Don’t be fooled by the bush when connected with a cucumber pickle plant. What they lack in height, they make up for in pickles. If you have a small garden, then bush cucumber are the variety to grow. Bush cucumbers can reach up to 3 feet in diameter and the ripe fruits measure 4 to 5 inches. In 42 to 48 days, you’ll be harvesting cucumbers. The fresh cucumbers are often used for making pickles, slicing, adding to salads, or peeled and eaten raw.
Finding the Right Location
Bush cucumbers need a sunny location to grow in the garden. Prepare the garden soil by tilling or working the ground up with a garden fork. As you work up the soil, incorporate 3 to 4 inches of well-rotted compost into the ground. Level the ground with the back of your rake. When the soil has warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it is time to plant the seeds.
Mark the Rows
Tie a piece of string that is slightly longer than your garden row on two sticks. Place a stick at each end of your row. The string should be stretched taut to mark your row. Make enough markers for each row of cucumbers. Leave 4 to 5 feet of space between the rows.
Every 8 or 12 inches place a seed on top of the soil. You can plant one or two seeds per hole. Planting two seeds increases your chances a cucumber plant growing. Push each seed into the soil to a depth of 1/ 2 inch. Cover the seed with amended soil. Gently firm the soil over the seed with your hand.
After the seeds are planted, give them a good drink of water. Once or twice a day, check the soil for moisture. The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy or the seeds will rot. In 8 to 10 days, the seeds will germinate. If you planted two seeds per space, you will need to thin out the weaker plant. Wait until the seedlings have their true leaves, before removing one.
Once a week, water the cucumbers deeply. They should receive at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water. If you allow the soil to dry out, the cucumbers will be bitter.
Inspect for Pests
Check the cucumber plants for pests. If you notice any bugs spray them with an organic pest-control product that is safe for cucumber plants. You can make some insecticidal soap by combining 1 gallon of water with 2 tablespoons liquid dish soap. Pour the mixture into a sprayer and spray the plants.
Fertilize
For better producing cucumber plants, give them some fertilizer every other week. You can use liquid or granular slow release fertilizer. Read and follow label directions before any application.
Harvest
Cucumbers are harvested when they are about 4 inches in length and dark green in color. If you wait too long, the skin turns yellow, meaning they are over-ripe.
Pick the cucumbers often throughout the season to encourage more to set on. Smaller pickles are often used to make gherkins.
