Product details
Minimum 15 seeds per packet.
All seeds are tested and grown on our farm in Malawi and our growing area in South Africa. Please check conditions in your area for the type of seed to be grown. Growth rates and germination times are dependent on many factors such as soil conditions, rainfall/watering patterns, climate and many more.
Growth and harvest can be affected by these conditions. Please note that certain countries require specific permission to grow certain plants or ban their growth completely. Please check your local regulations before purchasing products. We will not be held responsible for products purchased that are not allowed in your country/province.
CHOOSING AND PREPARING A PLANTING SITE
Select a site with full sun. Cucumbers need warmth and lots of light.
Cucumbers require fertile soil. Mix in compost and/or aged manure before planting. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy and compacted.
Soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline with a pH of around 7.0.
Improve clay soil by adding organic matter. Improve dense, heavy soil by adding peat, compost, or rotted manure. Light, sandy soils are preferred as they warm quickly in the spring.
HOW TO PLANT CUCUMBERS
Plant seeds 20 to 30mm deep and about 1m apart in a row, depending on variety. Cucumbers can also be planted in mounds (or hills) that are spaced 30 to 60cm apart, with 2 to 3 seeds planted in each mound. Once plants reach 100mm in height, thin them to one plant per mound.
If you live in the cooler climates, you can help warm the soil by covering the hill or row with black plastic.
After planting, mulch around the area with straw, chopped leaves, or another organic mulch to keep pests at bay, and also keep bush types off the ground to avoid disease.A trellis is a good idea if you want the vine to climb, or if you have limited space. Trellising also protects the fruit from damage from lying on the moist ground.
Cover freshly planted cucumber seeds with netting or a berry basket if you have pests; this will keep them from digging out the seeds.
The main care requirement for cucumbers is waterconsistent watering! They need at least 30mm of water per week (or more, if temperatures are sky-high). Put your finger in the soil and when it is dry past the first joint of your finger, it is time to water. Inconsistent watering leads to bitter-tasting fruit.
Water slowly in the morning or early afternoon, avoiding the leaves so that you dont encourage leaf diseases that can ruin the plant. If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry. Mulch to hold in soil moisture.
When seedlings emerge, begin to water frequently, and increase to a 5l per week after fruit forms.
If youve worked organic matter into the soil before planting, you may only need to side-dress your plants with compost or well-rotted manure.
If you wish, use a liquid fertilizer from your garden store such as vegetable plant food which is low nitrogen/high potassium and phosphorus formula. Apply at planting, 1 week after bloom, and every 3 weeks, directly to the soil around the plants.
Or, you can work a granular fertilizer into the soil. Do not over-fertilize or the fruits will get stunted.
Spray vines with sugar water to attract bees and set more fruit.
