Best Season to Grow Cucumber at Home in India: In Pots, Terrace, Apartment Balcony, and Backyards

Best Season to Grow Cucumber at Home in India: In Pots, Terrace, Apartment Balcony, and Backyards

Cucumbers are easy to grow at home. Cucumber has the highest amount of water and is a great snack on its own. You have to grow them at home to enjoy fresh Cucumbers. Once planted, Cucumber does not require much attention. You can also grow them within pots, kitchen gardens, terraces, and even the home. Cucumber plants come in two forms bush and vine. It is not difficult to grow Cucumbers if you understand their needs.

Depending on your climate, Cucumber grows best from the end of spring to late fall. Cucumbers need a lot of space in the garden. If there is a shortage of space, plant them on the trailless or try compact bush varieties. Cucumbers are not the easiest crop for beginners to grow; indeed, many experienced farmers struggle with them. However, since they taste much better than the ones bought from the shop, it is worth learning how to grow Cucumbers. Let’s check out the best season to grow Cucumber at home in India below.

Cucumber types 

• Vining Cucumbers – This is the most common type that has large leaves. If you take proper care of them, this type grows fast, and the production is abundant. This type of Cucumber needs a trellis and fence. These are easy to pick.
• Bush Cucumber-These are mostly grown at home. They grow and ripe in about six weeks.

Climate requirement for growing Cucumber at home in India

Sunlight is very important for growing Cucumbers. Cucumbers require about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Your plant will need the right amount of sun to grow lights. Cucumbers thrive best when the temperature is between 24 to 30°C. Plants do not tolerate frost. Since they are a fast-growing crop, you should supply moisture and plant nutrients in the growing season. 

Water requirement for growing Cucumber at home in India

The Cucumber plant needs moist soil to thrive, as 90% of the fruit is water. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Test the consistency of water by digging fingers deep into the topsoil and water only if it feels dry. Do not underwater the plant, as it can produce less productivity. Cucumbers need a permanent supply of water to produce high-quality fruits.

If the plants are under water stress and are allowed to wilt between water, the fruits can become bitter. Vegetables grown in containers need to be watered more often than ground plants, so water when the soil feels dry. In summer, it can happen every day, depending on the weather and container size. The Cucumber plant needs more water. Once the plant matures, you may have to water it twice a day during peak summers. 

Soil requirement for growing Cucumber at home in India 

For growing Cucumbers in pots, you can use organic potting or seed starter mix. Mix the same parts as aged manure or compost and loose potting soil. Press the soil in the container a little to remove any air pockets. Soil needs to be moist and at least a temperature of 20 to 35°C. Soil pH should be around 5.5 to 6.8.

Depending on the cultivar Cucumber plants need 55 to 70 days to grow and produce fruits. Soil type also affects growth. Moist, clay soil produces abundant Cucumber crops, but sandy, light soil heats up quickly and speeds up crop times. Both soil types have advantages and drawbacks, but sandy soil produces crops faster than soil. Modify very heavy soil with compost or manure to improve drainage and growth. 

Cucumber seeds

Cucumbers are always started with seeds. It is also very easy to grow Cucumbers from seeds; if the environment is right, Cucumber seeds grow easily. Seeds can be sown directly in pots and containers or transplanted. 

Best season to grow Cucumber at home in India

You can grow Cucumber in your home garden throughout the year; the best time to plant Cucumber in India is summer, February-may. In the rainy season, June-July and the people in mountainous areas March-April months. You can soak the Cucumber seeds in a wet paper towel or in water for 24 hours to speed up the germination process. Once the frost has passed, you can sow Cucumber seeds in pots, small trays on windows, or in greenhouses in spring. Alternatively, you can directly sow outdoor varieties in early summer. 

You can sow Cucumber seeds in small pots or trays filled with multipurpose potting mix. Dampen your potting mix before planting seeds. Seeds need to be planted half an inch deep, and it’s a good idea to place them on the pot’s outer edge and on their side to avoid rotting. Cucumber seeds need warmth to grow, ideally around 25°C, so place them on a hot propagator or sunny windows.

The germination should take only a few days. Keep your potting mix moist, but don’t soggy. Ensure the seedlings don’t get cold; they must stay above 13°C, although the outdoor varieties are slightly harsh. Once they have prepared the first set of true leaves, the pot on your Cucumber seedling. You need to harden them for a few days if planted outside. 

Transplanting Cucumber seedling

Warm soil is necessary to grow Cucumbers. Once your Cucumber seedlings grow to about 10 inches, they can reach their final position. Cucumbers do not take the transplant easily and should be handled so that their roots are not disturbed. If necessary, transplant the seedlings on a cloudy day or afternoon to minimize the transplant shock. If there is enough garden space, the vines can be allowed to spread on the ground.

For small gardens, plan to train them for some trailless or support. It keeps the fruit clean and away from the ground to ripen faster and enables it to grow straight away. Ensure the soil is loose and has proper drainage, removing rocks and sticks from it before planting. Adding some compost to it is also a good idea. Plant Cucumber seeds 1 inch deep in a raised bed at a distance of 12 inches.

Covering it with black plastic can heat the soil if you are late in chilly weather but eager to plant your seeds. Cucumbers need heat, and they hate cold as well. Cucumber plants are prone to cold snaps, so waiting for two weeks after the last risk of frost is recommended before planting seeds or seedlings. Air temperature should be consistently above 22°C. Gardeners with poor soil water accumulation and drainage grow Cucumbers on small mounds four to six inches high. 

Container size for growing Cucumber at home

The container should hold five to seven gallons of potting mix and have good drainage. The bigger is better because a large volume of soil holds more water but is also heavy and less prone to tipping. If your selected container has no drainage holes, add something below with the drill. Fabric planters are free draining and do not need drainage holes. You can grow bush-type Cucumbers in hanging baskets, but choose a large-sized basket with a diameter of at least twelve to fourteen inches.

Spacing between the Cucumber seeds growing in the Backyard 

Cucumber seeds are easy to grow indoors with direct seeds in the soil. Push two or three Cucumber seeds into an inch of land, planting at a distance of 18 to 36 inches from each other. Cucumber cultivation requires seeds to grow and be in the right environment. 

Trellis

Cucumber is a creeper, so you need a trellis arrangement to grow well. Moreover, growing Cucumber on your roof and not on the ground is unsafe because the concrete slab can be very hot during summer. A trellis for Cucumber can only be made by tying bamboo pieces together like a mesh. You can use fishing nets and plastic wires as a trellis for Cucumbers. Cucumber plants grow very fast after growing, and you should be ready with your trellis by then. 

Attract pollinators

You should encourage bees and other beneficial pests by planting some of their favorite flowers nearby and limit the use of pesticides that hurt the pollinators. Spraying Cucumber vines with a solution of sugar water to help attract flies. Wrong-shaped fruit is usually the result of poor pollination. Poor pollination can be caused by cold, wet weather and improperly applied pesticides that limit bee activity. When pesticides are necessary, choose a pesticide with less toxicity for flies and apply it early or late in the evening. 

Pests and diseases of Cucumber

Pests can damage seedlings at a very young age. Cucumber plants are sensitive to pests like aphids, Cucumber beetles, and squash bugs. You can avoid pests by maintaining regular check-up schedules and using organic neem spray. Cucumber plants are also affected by powdery mildew, fungal diseases, and mosaics. Ensure proper soil drainage and sufficient air circulation around the plants to avoid this.

Best way to grow Cucumbers 

The best way is to grow Cucumbers in a heated greenhouse, creating the right conditions for a more reliable crop. However, you can grow outdoors and get a successful crop; make sure you choose the right type.

Fertilizer requirement for growing Cucumber at home in India

Lime and fertilizers are applied using soil test results as guides. The fertilizer selection after preparing the soil is also the most important task. You should only use any natural fertilizer for this. Chemical fertilizer spoils the seed as well as makes its test useless. You can use cow, buffalo dung, or other fruits and leaves.

Keep in mind that when scraping the soil, you should add compost. This can help the seed to get nutrients properly. The best fertilizer for Cucumbers in pots is a liquid fish emulsion or seaweed solution. As per the label instructions, you should feed the plant weekly during the growing period.