Cucumbers are nutritious vegetables and can be prepared and eaten in many ways. Growing cucumbers indoors will allow you to always have these crispy treats on hand.
Cucumber plants spread over a large area on the ground when planted outdoors, however, you can plant some varieties of indoor cucumbers that fit well in pots and have been specially created to grow and produce without pollination.
Usually, you don’t grow a whole cucumber indoors, rather you should plant it in a warm place and then move it outdoors, that way it will have more room to grow and a better environment. However, if you want to play the game, here’s how to do it.
Contents
Planting and growing cucumbers indoors in 9 steps
1. Choose the right seeds
These are hybrid cucumber seeds that do not require pollination. Be sure to start with a dwarf variety to save space.
2. Select a large, wide pot
Even dwarf cucumber varieties need space to grow. You can also grow cucumbers in hanging pots.
3. Prepare your mix
Fill your pot with a mixture of 50% potting soil and 50% compost. You can use soil from your garden, but you run the risk of bringing unwanted pests indoors.
4. Plant 4 to 5 seeds about 1 inch deep
Space them 1 inch or more apart. Planting them closer together may inhibit their growth.
5. Water the soil carefully
It should be saturated, but not soft. Water several times until the water drains from the bottom of the pot.
6. Place your cucumber plant near a sunny window
For optimum growth, the plant should receive a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine per day.
7. Choose the strongest and healthiest plan
Eliminate the other one by cutting it at its base. You will then be left with 1 strong and healthy plant that will have a good production and will not be cluttered.
8. Facilitate the growth of the plant
Insert a stick or a small trellis near the plant to allow the vines to climb. Don’t wait too long to do this, as the plant will start to climb about 1 inch per day, depending on the amount of sunshine received.
9. Water the plant regularly to keep the soil moist
Make sure that the water drains out through the drains at the bottom of the pot. This will ensure that the roots are also moistened.
Sowing cucumbers successfully indoors
Cucumber seeds are very sensitive. They germinate in a light, soft and not too rich soil. Use special soil for sowing.
- Fill the jars and pack lightly.
- Make 3 front holes with a pencil on 1 inch deep.
- Place one seed per hole and lightly pack the surface.
- Place the pot in a saucer and cover the three seeds with the head of a plastic bottle.
- Fill the saucer with water by half and sprinkle the value of a glass of water over the bottle.
- Keep the pot at a temperature of 68°F minimum.
- 7 to 10 days later remove the cork from the bottle.
- One week later still remove the bottle.
- Keep the best shots to obtain beautiful cucumbers.
The cucumber indoors, maintenance tips
The cucumber can be sown in a trough and led in a vertical liana on a trellis. Proceed as for seeding in the ground and direct the cucumber stems to the trellis. The cucumber vines will grow tall naturally. Make sure to water very regularly, especially if the cucumber is exposed to the wind. Without sufficient watering the cucumber develops a lot of bitterness.
Indoor cucumber pruning and maintenance
Harvest the cucumber very regularly for a good fruit setting. Cut the cucumber just above a start of leaves. Leave 4 to 5 cucumbers on the plant. Depending on the date of planting or sowing, cucumbers in the ground will be harvested between July and October.
Make the last cucumber harvests before the first frosts and before the skin of the vegetable turns yellow.
Indoor cucumber watering and fertilizing
Water the cucumber regularly. Prefer a drip system at the foot of the cucumber to avoid over-wetting its foliage. There is no need to add fertilizer while the cucumber is growing, especially if the soil has been well tilled and enriched before sowing.
Diseases and Parasites Affecting Indoor Cucumbers
At the time of the bloom, the aphids can attack the cucumber. Control these pests by alternating cucumber and nasturtium seedlings. Nasturtiums attract aphids. Cucumbers can also be prone to powdery mildew, especially when it is hot and humid and when the foliage is watered too much.
This disease results in a kind of white powder spread over the cucumber leaves. Cut off the damaged leaves and adjust the watering to avoid over-wetting the foliage.
Summary
It is also possible to grow the cucumber indoors, we explain in this article how to do so. Here are a few more tips :
- Start picking cucumbers when they are as large as the palm of your hand. Your plant will continue to produce cucumbers for several months.
- If you repot with potting soil that does not contain controlled-release fertilizer, you can buy some at a garden store and add it to the mixture of potting soil and compost to help your plant grow faster.
- Think about making pickles if you have an abundant production!
