White Cucumber Seeds (Khira)

White cucumbers require fertile, compost filled soil that has to be well-drained. The outer skin is exceptionally thin and crispy that does not require peeling and is used in salads for its sweet and tangy taste. It can be eaten fresh or can be made pickle. It produces high yields even in high heat.

How to grow White Cucumber (Kheera) from Seeds:

Introduction and Uses: Cucumber or Kheera is rich in vitamins A and C, fibre, folic acid, magnesium and potassium. It also contains silica, that contributes to strengthening connective tissues. This refreshing veggie is also known to heal skin problems, sunburn and under eye swelling. It also contains ascorbic and certain acids that prevent water loss.

Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus.

Sowing Season: Monsoon & Summer

Sowing method: Seeds are sown directly in raised beds or containers.

Growing container: Use big circular pots or grow bag with 16” diameter and minimum depth of 8-10 inches.

Growing medium: 2 part garden soil & 1 part any Organic Manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part Coco Peat & 1 part Vermicompost.

Steps for seed sowing (Seed starting) in a container:

Take a container of your choice with drainage holes at the bottom.

Fill the container with proper potting layers & selected growing medium.

Sow 2 seeds at the centre of a pot.

Spacing:

On raised beds, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 3 x 3 ft.

Push the seeds a little in soil medium with your fingers & completely cover them with surrounding soil.

Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower with a watering can.

Growth stages of White Cucumber (Kheera):

Sprouting Stage: Seeds will germinate within first 6-8 days or so & tiny sprouts will be visible.

Cotyledons: The first two leaves will emerge in the second week of germination. These are false leaves called as cotyledons.

First leaves: First leaves will emerge above cotyledons at the end of the second week.

Seedling stage: Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant. Thinning: After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.

How to take care for White Cucumber (Kheera) Plant:

Sunlight: Cucumber plants require full sunlight. Therefore your raised bed should be made at a bright sunny spot. Keep the Cucumber container under open sunlight.

Watering technique: Water your potted Cucumber plant every day in summer. Water the soil near the plant. Use a watering can to make sure that the plants get water in the form of the shower & not by a single flow. You can also make provision for watering by drip irrigation system for your raised beds.

Manuring: As mentioned earlier, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio before sowing seeds. Organic manure can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, Compost or Vermicompost.

Top Dressing: When your Cucumber climber is more than 45 days old, Provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) Fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.

Plant care: Always look for the early signs of any insect/fungal/ any other infections. Spay appropriate medicines as soon as any symptoms of such diseases are spotted. Watch out for Powdery Mildew when plants are young.

Note: Cucumber plants have separate Male & female flowers on the same plant. Fruits will be formed on female flower after pollination.

Hand pollination of flowers: Take ‘pollens’ from male flowers on painting brush or cotton bud & dust them on ‘stigma’ of female flowers. This will increase overall production of Cucumbers. This step is not mandatory.

Harvesting: (40 to 50 days from sowing) Cucumber climber will start flowering in second month. You can start harvesting raw cucumber fruits after 40-50 days of seed sowing. Harvesting season can continue for next 3 months.