How to grow cucumbers: Expert tips for best soil and fertilizers

Preparing the soil is a crucial stage in growing cucumbers. Proper ground preparation will provide the plants with optimal growth and fruition conditions. Cucumbers grow best in light, permeable soils rich in humus and slightly acidic (pH 6-6.8). You can add peat or compost to the soil to achieve this acidity.

The next step is to prepare the soil well by digging deeply to a depth of about 8-12 inches. It's essential to remove all weeds and plant residues that could compete with cucumbers for water and nutrients. At this stage, it's also worth enriching the soil with organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost.

Fertilization is an extremely important element in growing cucumbers. Choosing the appropriate fertilizers and adhering to schedules are critical for plant health and crop quality. There are many types of fertilizers, both organic and mineral, that can be used in growing cucumbers.

Organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost, are a great choice as they provide plants with essential nutrients and improve soil structure. They should be applied in the fall before planting cucumbers or a few weeks before sowing in the spring so they have time to decompose well.

Mineral fertilizers, which contain essential macro- and microelements, are equally important. The most important components are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen is responsible for lush leaf growth, phosphorus supports root development, and potassium affects fruit quality. When using mineral fertilizers, it's important to remember moderation, as an excess of these substances can lead to soil salinization and yield reduction.

What should you do when pests or fungi, such as the common powdery mildew, attack cucumbers? It's best to use an ecological but effective spray. To prepare it, you need 3.5 oz of baking yeast in 2.6 gallons of warm water. The spray can also be applied to healthy cucumbers to improve yields and make them more abundant.