Growing cucumbers in pots is a common practice, especially on the roof of houses. However, lack of knowledge on the right method of cultivation can lead to poor production and unhealthy plants. Here are some tips for successfully growing cucumbers in pots:
Choose high-yielding varieties of cucumber that can be cultivated every month. Bari-1 is a recommended variety, but hybrid varieties like Japanese Long Green, Pusha, and Straight Eight are also available and can be used.
Growing Seedlings from Cucumber Seeds
To produce good cucumber seedlings, it is recommended to plant them in polybags. When making seedlings from cucumber seeds, you should first soak the seeds in water for 12 hours. Then, prepare a seedbed by mixing 60% loam soil with 40% dry cow dung and a small amount of ash. Next, plant the soaked seeds in the newly prepared seed bed and cover them with a jute bark or cotton cloth. For the next few days, water the cloth or bark lightly. The seeds will germinate in three to four days. Once the seeds have sprouted, transfer them to polybags filled with a mixture of dash soil and cow dung. The young seedlings will be ready for planting in 10 to 15 days while in polybags.
Suitable Containers
If you plan on growing cucumbers in containers such as pots, drums, or bags should be at least 18”×18” in size. You can plant 1-2 seedlings in a pot of this size.
Preparation of Potting Soil
To prepare the soil for growing cucumbers, start by putting 2″ brick mortar under the pots. Then, mix 25% of the total soil with dung or leaf rot, 70% of loam soil, and 5% of ash. After loading the pots, apply chemical fertilizers to the soil. Among the chemical fertilizers, mix 50 grams of urea fertilizer, 30 grams of TSP, and 20 grams of MOP fertilizer.
Once you have planted the seedlings, keep the pots or drums at a certain distance and take good care of them. It’s best to construct a support structure for the cucumber plants, as it will help them produce a higher yield.
Water Irrigation
Watering your cucumber plants is a crucial aspect of container cultivation. These plants require a lot of water, so it’s important to irrigate them twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. It’s also beneficial to use the leftover water from washing meat or fish in your home to water your plants. If your cucumber plant experiences a lack of water for any reason, the yield will be poor and the fruit may fall off when it’s still small.
Fertilizer Application
In addition to the fertilizer used when planting your cucumber, it’s important to apply organic fertilizers on a regular basis. Depending on the condition of the plant, you can mix urea and other fertilizers into the soil about 6 inches away from the base of the plant. For container plants, it’s best to use liquid fertilizers. You can make liquid fertilizer by mixing 200 grams of mustard seeds or 500 grams of dry cow dung with 2 liters of water and leaving it for two days. When you’re ready to apply the fertilizer, pour it as needed at least 6-8 inches from the base of the plant.
Whiteflies can be seen on cucumber plants. These pests lay eggs on young fruit and can destroy them. To prevent this, remove any infected fruit from the plant and use sex pheromone traps to trap the whiteflies.
Downy mildew disease is also a common problem for cucumber plants, causing different sized spots to appear on leaves. To remedy this, it is important to weed the area frequently.
Red pumpkin beetles are another pest that can attack cucumber plants, causing damage to leaves, flowers, and young fruits. If infected with this disease, it is important to kill the insects. Spraying a solution of soap or neem seed can help reduce the likelihood of an infestation.
Cucumber Seeds Collection and Storage
When cucumbers are ripe, they should be picked from plants that are free from pests and disease. Ripe fruits will turn yellow or red. To extract the seeds, remove the shells of the ripe fruit and rub them in a sieve. Then, wash the seeds thoroughly in clean water and dry them in the sun for 2-3 days. During this time, remove any malnourished seeds or weeds. Once the seeds are dry, they will crackle in your teeth when you bite them. Store the dry seeds in airtight polybags or containers that are preferably filled with glass fiber. Fill any empty space in the container with dry and clean sand or ash, as leaving empty space may decrease the seeds’ germination rate.
