellis behind your container to allow the cucumber vines to climb. This will enable them to spread out sufficiently and make harvesting easier. You can build a tent for your trellis by placing plant stakes or stick in your container and leaning them toward your trellis. Your cucumber plants will wrap around this trellis as they grow.
When your seedlings sprout, allow them to grow until they have two sets of leaves, and then thin out all but the strongest and largest seedling. It’s important not to crowd the cucumber vine as it grows. Crowding will stress the plant, and your cucumbers will taste bitter. If you want more cucumbers, use more containers to grow more plants. My garden barrow is 26″ in diameter by 12″ deep. I grow two cucumber vines in this container, and they do well.
The soil in containers dries out much faster and requires more frequent watering. Test the soil daily by inserting your finger into the soil at least one inch deep. Water slowly until water is draining out the drainage holes in the bottom.
Cucumbers grown in containers require more frequent fertilizing because the nutrients in the soil are lost through the drainage with excess water. Fertilizing every two weeks with an all-purpose vegetable fertilizer will meet all your gardening needs.
Sources:
http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com/grow-cucumbers.html
