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Ever heard the expression, “cool as a cucumber”? Yes, cucumbers are the coolest veggies!
Because of the hydrating effects cucumbers have, they are useful additives to many skincare products.
Aside from cosmetics, cucumbers are eaten fresh in salads, infused in cocktails and smoothies and used as a garnish.
Do you know How to Grow Cucumbers in a Raised Bed? Most farmers grow cucumbers in raised beds.
While you can certainly grow cucumbers directly in the ground or even in containers, they do well in raised beds.
How do you raise cucumbers in a raised bed?
For the best harvest, there are a few tricks we have up our sleeves that you can use when growing cucumbers in raised beds.
6 Simple Steps are involved:
- Choose a sunny spot
- Invest in rich, quality soil
- Support cucumber plants
- Planting cucumber seeds
- Watering
1. Choose a sunny spot
Cucumbers should be planted in a region that receives full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sun every day. They need about 8-10 hours of sun for optimal fruit production.
Without enough sun, cucumber plants won’t produce fruit or expect stunted growth, and other problems.
With excessive sun exposure, rather than large, ripe cucumbers, you may end up with very small ripe cucumbers.
Make sure the raised bed receives adequate sunshine for the benefit of your cucumbers.
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2. Invest in rich, quality soil
Cucumbers feed heavily and need organically rich, fertile soil with good drainage to thrive. To prepare your raised bed, start with rich, loamy outdoor potting soil.
About a month before planting, enrich the soil with compost and dig in carefully.
Cucumbers flourish in slightly acidic soil, ideally with a pH between 5.5 and 7. It’s a good idea to test the soil before planting to find out first.
If you find the soil simply too alkaline, add a soil acidifier at the same time as your compost.
3. Support cucumber plants
As cucumbers in raised beds grow, they will need some sort of support to grow.
You have the option of buying an already made trellis or you can make one at home if you are on a budget. The materials to use are stuff you can find easily.
To make a trellis, build a frame out of wood or you can also use pipes to build one. Now fill the space between woods or pipes by tying across with chicken wire or if you don’t have a wire, you can also use ropes to build this frame.
A single trellis can provide support to several plants. Use wire if you want to use this trellis for a long period.
4. Planting cucumber seeds
Set about planting your cucumber seeds but have in mind that they should not be planted too early. Cucumbers are warm-season plants so if you plant them when it is still winter, they will not yield the best.
Wait until the temperature is 55 degrees and above. The soil in raised beds is generally warmer than ground soil.
Plant seeds 2 or 3 inches below the soil surface and give space of 18 to 36 inches between each. Place markers at the spots, so you don’t forget where you planted.
5. Watering
When watering the seeds, do not use a full blast of water as this can wash them away. Lightly sprinkle instead.
Cucumber fruit has a fairly high water content, so it’s no wonder cucumber plants are quite thirsty. As the seeds germinate and grow, they will need sufficient water.
A general rule of thumb is to water the plants with about 1 to 2 inches of water each week.
You want the soil to be moist but not wet. The best way to tell if your cucumber plants need water is to poke your finger 2-3 inches into the soil.
When the soil is dry, it’s time to water. it’s still wet, give it another day. Water in the morning and not in the afternoon heat.
Can I grow cucumbers in a raised bed?
Raised beds can, in many cases, be a gardener’s best friend. In general, raised beds are often more productive than planting directly in the ground because the soil is less rigid, has better drainage and warms up earlier in the spring.
You also have to deal with fewer weeds and soil-borne diseases. Raised beds also look very nice and can add a nice scenic touch to your garden.
Benefits of growing cucumbers in raised beds
There are multiple advantages to growing cucumbers in raised beds.
The greatest benefit is that raised beds provide good soil drainage.
Secondly, you can grow more cucumbers in a smaller space.
It is easier to control soil health and weeds.
Harvesting is easier because the cucumbers are at eye level, eliminating the need to bend over.
Classes of cucumbers
There are 2 classes of cucumbers based on growth habit: vining cucumbers and bush cucumbers.
Vining cucumbers, the most common variety, grow on sturdy vines shaded by large leaves. The growth of these plants is rapid and the yield is bountiful if properly cared for.
These breeds thrive best when planted on a trellis or fence. Since they grow off the ground, the fruit is cleaner, often more plentiful, and easier to pick compared to those that grow directly on the ground.
Trellising cucumbers grown in raised beds maximizes space in your garden and makes it easy to harvest them when the time comes
Bush cucumbers are miniature versions of their larger vine counterparts. They require very little space, bear a similar number of fruits as larger cucumber plants and, in most cases, do not require a trellis.
Bush cucumber plants are best for growing in small garden spaces, pots, hanging containers, window planters and raised beds.
Examples are Parisian Gherkin, Pick-a-Bushel, Salad Bush, Spacemaster
There are so many cucumbers to choose from. It all comes down to personal preference.
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How deep should a raised bed be for cucumbers?
Raised beds can be framed or unframed. Frameless raised beds are simply garden beds made from heaped earth.
They are usually made for ornamental garden beds, not for orchards or vegetable gardens. The depth of the frameless raised bed floor depends on the plants being grown, the soil conditions and the aesthetic effect desired.
Framed raised beds are frequently used for vegetable gardening. Soil and compost are then filled into the raised beds to a depth just a few inches below its rim.
Cucumber roots go deep. For that reason, the raised bed should be 18 inches(45cm) or more in-depth.
Tilling under a raised bed loosens it, allowing plant roots to reach the depth they need to properly absorb nutrients and water.
In places where the soil is of such poor quality that it cannot be tilled or loosened, raised beds must be created, resulting in more soil having to be placed.
Conclusion
You have read how to grow cucumbers in raised beds. It is easy and cheap to do plus it gives your landscape a facelift.
Raised beds provide well-drained soil and the opportunity to grow more cucumbers in a small area.
Don’t take our word for it, apply and see the best cucumber yield you’ve ever had.
