Knowing what to expect at every stage will help you know when toharvest the cucumbersand better detect common problems.
Most varieties of cucumber will be ready for harvest between 50-70 days from the day you plant from seed.
Choose multiple varieties with varying harvest dates to enjoy them for a longer season.
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Most people plant cucumbers in a small mound of soil, or in a container.
The vines need plenty of room to spread.
Cucumbers love heat, so full sun is ideal whether you are germinating your seeds indoors or outdoors.
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The seed leaves will form within a day or two after the plants break through the soil.
Between 10 and 14 days later, true leaves will form, which will grow with the plant.
At this stage, watering near the roots is better than watering from above.
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Stage Four: Flower Buds Appear
Bright-yellow flowers will pop up over the course of two weeks.
Male flowers will bloom first, whichattract the pollinatorsneeded for female flowers to develop and set fruit later on.
Some cucumbers are self-pollinating plants, known as parthenocarpic varieties.
Check your seeds to determine what types you have.
Use a bit of fertilizer in this stage to keep your plant growing steadily.
Cucumbers are heavy feeders and fertilizer will help them increase in size.
Once pollinated, they will grow larger.
Be vigilant with watering at this stage.
The soil should be moist, but not wet.
In hot weather, water once a day, but otherwise every other day should be fine.
Cucumbers grow quickly at this stage and may be ready for harvest within a few days.
Pick the ones that are ready and let the rest ripen and put on some size.
Check the information for your specific variety to see how large they’re supposed to be at maturity.
Common Problems With Cucumber Plants
As your cucumber plant grows, you may face some common problems.
During prime harvest time, you might be able to get anywhere from one to three cucumbers per week.
From planting to harvest, the growth cycle is between 50-70 days, depending on variety.
