What are the growth habits of cucumbers? A complete guide in one article

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Cucumber, a plant of the genus Cucumis in the gourd family. Also called hu gua and qing gua. The fruit is oily green or emerald green, with soft small spines on the surface. It is widely cultivated throughout China, and can be grown on a large scale in the open or on a small scale. Balcony growing is also a good choice.

Cucumber aliases

Hu gua, qing gua

Morphological characteristics of cucumber

Annual trailing or climbing herb; stems and branches elongated, with angled grooves, covered with white stiff hairs. Tendrils slender, undivided, with white soft hairs.

Petiole slightly rough, with stiff hairs; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, membranous; both surfaces very rough, covered with stiff hairs, lobes triangular, toothed; sometimes the margin is ciliate, the apex acute or acuminate, the basal sinus semicircular, sometimes the base connivent backward. Monoecious.

Cucumber growth habits

Cucumbers can generally be grown throughout China, and are now widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions. Cucumbers like warmth and cannot tolerate cold, and are one of the main greenhouse products.

Cucumber care tips

Temperature

Cucumbers like warmth and cannot tolerate cold. The suitable temperature for growth is 10-32°C. Generally, 25-32°C during the day and 15-18°C at night are best for growth; the most suitable soil temperature is 20-25°C, with a minimum of about 15°C. The most suitable day-night temperature difference is 10-15°C. At high temperatures of 35°C, cucumber photosynthesis is poor, at 45°C high-temperature damage occurs, and at low temperatures of -2-0°C they freeze to death; if hardened at low temperature, they can withstand a low temperature of 3°C.

Light

South China type varieties are more sensitive to short daylight, while North China type varieties have no strict requirements for day length and have become day-neutral plants. Most varieties grow well under short-day conditions of 8-11 hours.

Water

Cucumbers have high yields and a large water requirement. The suitable soil moisture is 60-90%; during the seedling stage, water should not be too much, with soil moisture of 60-70%; during the fruiting stage, sufficient water must be supplied, with soil moisture of 80-90%. The suitable relative air humidity for cucumbers is 60-90%; if the relative air humidity is too high, disease is very likely, causing reduced yield.

Soil

Cucumbers like moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogging, and like fertilizer but cannot tolerate too much fertilizer, so fertile soil rich in organic matter should be chosen. They generally prefer soil with a pH between 5.5-7.2, but a pH of 6.5 is best.

The value of cucumbers

Ornamental: Growing a cucumber plant on the balcony not only serves as a green plant to admire, but you can also see the small yellow flowers and then the small cucumbers.

Edible: In summer, when cucumbers are ripe, pick them and eat them raw or as a cold salad; both are ways to escape the heat and fight the summer heat to the end.

Face mask: Cut cucumbers into thin round slices and apply them to the face to experience the coolness while also achieving a skincare effect.