How to Grow Cucumbers Vertically

Cucumber Fast Facts

Size: Large
Sun: 6-8 hours
Days til maturity: 55-65 days
Water: Consistent
Original or Leaf GreenStalk: Original
GreenStalk level: Place below smaller plants
Plant support needed? Yes

If you haven’t grown cucumbers in your GreenStalk Vertical Garden yet, we’re here to encourage you to try! Cucumbers are fun to grow and each plant gives an abundant harvest. Don’t be intimidated—we’re here to help you grow them with confidence, so you can be cool as a cucumber!

Planting & Growing

Healthy plants start with healthy soil. You can read more about choosing the right soil for your GreenStalk Vertical Planter here. Cucumbers can be grown from seed or starter plants. We prefer growing from seed so we can select more specific varieties. You could certainly grow a vining variety if you want, but we recommend bush varieties for your GreenStalk.

Cucumbers are a warm-season crop, so be sure to plant when the soil is warm and it is past the last frost date for your climate. Bury the seed according to the depth on the seed packet and mist the individual pockets, keeping the soil moist until you see a set of true leaves. Then switch to watering through the top reservoir. Planting several seeds per pocket ensures a better germination rate, but once they’re up, thin them to one plant in every other pocket in the GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter. This will give each plant the space and nutrients it needs to thrive.

Provide your growing plant babies with full sun (6-8 hours a day) and a little support. We use the GreenStalk Plant Supports even for the bush varieties. You will be clipping cucumbers and filling up your harvest basket in no time!

A GreenStalk Original Planter with cucumbers and bush beans.

Feeding your cucumbers

Cucumbers are hungry… and thirsty! They are heavy feeders so plan to fertilize them every couple of weeks. We like to use a water-soluble fertilizer. For amounts, follow the instructions on your product. You could fertilize each pocket directly or include fertilizer when watering through the top reservoir—which is so easy! Check the soil moisture daily by feeling the soil with your fingers and keep it consistently moist for lush plants and healthy fruits.

Pests and Diseases

There are a few pests and diseases that find their way to cucumbers. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew. As its name suggests, it appears like a white powder has rested on the foliage.  It must be treated early to save your plants. Stay diligent with some neem oil spray and ensure your planter is getting good airflow.

Several pests enjoy cucumbers as much as we do! Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs, and many others may feast on your plants. Pick them off by hand, spray them off with a water hose, use a pest-appropriate pesticide, or use a combination of these methods. Neem oil and insecticidal soap spray are two ways we combat pests here at GreenStalk. 

Harvesting bush variety cucumbers

Harvest

Harvest your cucumbers when they are young and the skin is tender. Clip just between the fruit and the vine with sharp pruning shears or clippers. Harvest regularly; they can get large quickly! If you’re growing cucumbers for pickling, aim for a small uniform size for the pickle jar. For cucumbers that will be eaten fresh, harvesting frequently while the fruits are young gives the best-tasting cuke. Once they grow past their mature size, they are still edible, but the flavor will not be at its best and the skin tends to grow thick.

In the kitchen

That cool cucumber crunch makes a deliciously fresh addition to a garden salad. Or add them to your ice water to make it tasty and refreshing. We love a good cucumber salad— toss diced cucumbers, diced garden fresh tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion in some Italian dressing. It’s a simple summer side dish that uses up all of that garden goodness. 

You may prefer a good crunchy pickle. If you plan to make dill pickles, consider including some dill and garlic in your GreenStalk!

And don’t forget that cucumbers are known for their many cosmetic uses as well. Slice a chilled cucumber, place it on your eyes for 5-15 minutes, and let it melt away dark circles and puffiness.

Cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator for around a week to ten days if sealed in an airtight bag or container.

We hope you’ll see for yourself how fun and easy it is to grow your own cucumbers. For more information about growing in your specific climate, check out your local extension office. We’re here to help you grow — just email us at support@greenstalkgarden.com.

Happy gardening!