When is the best time to plant cucumbers?

Cucumber, also known as green melon and cucumber , is a plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. It can be eaten raw or cooked, is rich in nutritional value and has a wide range of uses, and is therefore a type of vegetable crop favored by many growers. So when is the best time to plant cucumbers? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant cucumbers?

The best time to plant cucumbers is generally in spring and summer, with January to March being the best time in spring and June to August being the best time in summer. However, due to different varieties and regions, the specific planting time also varies, so it is necessary to adapt to local conditions.

What are the key points in cucumber planting and management?

1. Temperature management

Cucumbers can be planted by transplanting seeds or by direct sowing. For growers who have the conditions, they can adopt measures such as multi-layer covering and heating after planting to maintain a high temperature and humidity in the greenhouse to help the seedlings grow. Maintain 32-35℃ during the day and 17℃ at night. After a week of acclimatization, lower the temperature to around 30℃ during the day and 16-18℃ at night.

2. Scaffolding management

After the cucumber seedlings grow to 10 centimeters, they need to be trellised. Generally, you can choose the herringbone trellis method. After the trellis is set up, the vines can be tied in an 8-shaped method. As the cucumber seedlings continue to grow, tie them every 2-3 nodes.

3. Plant management

The key is to do a good job of pruning and cutting branches. Generally, when the cucumber leaves grow to 10-13 pieces, you can remove the side vines. But not too early, otherwise the growth of underground roots will be restricted. When pruning, you should also pay attention to leaving the melons appropriately. Generally speaking, the melons should be left when the seedlings grow 8-10 leaves to avoid premature aging.

4. Watering management

Cucumbers need plenty of water during their growth. When watering, keep the soil moist to avoid overwatering which can cause root rot.

5. Fertilization management

The base fertilizer for growing cucumbers should be mainly organic fertilizer , with some chemical fertilizer as an appropriate amount. Top dressing should be based on frequent and thin application, with additional fertilizer applied once every 5 to 8 days, and 5 to 6 kg of urea per mu.

6. Pest and disease management

Cucumbers have many diseases and pests, such as vine blight, downy mildew, anthracnose, powdery mildew, leafminers, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, etc. Therefore, we must do adequate preventive work, such as seed selection and disinfection, cultivating strong seedlings, and strengthening management. For serious cases, timely medication is needed to completely cure the disease and prevent it from spreading to other healthy plants.

Generally speaking, the best time to plant cucumbers is usually in spring and summer, but if they are grown in greenhouses , they can be planted all year round. However, although the planting methods are different, the management points are basically the same, so you only need to make the distinctions in the details.