Cucumber in pots

CUCUMBER

Cucumbers thrive in containers but the pot needs to be at least 45–60cm in diameter. They need this kind of space to allow their roots to develop without disturbance. Big pots stay moist for longer too, which helps because cucumbers depend on steady access to moisture to produce quality fruit.

Fill your container with a vegie-growing potting mix blend with fertiliser added. It’s easy to make your own mix. Try our recipe (opposite), which includes organic fertilisers and additives that help retain moisture.

Place the container in a spot with about six hours of direct sun, preferably morning sun. Wind damages and dries out plants so choose a protected spot, where possible, or create a windbreak nearby with shadecloth.

Cucumbers grow on trailing vines and it’s best to train these up off the ground to save space and keep fruit safe from damage. An adjacent balcony rail would do, or you could attach a trellis to a wall or insert long bamboo canes into the mix to create a teepee.

Compact bush varieties – such as Patio Snacker, Bush Crop and Spacemaster – are well suited to container growing, but if you can’t lay your hands on them, regular varieties are fine. Plant seedlings or sow seed directly in mix. Make three holes in the centre, 2cm deep and 15cm apart, and place two seeds in each. Keep just moist. When seeds germinate, retain the strongest of the trio, removing the excess by cutting them off at the base.

Regular watering is vital as plants grow, but don’t let them become waterlogged. Check the mix daily by sticking your finger in up to the second knuckle. If it feels moist at the tip, come back later. If it is dry, water slowly and thoroughly. Supplement the fertilisers in your mix with weekly applications of diluted fish emulsion and liquid seaweed, and expect the first harvest within 50 days or so.