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 With
proper care, many vegetables are easy to grow in a sunny location in
your backyard or a container garden on a patio. Take the challenge
and reap what you sow, as the number one reason for growing your own
vegetables is the taste.
A popular, great-tasting homegrown vegetable is cucumbers. This
warm-season vegetable produces an abundance of fruit when given
proper care. The first crop can be planted after the danger of frost
has passed and can also be planted in mid to late summer.
Tips for growing cucumbers
What does it take to have a great crop of cucumbers? Lots of water.
Cucumber plants have shallow roots and require ample soil moisture
at all stages of growth. Adequate moisture is most critical when
fruit begins to set and mature.
Cucumber plants need plenty of space in the garden. Rows should be 5
to 6 feet apart. In small gardens, cucumber plants can be trained on
a trellis or a fence. Also, if space is limited, look for bush
varieties that can be grown in containers.
Cucumbers need warm soil for germination and proper
plant growth. Fertile soils will produce the best yields.
Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Remember
to side-dress with nitrogen fertilizer when the plants begin to
vine.
A cucumber is of the best quality when it is uniformly green, firm,
and crisp. Harvest the cucumbers before the seeds fully develop. The
best size depends on the use and type of cucumber. Pick slicing
types when they are 6 to 8 inches long and pickling cucumbers when
they are 3 to 4 inches long. Be diligent and inspect plants for
fruits every day. Be sure to remove all mature cucumbers from a
plant, as over-mature cucumbers left on the vine will halt the
growth of new cucumbers. Refrigerate fruits after harvesting. [to top of second
column] |
Some years the cucumbers have a
bitter taste. What causes this bitterness? Most cucumber plants
contain bitter compounds called cucurbitacins B and C, which can
be present in the foliage and sometimes spread to the fruit.
Bitterness tends to be a result of stress, such as lack of
moisture, high temperatures, wide temperature swings, or poor
plant nutrition. To try to combat the bitter taste, water plants
during dry periods and add a layer of organic mulch to help to
conserve soil moisture. Some bitterness can be removed by
cutting off the stem end and removing the skin. Cucumber
cultivars differ in their tendency to be bitter, so be sure to
select bitter-free cultivars.
Enjoying cucumbers
While my family enjoys sliced cucumbers with a little salt,
cucumbers add a crisp snap to salads and sandwiches. Cucumbers
are mostly water having minimal nutritional value. If possible,
leave the green peeling on as it contains a small amount of
beta-carotene, which is where the most nutritional value is
found.
To preserve your harvest, the only practical way for cucumbers
is pickling. University of Illinois Extension provides basic
guidelines for pickling, answers commonly asked questions, and
recipes at extension.illinois.edu/food/pickling-foods.
For more information about growing and harvesting cucumbers,
visit University of Illinois Extension, Vegetable Gardening,
Cucumbers, extension.illinois.edu/gardening/cucumber.
[Jennifer Fishburn is a horticulture
educator with University of Illinois Extension, serving Logan,
Menard, and Sangamon counties. Gardeners Corner is a quarterly
newsletter from gardening experts around the state. Each issue
highlights best practices that will make your houseplants,
landscape, or garden shine in any season. Join the Gardener’s Corner
email list at go.illinois.edu/GCsubscribe for direct access to
timely tips.]
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