Sowing

• To sow cucumber seeds, take a container of your choice with drainage holes at the bottom.
• Fill this container with proper potting layers & selected growing medium.
• Ideal growing medium for Cucumber seeds is 2 part garden soil & 1 part any organic manure or 1 part garden soil, 1 part coco peat & 1 part Vermicompost.
• Sow 2 cucumber seeds at the centre of your container.
• If you are growing cucumber seeds on a raised bed, sow two seeds per spot in a spacing of 3 x 3 ft.
• With your finger, push the seeds in the growing medium and cover the seeds completely with the surrounding soil.
• Water the sown seed bed immediately by a light shower with a watering can to ensure an even shower.
• Cucumber plant requires full sunlight to grow Make sure your make your raised beds in a sunny spot. If you are growing cucumber seeds in a container, keep the container under open sunlight.

Caring

• Your cucumber seeds will germinate within the first 6 - 8 days after sowing the seeds.
• At this stage you will notice tiny sprouts growing.
• Second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant.
• After the second week, keep only single seedling at one spot, Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.
• Water the cucumber plant every day in summer.
• Use a watering can to make sure your plant gets water in the form of a shower. You can alternately also use a drip irrigation system.
• 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.
• When your cucumber plant is more than 45 days old, feedone tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) fertilizer per plant or mix handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.
• Keep a watch for early signs of any insect/fungal or any other infections. Use appropriate medicines if you notice any ofthese signs.
• To increase the overall production of cucumbers, take pollens from the male flower on painting brush or cotton bud & dust them on ‘stigma’ of female flowers.
• In the second month, your cucumber climber will start flowering.
• 40-50 days of seed sowing, you can harvest your raw cucumber fruits.
• Harvesting season can continue for next 3 months.

Common Problems

Why are my Cucumber seeds not germinating?
Growing conditions like moisture, improper soil temperature, over watering or under watering can all be a reason why your seeds are not germinating.
Why are flowers on my cucumber plant not producing cucumbers?
The cucumber plant has both male and female flowers. The male flowers bloom much before the female flowers. So it is possible that these flowers are not producing any fruit yet because they are male flowers. However, if despite of having abundant male and female flowers if your plant is not producing any cucumbers, it can be due to lack of pollination. To avoid this you can try hand pollination. Take pollens from the male flower on painting brush or cotton bud & dust them on ‘stigma’ of female flowers.
Why are my cucumber seedlings wilting?
Overwatering is the main cause for wilting. Too much water can drown your seedlings and deprive their roots of air, which leads to wilting and your seedlings might eventually die.