Grow Cucumbers in Pots

Cucumbers can be tricky to grow in pots since they require a lot of vertical space. It can be done, however, if you select a variety that has less demanding height requirements and encourage its vertical growth by using a stake. Warm, nutritional soil that is continually kept moist is also an important aspect of maintaining a potted cucumber plant.

Steps

Preparation

  1. Choose the right kind of cucumber. In general, bush varieties are easier to grow in pots than vine varieties, which need a trellis to climb and spread out on. Varieties that are well-suited for container growing include the Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck.
  2. Select a large pot. The pot should be a minimum of 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) in both diameter and depth, and the diameter and depth of the pot should be equal even if using a larger size.
  3. Make sure your pot has drainage holes. Cucumbers love water, but just like any plant, too much water could be bad for the roots. A plastic pot with two drainage holes makes an excellent choice to promote proper moisture levels.
  4. Clean your pot. This is especially important if the container you choose once held another plant, since hidden insect eggs and bacteria could attack your cucumbers if left alone. Scrub the pot with hot water and soap before use.
  5. Make a good soil mix. A good mix will have loose soil that drains well, along with enough organic material to provide the plants with nutrition. Combine equal parts potting soil, perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and compost for a simple yet beneficial blend. Do not use garden soil, which may be contaminated by bacteria and pests.
  6. Add a good fertilizer into the soil mix to provide your plants with an additional boost in nutrition. A 5-10-5 fertilizer or 14-14-14 slow-release fertilizer may work best for many cucumber varieties. Mix it into the soil according the label directions.
    • The numbers on a bag of fertilizer indicate how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the fertilizer contains, respectively. Each element nourishes a different part of the plant. Nitrogen produces leaf growth, phosphorus improves the roots and fruit yield, and potassium strengthens the flowers and overall strength of the plant. A 5-10-5 fertilizer gives your cucumbers a mild dose that focuses on improved vegetable yield. A 14-14-14 fertilizer, on the other hand, keeps the health of your plant balanced, making it safer to give your cucumbers the slightly higher concentration.
  7. Prepare a stake. Vine cucumbers require a trellis or stake to grow. Even though bush cucumbers do not require staking, they do benefit from it. Consider a teepee-style metal staking system, available at most hardware and garden supply stores, since this design encourages plants to climb along the stake instead of merely serving as support.

Planting

  1. Sow your seeds once the weather warms up. Cucumbers need the soil to reach at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) in order to grow. Starting the crop in early July is common and will yield a harvest in September.
  2. Place the stake in the pot. The legs of the stake should touch the bottom of the pot, and the stake itself should stand straight without needing additional support.
  3. Fill the pot with potting mix. Pack the mix into the pot, carefully packing it in around the stake. Do not make it too compact, however, since your cucumber plant's roots need loose soil to grow in. Leave approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of empty space between the surface of the soil and the rim of the pot.
  4. Check the stake. Try to wiggle it around in the pot. If it still moves around a lot, pack more potting mix around it to make it more stable.
  5. Poke a small hole into the center of the soil. The hole should be about 1/2-inch (1.27 centimeters) deep. You can create it by using your pinky finger or the rounded end of a pencil.
  6. Plant five to eight seeds in the hole. Planting more seeds than necessary will mean that you will have to thin out the cucumber plants as they start to grow, but only planting one or two seeds per hole reduces your odds of success.
  7. Cover the hole with more of your soil mix. Do not squish the soil into the hole, since doing so may damage the seeds. Instead, loosely drop it over the seeds.
  8. Water the seeds. The soil should be thoroughly and noticeably moist. Do not supersaturate the soil, however, since puddles of water may end up scattering the seeds.
  9. Spread peat moss or mulch over the soil. A thin layer should prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.
  10. Place your pot in a bright, sunny location. Cucumbers thrive in warm conditions, and the extra sunlight will keep the soil nice and warm.

Care and Harvest

  1. Thin your cucumbers out once the seedlings sprout two sets of leaves. Select the two tallest seedlings and let them stay. Snip the other seedlings down to the surface of the soil. Do not yank the other seedlings out, since doing so will disturb the soil and may cause damage to your other seedlings.
  2. Thin your cucumbers down to one once they reach a height of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters). Keep the taller, stronger of the two, and snip the other one down to the surface of the soil.
  3. Keep the pot in full sun throughout the entirety of the growing season. Cucumbers need 8 hours of direct sun exposure, at minimum, to fulfill light and heat requirements.
  4. Water your cucumbers daily. If the surface of the soil seems dry, it may be time for re-watering. Give mature plants enough water so that a little extra drains out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Never allow the soil to dry out, since dry soil will inhibit growth and lead to a bitter crop.
  5. Add a balanced fertilizer once a week. Drench the soil first before adding the fertilizer, since adding the fertilizer when the plants are dry may create problems. Use a water soluble fertilizer, and apply as much as the label directs you to use.
  6. Protect the plants from harsh wind. A little breeze can be good for your cucumbers, but strong winds can damage the plant. Placing your pot near the side of your house or by a fence can minimize potential wind damage.
  7. Watch out for garden pests. Aphids, pickle worms, mites, and cucumber beetles will all target your cucumber plant. Use neem oil or another organic pesticide to drive away and kill these insects.
  8. Monitor your plant for signs of disease. Mildew and bacterial wilt are especially common. Many anti-fungal products will rid your plants of mildew, but you may have a more difficult time improving plant health if you cucumbers get a bacterial disease.
  9. Harvest your cucumbers when they are still young. Bigger cucumbers are bitterer. Snip the stem about 1/2-inch (1.27 centimeters) above the cucumber.
    • Most cucumbers are ready to harvest within 55 to 70 days after planting.



Tips

  • You may also grow cucumbers from transplants, but the roots are very delicate and die easily upon being handled. If you do start your cucumbers from transplants, select seedlings in biodegradable containers that you can place directly into the ground to reduce root exposure and minimize the risk of death.

Warnings

  • Be mindful of any pesticides you spray your cucumbers with. Many chemical pesticides may be harmful if consumed and, ideally, you or someone else will consume the cucumbers from your plant. Always check label warnings before applying a chemical to your plant. Wash your crops before consuming them to rid them of chemical traces, dirt, and bacteria.

Things You'll Need

  • Cucumber seeds
  • Deep pot
  • Soil mix
  • Fertilizer
  • Staking system
  • Watering can or hose
  • Garden shears or “snips”

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Sources and Citations

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