Can You Grow a Cucumber Plant in a Vegetable Garden?

Cucumbers can be grown a trellis to create more evenly shaped fruits.

Cucumbers are a common plant for home gardeners because of their versatility in the kitchen and their crisp and refreshing taste in the summer heat. Cucumbers can successfully be grown in container and vegetable gardens. Growing cucumbers outdoors in a vegetable garden requires some specialized care because of the delicate nature of the plant.

Planting Times

Cucumbers are a warm-weather vegetable plant. Because of this, they can be planted outdoors in a vegetable garden only after danger of frost has passed. Cucumber seedlings should be planted outdoors once soil temperatures are at a steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Air temperatures should be at 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime. As well, chances of severe inclement weather such as heavy rainstorms should not be a danger during the early planting stages.

Conditions

Cucumber plants require well-draining soil and a sunny location to grow in a vegetable garden. Cucumber plants are a vining plant, and can easily become waterlogged, causing them to rot or die. Heavy clay soils should be properly prepared by mixing in compost and mulch before planting cucumber plants. Cucumber plants require at least six hours of sunlight each day. As well, cucumber plants should be spaced a minimum of 1 to 2 feet between plants for them to grow properly.

Support

Cucumber plants are a vining plant, which benefits from having an upright support frame. An upright support frame will keep the majority of the vines and the fruit off of the ground, reducing the chance of rot and mold development. As well, the fruit will be more evenly shaped and green because of regular exposure to sunlight. Support options for cucumber plants in vegetable gardens include: metal vegetable cages, wooden trellises and gardening nets made from wire or nylon mesh.

Watering

Regular watering is necessary for successfully growing cucumber plants in a vegetable garden. Having a regular watering schedule for vegetable garden cucumber plants will help foster healthy growth, as well as reduce the likelihood of stress from irregular watering patterns. There will also be a diminished chance of having mold or rot issues with the cucumber plants. Watering the plants every day in the morning is suggested. Properly watered plants will have damp or moist soil 1 inch below the soil surface. Waterlogged or soaking soil is a sign of over-watering. Powdery or hard soil is a sign of under watering.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow -- Cucumber
• Colorado State University; Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Melons and Squash; C.W. Basham and J.E. Ells; 2010
• Purdue University: Cucumbers

Resources

• Colorado State University: Cucumbers and Squash