Are you trying to get a fruitful cucumber crop and failing? There are three basic mistakes that can happen, even with the best of intentions. And how to care for the plant after harvesting the fruit?
Digging
Trenching should be done before weeds grow. As the plant gets bigger, so does the force needed to eradicate it, and a light tillage will suffice. Remember that one watering is sufficient for one cultivation. Two to five inches of loose topsoil will prevent water from evaporating from the lower layers. After rain, the soil needs to be re-soaked, for which a trident is suitable.
Watch out for water
Cucumbers love and need water, but watering once in a while, liberally, will suffice. When overwatered, fewer roots form. On the other hand, a large amount of water is needed at harvest time, on average 2 to 3 jugs per square metre. Plants that have grown in a dry environment also need less moisture at harvest time.
How to harvest?
Cucumbers that will be used for canning must be harvested once every two days, ideally daily. If the fruit is left to overgrow, 3-5 cucumbers will be lost and will not grow back, but you will get cucumbers suitable for salad and fermentation. Keep an eye on the cucumbers and touch them as little as possible. Too much movement weakens the fruit and it will drop off.
Care after weaning?
Pull the cucumbers out of the ground, use the healthy plants for compost and burn the diseased ones. Use a mulcher or mower to chop them up. Finally, dig up the bed and mix in plant material to nourish the soil.
TIP against bitter cucumbers
If you jar cucumbers and they end up bitter, don’t hang your head. After two to three weeks, the bitterness of sterilised cucumbers will disappear. However, it is recommended to pick them in the morning when they are not warmed by the sun. During picking, touch each cucumber minimally.