Tips for growing cucumbers? 🌱

[GardenBlooms22]

Hello everyone! The gardening season isn't quite here yet, but with it approaching I'm trying to do some more research on growing. With this in mind, I'm wondering if any of you have tips for growing cucumbers? Cucumbers are something I've planted before, but only had mediocre success in growing. So, I'm hoping I can find ways to grow them more effectively this year, and I'd be happy to hear any tips you have!

(For context, I'm growing in Zone 6. )

 

[Sally PB]

Do you know why you have you not had success? Lack of germination, lack of pollination, bugs, powdery mildew, critters eating the cukes?

 

[Cheekychook12]

Hello everyone! The gardening season isn't quite here yet, but with it approaching I'm trying to do some more research on growing. With this in mind, I'm wondering if any of you have tips for growing cucumbers? Cucumbers are something I've planted before, but only had mediocre success in growing. So, I'm hoping I can find ways to grow them more effectively this year, and I'd be happy to hear any tips you have!

(For context, I'm growing in Zone 6. )

I’d like to know the answer to this too, I think mine is due to the scorching summer sun here
I’ve only had luck growing apple cucumbers but the regular kind always die off, I’m guessing due to the heat

 

[GardenBlooms22]

Do you know why you have you not had success? Lack of germination, lack of pollination, bugs, powdery mildew, critters eating the cukes?

I'm not entirely sure. I think the germination rates were fine, but once the vines grew to about one to feet long, they seemed to just become stunted in growth and production. Maybe this was due to heat, or undernourishment, or some kind of disease? I doubt it was due to pollination issues, because we've had good success growing other crops like tomatoes and peppers before, which I'd think would've been affected too in that case.

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I’d like to know the answer to this too, I think mine is due to the scorching summer sun here
I’ve only had luck growing apple cucumbers but the regular kind always die off, I’m guessing due to the heat

Apple cucumbers? I don't think I've heard of them. Are they a type of smaller cucumber variety?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

They need a ton of water best to water in the morning or at night so the sun doesnt burn the leaves.

 

[Cheekychook12]

Apple cucumbers? I don't think I've heard of them. Are they a type of smaller cucumber variety?

The skin is a little bitter but I find them easier to grow

 

[GardenBlooms22]

They need a ton of water best to water in the morning or at night so the sun doesnt burn the leaves.

Oh, good to know! I think we usually watered them in the afternoon, so that might not have been very good for them.
In terms of how much to water them, how would you compare them to watering tomato plants? Should they have more water, or a similar amount?

 

[Sally PB]

The pollination of tomatoes and peppers is different from cucumbers. Cukes have male and female flowers. The male flowers are out first, and then the females. (They look like the have a tiny cucumber at their base.) If it's too hot, the females may not be there, so no pollination. I had that with squash one year. Lots of male flowers, almost no female flowers. Very poor harvest.

Tomato and pepper flowers are "all in one," so they are self pollinating.

 

[GardenBlooms22]

The pollination of tomatoes and peppers is different from cucumbers. Cukes have male and female flowers. The male flowers are out first, and then the females. (They look like the have a tiny cucumber at their base.) If it's too hot, the females may not be there, so no pollination. I had that with squash one year. Lots of male flowers, almost no female flowers. Very poor harvest.

Tomato and pepper flowers are "all in one," so they are self pollinating.

Oh, I didn't think of that! Do you think certain growing conditions (i.e. weather, amount of water, etc) affect the ratio of female flowers?