Gherkins, gherkins or lemon cucumbers can be planted not only in beds, but also in pots. We'll show you how.
It is generally advisable to prefer cucumbers in pots on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. This has the great advantage that you are extremely flexible in terms of time and can also choose from many different varieties. You can place the young plants in the garden around mid-May after the ice saints.
But this is not absolutely necessary, because you can also leave the cucumbers in the pots. In this case, the young plants do not have to move. In the meantime, there are also mini cucumbers and lemon cucumbers on the market, which take up much less space and are therefore of course ideal for growing in pots. We'll explain exactly how the extension should look like.
Sowing in a pot - That's how it's done
Step 1 - Choose planter and soil:
Mid-April is the ideal time for sowing. For this you should then take a container that is large enough if possible. Buckets are particularly suitable for this. Flower boxes or balcony boxes, on the other hand, are rather unsuitable as they become too small over time. It is also important that you choose a soil with sufficient nutrients if you want to plant cucumbers. It is always best if you use special potting soil.
If you have everything ready, the next step is to start sowing.
Step 2: Sowing
There are three to four seeds in a pot, which you should cover with a layer of soil about two centimeters thick. The distance between the individual plants should be at least 20 centimeters. In smaller pots there is only room for a single plant.
Step 3: Grow Cucumbers & Remove Cotyledons
During the germination phase, the temperature must now be at least 20 degrees, and the plants also need a lot of light. If the conditions are optimal, the cucumbers will germinate very quickly.
Once five leaves are visible, you should remove the bottom two leaves (called cotyledons). This causes the roots of the plants to grow stronger.
Step 4: Bring Plants Outside
After the ice saints, you can place the bucket in the garden, on the balcony or on the terrace. However, the location should always be well protected. The young plants are also sensitive, so you should get them used to the sun slowly so that the leaves don't burn.
It should now also be noted that the plants in the tub need much more water. Therefore regular watering is essential.
Step 5: Provide climbing aid
Once the cucumber plants have reached a certain height, you should provide them with a trellis, as they cannot really expand in width.