Everything you wanted to know about cucumbers but were afraid to ask. We dig into the history of the cucumber, it's botanical curiosities and why you should start succession planting them.
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Show Notes and Terms:
Cucumbers / Cucumis sativus
Part of the plant you eat: The fruit. Officially, the cucumber is classified as a pepo, which a type of berry.
Days to maturity: 45-65
How to plant: Sow seeds indoors as transplants 2-3 weeks before planting out. Wait until the temperatures are 65°-70° before planting out. Cucumbers can be direct sown when soil temperatures reach 70°. Plants should be spaced 12-18” apart. If you’re direct sowing, place seeds every 6” and thin once seedlings germinate.
Ideal germination temp: 70°
Hardiness: Hard frost will kill cucumber plants
Cucumber growth habit: Cucumbers varieties come in both bush and trailing growth habits.
Fertilization needs: Fertilize at planting and every 2-3 weeks with a liquid fertilizer.
Main categories of cucumbers:
Slicing
Pickling
Burpless
Also mentioned in this episode:
Linnaean taxonomy
Parthenocarpic plants
String trellising cucumbers:
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About the Hosts:
A complete guide to growing cucumbers in your home garden.