How to grow fruit cucumbers in pots? Detailed explanation of the key growing techniques

Fruit cucumbers are climbing plants that grow by climbing. The plants grow vigorously and can be trained into certain shapes; each node sets more than 1 cucumber, each plant can bear 5-6 cucumbers at the same time, and each plant can produce 30-50 cucumbers. The cucumber color is either light green or milky white, and it can show the effect of “lush foliage and abundant fruit”. It is edible and also has very good ornamental value. It is suitable for growing on indoor balconies and in living rooms, creating a landscape effect.

Fruit cucumber is also called mini cucumber, mini cucumber, small cucumber, etc. The fruit is short-club-shaped, with ridges or slight ridges, no warts and no spines, the cucumber is 13-18 cm long, and the cucumber color is green. It tastes sweet and crisp, fresh and refreshing, and is most suitable for fresh eating, so it is called fruit cucumber. Fruit-type cucumbers are fresh, crisp and sweet, with a strong flavor and good taste, and there are many ways to eat them. They can be eaten directly raw, or served cold, stir-fried, or pickled. In addition, cucumber also has a unique beauty effect. Cut cucumber into thin slices and apply to the face, which can moisturize the skin, whiten it, and fade spots.

Tools/Materials

Balcony vegetable-growing pot, fruit cucumber seeds, soil fertilizer

Methods/Steps:

1. Planting time

Fruit cucumbers can be grown indoors and on balconies all year round, but Fanmimi Balcony Vegetable Growing Q&A Network believes that the cucumber-setting effect is best from April to June in spring and from September to November in autumn; for home courtyards, planting is most suitable in spring and autumn, when the plants grow robustly, bear many fruits, and taste good. For indoor pots, spring planting involves raising seedlings from December to January, planting into pots from early February to early March, and harvesting from April to July; autumn planting involves raising seedlings in August, planting into pots from September to early October, and harvesting from October to January.

2. Planting pot

For fruit cucumber planting, ordinary households can choose plastic flower pots or clay tile flower pots with a plastic flower pot outside; households pursuing taste can choose purple clay pots or clay tile pots with a colored glaze pot or purple clay pot outside, and can also choose wooden barrels, foam boxes, clay jars, and other containers for planting. But no matter what container is used, it must be breathable and have drainage holes at the bottom. It is advisable to choose a flower pot or other container with a diameter of 35-45 cm and a height of 30-35 cm for planting.

3. Nutrient soil

The growing substrate is best with peat nutrient soil and vermiculite in a 2:1 ratio, plus 5%-10% decomposed organic fertilizer, such as fully decomposed and finely crushed hemp residue, bean cake, and other organic fertilizers.

4. Seedling raising

Balcony potted fruit cucumber cultivation mostly uses the method of raising seedlings and transplanting. Water thoroughly to saturate the bottom water, and sow after 6 hours. Place the sprouted seeds or dry seeds into the holes (or pots), 1-2 seeds per hole, then cover with 1-1.5 cm of fine sandy soil or vermiculite. Thin the seedlings when there is 1 true leaf, leaving 1 seedling per pot. During the seedling period, expose them to more sunlight, and water and fertilize when there are 2 leaves.

5. Planting out

When the seedling age is 35-40 days and there are 3-4 true leaves, they can be planted out. When planting out, water sufficiently. When the heart leaves begin to grow, water once to help the seedlings recover, then gently loosen the soil once. After that, whenever the plants appear slightly dry, water lightly in time, and it is best if the pot soil alternates between dry and moist.

6. Fertilizing

After 1 week, after the seedlings have recovered, lower the temperature, and fertilize in combination with watering. During the peak fruiting period, apply fertilizer once for every 2-3 waterings.

7. Trellising

Whether grown indoors or on a balcony, a support should be set up. Use 4 bamboo poles to form a square frame, or use galvanized wire to form a round frame, with a height of 1.2-1.6 m. When the plant has 5-6 leaves, tie the vines in time, tying the plant around the frame with nylon rope. Remove young cucumbers below 5 leaves early, and start keeping cucumbers from the 6th leaf to benefit plant growth, because the stronger the vine grows, the faster the cucumbers grow. Old leaves and yellow leaves at the lower part should be removed in time. Generally, leaves have photosynthetic function for about 40 days, and once the leaves are dark green, they can be removed.

8. Harvesting

Fruit cucumbers grow quickly, taking about 60 days from sowing to picking cucumbers. They can be picked for 3-4 months. Fruit cucumbers have strong fruiting ability, with more than 1 cucumber set per node. Pay attention to picking them in time to prevent the vines from being weighed down.

Planting notes:

1. Choose the planting time according to the different varieties; generally it is spring and autumn, but some varieties can tolerate low temperatures or high temperatures;

2. Fruit cucumbers are relatively shade-tolerant, so growing them on a balcony without full sunlight is quite good;

3. For home potted planting, it is recommended to keep only the main branch, and not keep cucumbers below five leaves, to benefit plant growth and produce more cucumbers;

4. After the root cucumbers are harvested, the cucumbers in the middle can be harvested once every 1-2 days;

5. Fruit cucumbers can begin to be harvested in about 50 days. For fast-growing plants, the fertilizer requirement is also high, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied in the pot soil.