Cucumber Seeds

Cucumbers grow best in rich, warm, sandy loam soil. Before planting, work into the native soil 30 cm (12”) deep large amounts of garden compost or composted manure. Cucumbers are sensitive to cold. Both soil and air temperatures must be warm before planting as cool conditions will reduce germination and increase the chance of the seed rotting before it sprouts.

How To Grow: Wait until the soil has reached a temperature of at least 18°C(66°F) before planting. Mound the soil up into hills about 15-20 cm (6-8”) high and about 30-60 cm (12-24”) across. Space the hills about 120 cm (4’) apart. Sow seed 2 cm (3/4”) deep with 6 to 8 seeds per hill then after the seed sprouts, thin to 3 or 4 plants per hill. If you have limited space or wish to have the fruit as straight as possible, grow this cucumber on a trellis.

Disease/Insects: Practice crop rotation every year and control insects to prevent bacterial wilt. Exclude cucumber beetles with row covers. Protect the plants from any late spring/early summer frosts and keep the plants evenly watered through the growing season. Even soil moisture is very important as cucumbers become bitter if the plant becomes moisture stressed from periods of hot, dry weather.

Harvest: To prevent damage to the plant, harvest the cucumbers by cutting them from the vine with a sharp knife – do not pull or twist them from the vine. Pick fruits regularly.

SCOUT IPPM

OSC Seeds recommends using SCOUT IPPM to evaluate pests and pollinator populations in your cucurbit crops. Developed in partnership with the University of Guelph and Pollinator Partnership Canada, the SCOUT IPPM app uses scientific data and government guidelines to set action recommendations for growers. Free download is available on App Store and Google Play.