Bountiful Crop
Be prepared to pick some of your cucumbers daily once they start to come in. Picking frequently increases cucumber production, and leaving even a few on the vine could stop the set of new fruit.
Prepare the SeedbedBefore planting, work a generous amount of compost or other organic matter. Also, working in Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables to blend with your native soil can help provide an environment suited for improved root growth and enhanced plant growth. Many gardeners make hills with the soil for their cucumber plants, with the hills 2-3 feet apart in rows 4-6 feet apart.
Sow SeedSow your cucumber seeds directly on the soil in the spring after the soil is warm and air temperatures are between 65 and 70 degrees. Start with 5 to 7seeds per hill and thin seedlings to two or three per hill after true leaves emerge. If you didn't make soil hills, plant seeds 6-9 inches apart in rows.
Help Them GrowCucumber plants have long roots, so watering should be slow and deep. Training cucumber vines on a trellis, pole, or other support will make the best use of garden space and produce better-looking cucumbers.
Harvest Your CucumbersSlicing cucumbers can be harvested when they are 7-8 inches long; pickling varieties at 1 1/2-3 inches for sweet pickles and larger for dills. Cut them off the vine with a sharp knife or shears to prevent breaking the stem.
Be prepared to pick some of your cucumbers daily once they start to come in. Picking frequently increases cucumber production, and leaving even a few on the vine could stop the set of new fruit.
