Guide to growing Cucumber Curtain

Cultivation guide – how to succeed with your Cucumber Curtain

Growing Cucumbers is both fun and rewarding – you get a lot in return for a little effort. Here is our step-by-step guide from seed to harvest based on our personal successes, failures and lessons learned. Hope it helps you along the way.

1. Preparations

Before sowing you need:

·       Cucumber seeds, growing briquettes and marker stick (found in the starter box)

·       A dish with a rim to place the briquettes on

·       Transparent cover (plastic film/bag with holes, glass dome or mini greenhouse)

·       High quality potting soil

·       Pot of at least 5 liters with drainage holes and possibly Leca balls

How to start sowing:

·       Sow cucumbers indoors from late February/early March, or year-round with a grow light.

·       Sow one seed per briquette/pot, cover with transparent cover and place in a warm place (e.g. heating mat or over a radiator).

·       Keep the soil moist but not standing in water.

·       Once the seed has germinated (5–15 days), the plant needs a lot of light – sunny window or grow light 13–15 hours/day. Note – cucumber seeds can germinate irregularly so don’t stress if they don’t all germinate at the same time.

2. Transplantation

Replant when the plant has 2–3 pairs of leaves (4–6 leaves).

Here's how:

·       Choose a pot of at least 5 liters with drainage holes. If necessary, fill it with clay balls and then fill with potting soil and water thoroughly.

·       Plant at the same depth as before – no deeper. Plan on ONE plant per pot.

·       Place in a bright and warm place.

·       Water daily and fertilize once a week.

3. Tie up the Cucumber Curtain

Once the plant has grown, it's time to create the Cucumber Curtain look:

·       Place a pot on each side of the window.

·       Tie string (e.g. hemp thread) around the plant and attach to the window with nails or hanging tape.

·       Let the cucumber wind its way up the string. Help it find its way onto the stack.

·       Keep the soil moist and continue to fertilize once a week.

4. Harvest

·       The first cucumbers often shrivel up before they have time to grow – this is completely normal and nothing to worry about. It's just the plant "warming up".

·       Soon new little cucumbers will start to grow. And since cucumbers are almost entirely made up of water, regular watering is essential. The plant is constantly thirsty!

·       If possible – water from below. This keeps the soil surface drier, which reduces the risk of pests that like to breed in moist soil. The goal is: moist soil, but relatively dry surface.

·       Continue to water the plant once a week to ensure it has the strength to produce many cucumbers.

·       The cucumbers will soon grow. They are small “snack cucumbers” that are about 10–15 cm long. You will know that the cucumber is ready to harvest when the surface becomes shiny and the fruit feels a little softer – then it has completely swollen.

·       Harvest continuously! The more you pick, the more new cucumbers the plant will produce.

5. Fight vermin

Bugs happen to everyone at some point. The most important thing when you spot a pest is to act immediately. The sooner you spot the problem, the easier it is to save the plant.

Early signs that you have introduced pests into your crops: small black flies (sorrow midges), sticky leaves, discoloration or white dots.

Tips on how to fight pests

·       Sticky traps – catch midges and help you see how extensive the problem is.

·       Change the top layer of soil – especially effective against midges as the larvae often live in the surface layer.

·       Shower the plant – place the entire plant in the shower and rinse it clean of pests (lukewarm water, not too much pressure).

·       Soapy water – mix 1 dl soap with 9 dl water and spray on the leaves. Repeat 2–3 times a week until the problem is gone

·       Neem oil – a natural oil that disrupts the pest’s life cycle. Mix with water and a few drops of mild detergent so the oil sticks to the leaves.

·       Myrnix – gently dust over leaves and soil. The agent dries out the pests and causes them to gradually disappear.

 

With these steps you will have a lush cucumber garden full of flowers and crispy, homegrown cucumbers. Good luck and enjoy your green oasis!