Cucumber is a popular summer vegetable for its water content and cooling effect. Originally from Asia, the cucumber is an annual plant with deciduous foliage. In the kitchen, it can be eaten raw, in a salad or with raw vegetables. Check out these 5 tips for getting crisp, juicy cucumbers at harvest.

To enjoy fresh, crisp and juicy cucumbers, it is important to successfully grow and harvest this vegetable plant. To do this, we give you these 5 tips.

How to grow cucumbers and get a crisp and juicy harvest from them?

In order to get crisp and juicy cucumbers during harvest, you must first successfully grow them. For that, you can follow these 5 tips.

Also read:  6 mistakes you should not make when planting cucumbers

Sow cucumbers at the right time.

Before sowing or planting a vegetable plant, it is important to first know   its planting period.  As for cucumbers, you can sow them   between March and May.  In addition, the cucumber appreciates a sunny exposure   and a temperate climate.

Starting in March, sow the cucumbers under a warm shelter, putting 2 or 3 seeds per pot,   exposed to a temperature of 20°C.  After the seeds have sprouted, you can transplant vigorous seedlings into the open ground,   only from mid-May,   at the end of frosts. Keep a 1m space between plants.

Please note that cucumbers do not appreciate cold and frost. If you want to sow directly into the ground,   do so only after frost,   usually in mid-May. Plant up to 3 seeds per pocket, i.e. per hole, also keeping a meter space between plants.

Master watering cucumbers

Cucumber likes moisture, but   does not like soggy soil. That said, keep the soil around your cucumber plants moist, but not too moist, to prevent root rot. Do not water with cold water as this can   make your vegetables bitter.  In this case, prefer warm water for sweet cucumbers.

Water your cucumbers generously when planting, and then maintain   a regular watering frequency.  Water stress could also make cucumbers taste bitter. Try not to wet the foliage during watering, to avoid fungal diseases. You can also add mulch at the bottom of the plants to keep the soil cool.

Prune cucumber plants

The pruning of the plants is important, it protects them from diseases, favors their healthy and vigorous growth and stimulates their fruiting or flowering. That being said, it is important to prune cucumbers   to optimize their growth   and get a good harvest. To do this, pinch above the 2nd  ^leaf   , once the plants develop 4 leaves. This will cause two new stems to form. Pinch these off on the fourth  ^leaf   , as soon as they are 6 leaves. After forming cucumbers, keep only 4 leaves per stem. Keep in mind that pinching a plant means pruning   the end of the stem, removing its growing tip.

Fertilize cucumbers

Cucumber is a greedy vegetable plant  that appreciates rich soils,   especially in nitrogen and potassium. Fertilize the cucumber at planting and throughout the crop. Keep in mind that it is also advisable to fertilize the soil during the fall   before planting,   to prepare it for growing cucumbers. You can add composted manure to the soil for this.

During the cultivation of the cucumber, make regular contributions of nettle manure, to stimulate the growth of the plants, but also   to strengthen their resistance to diseases.

Also read: Why are cats so afraid of cucumbers?

Harvesting cucumbers at the right time

To obtain baby cucumbers, it is important to harvest them   as soon as they reach maturity.  Waiting too long will cause the seeds to harden, and therefore the cucumbers too. That being said, you can harvest cucumbers as soon as the plants   reach about four inches,   usually 3-4 months after planting. Picking cucumbers that are still young will allow you to have crunchier and juicier vegetables.

Thanks to these 5 tips, you will succeed in growing cucumbers and you will have crunchy and juicy vegetables at harvest.