If you have limited space but still want to grow cucumbers, there are two ways that will guarantee a big harvest. Growing this crop is relatively easy, and in a container or square-foot setup, you’ll have even more control over it!
Cucumbers can grow from seed to plate in just 70 days. You can use this fruit in a variety of ways, and it’s packed with health benefits. In this article, you’ll read about two proven methods to grow many cucumbers in a small area.
Two Ways To Grow A Lot of Cucumbers in Limited Space
The best way to get a maximum yield from your cucumbers in limited space is by growing them in containers or creating a square-foot garden. Here’s a little more about each:
Growing Cucumbers in Containers
Container gardening is popular for a reason. No matter which fruit or veggie you plant, you’ll harvest plenty! Cucumbers grow well in containers. You just need to keep a few things in mind when growing them this way.
Firstly, choose a large container and a compact type of cucumber. This pairing will give many fruits. By inserting a trellis in your container, you also increase the amount of growing space your cucumbers have.
The soil you use in your container plays a vital role. Since it’s isolated, you need to ensure it has the right nutrients. It’s a good idea to add a quality cucumber fertilizer to your soil. This will ensure your fruits get what they need to thrive.
Remember to keep the soil moist but not overly full. Too much water could drown your cucumber roots. I suggest checking the soil moisture every day. Don’t water your cucumbers if the soil still feels a little wet. After doing this a few times, you’ll get to know your crop and work out a watering schedule that fits its needs.
Growing Cucumbers In A Square Foot Garden
Square foot gardening is similar to container gardening. While you can add as many square feet as you like, if you have limited space, you’ll be happy to know that you can grow two cucumber plants in just one square foot. From this, you’ll get up to 10 pounds of cucumbers!
Using a trellis will help your cucumbers grow better. Plant each about 6 inches from the other. Before planting, fill your raised garden bed with rich, healthy soil that retains water. You can also add extra nutrients using fertilizer number 3-4-4 for your cucumbers. This will add 3% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 46% potassium to the soil. In a square foot space, this is enough of each nutrient to keep your cucumbers thriving.
Ensure your square-foot garden is in a spot where your cucumbers will get up to 8 hours of daily sunlight. This fruit likes direct light, and they’re happy in warm conditions if their soil is kept moist.
Tips For Growing Cucumbers In Limited Space
If you don’t want to plant your cucumbers in pots or create a square-foot garden, use these tips to get more cucumbers in a limited space:
- Before transplanting your cucumbers, if you haven’t done a soil test, you can spread 5-10-10 fertilizers into the place where you are planning to transplant, this will help to boost the plant at the beginning stage.
- Use a trellis or old tomato cage to ensure your cucumbers climb. These are easy to set up, and you can move them when you want. Your cucumber vines will grow on them instead of spreading over the ground. This will save a lot of space!
- Plant your cucumbers in neat rows. Doing this will allow you to have better control over your crops and see where there are gaps to fill. If you have limited space, you’ll want to use every inch you get.
- Grow your cucumbers in full sun. Meeting the needs of this crop will ensure they yield more fruit. Cucumbers like direct light, so you can plant them in a spot that gets sunlight all day. The crops will cool down during the night, so you don’t have to worry about sunburn. Just keep to a regular watering schedule too.
- Allow your cucumbers to climb. If you plant this crop next to a fence or wall, you can train it to climb upward. This will save a lot of space and make use of something you already have.
Conclusion
Whether you grow your cucumbers in containers or a raised square-foot garden bed, you’re sure to have success. This crop is very forgiving, but you should try to meet its needs. Moist soil and plenty of sunlight are all it needs, but if you allow insects to infest your crops, you won’t get the results you want. Also, remember to use a rich cucumber fertilizer to give your crop all they require for healthy growth.
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. If you have more questions about growing cucumbers in a limited space, ask them in the comments!