How To Start Cucumber Farming Business: Beginners Guide

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a climbing plant that can grow from 1 to 3 m in length. Its fruits are normally consumed when still immature, raw or preserved.

In this article, we explain how to grow it in the garden with tips on soil preparation, suitable climate, watering frequency, harvesting and much more. Check out! 

Soil preparation 

Cucumber grows best in soil rich in organic matter, fertile and well-drained.

If planting is done in pots, the substrate can be prepared using topsoil, sand and earthworm humus.

But be careful: choose a pot with at least 30 cm in diameter and depth and position it in the final location. In addition to not tolerating transplantation well, cucumber seedlings adapt to the conditions of the space from the beginning. 

Climate and luminosity 

The cucumber plant prefers a hot climate and grows well in places with temperatures between 18°C ​​and 30°C. In regions subject to frost and low temperatures, it can be grown in greenhouses.

Choose a location in the flowerbed or position the pot in a place where the plant is not exposed to the wind. 

As for luminosity, it grows best when it receives direct sunlight for at least a few hours a day.

How to plant cucumbers? 

Cucumber seeds do not germinate well at temperatures below 20°C. Sow, preferably directly in the garden, as the seedlings do not tolerate transplanting well.

The seeds must be placed 1 or 2 cm deep (check the indication for the chosen variety on the packaging) and germination takes from 5 days to up to two weeks.

The recommended spacing for cucumbers can vary greatly depending on the cultivar and method. In tutored cultivation, spacing can generally be 60 cm to 1 m between crop rows and 45 to 50 cm between plants.

For cultivation with plants growing low, the spacing can be 2 m between rows and 75 cm to 1 m between plants. For the production of cucumbers intended for canning, the spacing can be 1 m to 1.2 m between the cultivation lines and 20 cm between the plants.

About transplanting: if your region has cold winters and you want to plant in early spring, when there is still a risk of low temperatures, the seeds can be planted in pots, cups or plastic bags for seedlings.

Keep the pots or seedbeds in warm places and,  later, carefully transplant them to the final location.

Watering

It must be irrigated as frequently as necessary so that its roots never become dry, however, with due care so as not to overwater the soil.

When growing in pots, always check that the holes are not blocked and that the drainage layer works well, allowing water to drain easily. 

Cultivation

The cucumber can be grown as a trailing plant or can be staked, growing on a fence or trellis. There are a few cultivars that form clumps and do not spread across the land.

Cut the tips of the main branches to promote greater plant branching. For staked plants, this should only be done when the branches reach the full height of the support.

How long does it take until harvest? 

Cucumbers are harvested when they are well developed, but before they begin to ripen. Generally, 30 to 70 days after planting, depending on the cultivar and purpose.

Pickling cucumbers, for example, are harvested earlier, when they are 3 cm to 9 cm long.