Properly space cucumber plants is fundamental for respectable growing and a bountiful crop .
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Key Takeaways
Cucumbers are prolific producer . A singlecucumber plantcan generate about 1 to 3 pound of fruit per week , or a total of 20 to 25 pounds of cukes in a growing season . It ’s tempting to pile in the plants to boost your harvest , but spacing your flora too close can have the paired outcome . For cucumber plants to produce a bumper crop , here ’s how to determine the right-hand amount of place unlike types of cucumbers require , plus space - saving techniques to maximize your harvest .
Vining vs. Bush-Type Cucumbers
Cucumbers are divided into two main categories : vining cucumbers and bush - eccentric cuke . Both types of cucumber can be grown in comparatively tight quartern , but their growing and spacing necessary deviate slightly . Knowing which cucumber vine variety you have is important , so you roll in the hay how much space it will need , and whether you shouldinstall a treillage for reinforcement at planting .
Vining cucumbers , such as ‘ Marketmore ’ and ‘ Shintokiwa , ’ produce long , vigorous vines , which produce best on trellis or cages . With trellis , vining cucumber usually can be planted a little closer together than bush - type mixture .
Bush - type cucumbers , such as ‘ Bush Champion ’ and ‘ Bush Pickle , ’ do n’t require trellising but broadly speaking take to be planted a piffling further asunder . Their thickset shape is better for small gardens and container growing .
Credit:Photo: JackF / Getty Images
Pickling cucumberscome as bush or vining types . Specialty cucumber vine , such aslemon cucumber , belong to either type , so make certain to check the seed package or plant life label for item .
Spacing for Bush-Type Cucumbers
Despite their smaller size , bush - type Cucumis sativus demand to be space a piffling further aside than vining plant because they spread vertically , not horizontally like trellis vining cucumbers . set them so they have 18 to 26 inches of blank space in either charge . If you are unmediated - seeding them , thin out the seedlings accordingly .
Cucumbers have fond stem that areprone to graft electrical shock . One workaround is to directly sow in cucumber seeds alfresco or into their final stool when the weather warm up in the spring .
Spacing for Vining Cucumbers
Vining cucumbers should be planted at least 12 inches apart . They alsorequire a sturdy trellis . To forefend upset cucumber vine ascendent later on , install trellises or cagesbeforeplanting the cucumber seeded player or transplants . Plant your seeds in a row a few inch off from your trellis .
Spacing for Rows
One way to match more cucumbers into your garden is to grow trellised or non - trellised cucumbers in rows . But for proper strain flow , each rowing of cuke should be spaced at least 2 fundament apart , or up to 4 metrical foot apart if you plan to walk in between the rows when weed or harvest . This generous row spacing helps ward off plant life diseases , such as downy or powdery mould , and makes your plants more productive because they do n’t compete for weewee , sun , and nutrient .
Spacing for Potted Cucumbers
Like rows of cucumbers , potted cucumber plants should be space far enough from their neighbor that there ’s at least 6 to 12 inches of blank between the farewell of each plant life . Not only will this reduce the spread of fungal diseases , but it will also increase the amount of lightness each plant receives and potentially make your plants more productive .
If you require togrow vining cucumbers in pots , pick out a container that ’s at least 5 gallons in size and anchor a cucumber vine trellis or cageoutsidethe container so the entire frame-up does n’t topple over in the wind . Then , plant three cuke come , spacing them evenly asunder . Once the cucumber vine start to vine , palaver the vines to climb up the treillage by pair them around the trellis with your fingers and securing them in piazza , if ask , with plant clips or garden string .
Prune as Needed
Bush - eccentric cucumbers do n’t need much pruning , butpruning vining cucumbersmakes them more productive and ensures straggle vine do n’t deluge minor space .
Pruning should start when the plants are about 1 to 2 foot grandiloquent , and it usually involves abstract aside some of the cucumber vine ’s lateral stem or “ suckers ” so the plant has more energy to fruit . While you ’re at it , you may also want to weave wayward stems into your cucumber trellis so they take up less place horizontally .
Frequently Asked Questions
The same space necessary applies as in a garden : 12 inches or a little less for vining cucumbers and at least 18 inches for George W. Bush - type Cucumis sativus , count on the variety .
Cucumber seeds are typically planted in distich , and the weak seedling is removed after germination to see the stay on plant has enough space to grow . However , you’re able to grow two to three vining - type cucumber in a 5 - gal container if you add a trellis .
One 12 - inch container fits one bush - case cucumber plant or a maximum of two vining - eccentric cucumber .
' Cucumbers . “Western Institute for Food Safety & Security .
