Planter Boxes: How to Grow Cucumbers

Why Grow Cucumbers in Planter Boxes?

If you’re short on garden space but still want to grow fresh cucumbers, planter boxes, and pots are the perfect solution. Here’s why:

• Space: Growing cucumbers in planter boxes allows you to cultivate cucumbers even in small spaces. You can enjoy a harvest on balconies, patios, or small yards with the right amount of sunlight.
• Soil Control: Container gardening allows you to control the soil quality. You can optimize nutrients, moisture, and pH, creating the best growing environment.
• Spring Frost: Planters allow you to move your cucumbers if there's a late spring frost, protecting your young plants from cold damage.
• Easy to Grow: Cucumbers are relatively easy to grow. So, they're an excellent option if you're a novice gardener, virtually ensuring your success.
• Manage Pests: Gardening boxes make monitoring and managing pests and diseases easier than garden beds. You can more efficiently treat critters like cucumber beetles and the orange eggs they lay.

Choosing the Right Planter for Cucumbers

The key to growing a healthy cucumber container garden is choosing the right pot or planting box. Cucumbers need enough space to develop strong roots.

Equally important, like most plants, cucumbers dislike soggy roots, so ensure your planter has sufficient drainage holes. A layer of gravel at the bottom can help improve drainage.

The Size of Your Gardening Container Matters

Cucumbers develop an extensive root system. Choose a planter at least 12 inches deep and wide enough for the plants to spread. Larger gardening containers (5 gallons or more) provide enough soil for healthy growth.

Be Wary of the Material for Your Planter Box

The material of the planter affects the environment of your cucumber plants:

• Plastic: Lightweight and affordable, plastic gardening boxes are tough to go wrong with. They retain water nicely and are easy to move. Ensure your container has proper drainage. You might want to steer clear of black plastic as it can absorb heat.
• Terracotta: A popular option, terracotta planters are porous and allow airflow. However, they may dry out faster, which means more frequent watering. They can also break easily.
• Wood: Wooden planter boxes, especially cedar or pine, are durable and insulating. Avoid treated wood containers, however, as that treatment can leech into the soil and impact your plants.

Best Cucumber Varieties for Gardening Boxes

Selecting a suitable variety is essential when growing cucumbers in pots. Some cucumber plants grow into long vines, while others are more compact, making them better suited for container gardening.

Here are a few of the best varieties to consider:

Bush Cucumber Varieties

• Bush Pickle: This compact variety is perfect for smaller containers and produces crisp cucumbers, which are ideal for pickling.
• Spacemaster: Another bush variety that works well in tight spaces, producing flavorful cucumbers for salads.

Vining Varieties for Trellising

• Patio Snacker: This variety thrives in pots and does well with a trellis or stake, producing sweet, crunchy cucumbers.
• Salad Bush: This variety can produce an abundant crop of salad-sized cucumbers with some support from a trellis.

Parthenocarpic Varieties

That's a mouthful, but the cucumber plant can set fruit without pollination.

Diva is a variety that produces smooth, seedless cucumbers and can set fruit without pollination. This cuke is an excellent choice for growing indoors or in small spaces where pollinators aren't abundant.

Preparing the Soil for Your Cucumber Container Garden

Cucumbers are heavy feeders, which means they need nutrient-rich soil to thrive. Here’s how to prepare the best growing environment:

• Choose a High-Quality Potting Mix: Cucumbers need loose, well-draining soil. A high-quality potting mix is ideal, allowing airflow and proper drainage. You can mix in compost to provide extra nutrients.
• Add Liquid Fertilizer: To boost growth, add a balanced liquid fertilizer to your potting mix. Choose an organic or slow-release fertilizer and follow the application instructions for consistent feeding throughout the growing season.
• Well-Draining Soil: Ensure the soil is well-draining to avoid waterlogged roots, which can lead to diseases like root rot.

Which is Better - Planting Seeds or Seedlings?

Now that your planter box is ready, it’s time to plant. You can start with seeds or seedlings, both of which have their advantages:

• Seeds: Plant cucumber seeds about 1 inch deep in the soil. In a container garden, plant multiple seeds and thin out the weaker seedlings, leaving the strongest to thrive.
• Seedlings: If you prefer a head start, buy seedlings from a nursery. Space them about 12–18 inches apart to give them room to grow.

Water your seeds or seedlings right after planting and keep the soil consistently moist. Cucumbers need regular moisture to germinate and develop a robust root system.

Caring for Cucumber Container Garden

Cucumbers are relatively easy to grow but require some attention to thrive. Here are the critical care tips for growing cukes in pots:

• Sunlight: Cucumbers need at least 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Position your planter in a sunny spot.
• Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Too much water can cause root rot, so ensure your planter has good drainage. You can avoid that concern by selecting a self-watering planter box like those from EarthBox.
• Mulching: Mulch the soil to help retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
• Fertilizing: Feed your cucumbers with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–4 weeks during the growing season. Regular feeding promotes vigorous growth and fruit development. A balanced fertilizer (i.e. 7-7-7 or 10-10-10) is always a good choice. You can use a mix with less nitrogen and more phosphorous to encourage fruiting, such as 3-4-6.

Supporting Cucumber Growth

As cucumbers grow, some varieties may need support to keep the plants off the ground. For vining cucumber varieties, use a trellis or stakes to encourage vertical growth, saving space in your planter box.

You won't need much support if you’ve chosen a bush variety. However, occasional pruning of dead leaves can help improve airflow and prevent disease.

Common Issues & Solutions with Cukes in Pots

Even with the best care, you may encounter some common issues when growing cucumbers in pots:

• Pests: Look for pests like aphids and cucumber beetles. To control infestations, use organic solutions like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or soapy water.
• Diseases: Cucumbers are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew. Water the plants at the base to prevent fungal issues and ensure good air circulation.
• Overwatering: Cucumbers need consistent moisture, but overwatering can cause root problems. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings to avoid waterlogged roots. And remember, you can always use a self-watering planter box. They're convenient if you're getting your feet wet with gardening (pun intended!).

Harvesting Your Cucumber Crop

After several weeks of care, it’s time to harvest your container garden cucumbers. Cucumbers typically take 50-70 days to produce a crop. You'll see flowers within 35-55 days. Fertilized flowers take another 10-12 days to produce fruits.

Cukes taste best when they're immature. Moreover, allowing them to mature can prevent additional fruiting.

You can pick your cucumbers based on your use and their size. For example, if pickling is your goal, harvest your cucumbers when they're 2-6 inches long. Conversely, 6-8 inches is perfect for slicing cucumbers. Make sure they feel firm for the best flavor.

When harvesting, use sharp scissors or pruners to cut the cucumbers from the vine, roughly 1/4 inch above the fruit. Leaving a small stem encourages continued production without damaging the plant.

EarthBox: #1 for Container Gardening

Growing cucumbers in planter boxes or pots is a rewarding and accessible project for gardeners of all levels. EarthBox's lab-tested, proven gardening system makes it simple.

You can make things even easier with the company's planter box kits that provide a complete planting solution:

• Planting box
• Aeration screen
• Water fill tube and overflow drain
• Mulch covers to prevent weeds
• Fertilizer & dolomite
• Casters/wheels

Add soil and plants, and you'll be well on your way to a bountiful cucumber container garden.

Ready to start your container garden? Follow these steps, and you’ll grow cukes in pots like a pro in no time. Happy gardening!