Cucumber

Tamil Name: Vellarikai; Scientific Name: Cucumis sativus;

Beginner Level

B G T

Planting/Sowing

Jan – Apr; Jun;

Harvesting

Feb – May; Aug;

First Harvest

Fruit: ~45 Days;
Microgreen: 12 – 15 Days;

General Info

Crop category	Vegetable
Life span	Annual
Type of crop	Creeper
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Fruit, Microgreen
Avg. Height	6 feet or more

Climate & Humidity

Moderate warm climate is preferred to grow cucumbers.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
Jan – Apr; Or Jun;

How to plant:
Direct sowing;

NOTE: Please refer to How to Grow Microgreens section for cultivating microgreens.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Sow 4 seeds per hole at a depth of 1 inch. After 15 days, perform thinning to maintain 2 seedlings per hole. Spacing to be 60 cm between the holes.

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Irrigate the plants regularly up to germination stage. After that, once weekly irrigation to be followed.

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
Harvest the fruits after 45 days of sowing.

Microgreens to be harvested between 12 – 15 days, when plants reach 1 – 3 inches in height (2 -leaf stage).

How to harvest
Keep picking cucumbers regularly, because if they get too big, the plant will stop producing fruit.

Microgreens may be harvested by snipping the greens just above the soil line.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on the environmental, climatic, soil conditions.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Fruit fly, aphids
Common Diseases/ Problems	Downy mildew
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Avoid overwatering and directly spraying water on to the leaves; plant in a well-drained site and use long crop rotations.

NOTE: Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

Cucumbers have been cultivated for at least 3,000 years and originated in India and were introduced to the rest of the world by the Romans. In fact, Roman Emperor Tiberius was so fond of cucumbers he ate them every day of the year, including in winter, by growing them in artificial conditions similar to modern day green houses.