It turns out that the main enemy of a cucumber is stress. Following our simple tips, you can minimize it and thus prevent the emergence of not only bitterness, but also those pests and diseases that often affect the cucumbers.

Moisturize your plants especially during flowering and fruiting period. Stress caused by water deficiency increases the concentration of those substances which are responsible for bitter taste.

Cucumbers grow quickly, so depending on weather conditions and the type of soil they need from 25 to 50 ml. of water per week. It is important to keep your soil slightly wet for all time during growing period.

You can do this by abundantly watering soil one or two times a week, and if the soil is sandy, then even more often. The beds can be covered with plastic wrap already during the planting of cucumbers, but organic mulch such as straw, can not be used until the land is not warmed to 20 ° C.

Mulch also helps cucumbers in the fight against stress caused by the lack of moisture and that will accelerate the emergence of the fruit and will increase productivity. In addition to organic mulch, you can use black plastic sheeting or a more modern covering material that transmits infrared radiation. Mulch not only preserves and keeps the moisture in the soil, but also quells the growth of weeds.

Cucumbers do not like hot weather. High temperatures not only adversely affect the quality of the vegetable but may also provoke an increase in the number of male flowers. For those who grow cucumbers in a hot climate, it is better to arrange a shade for the plants, especially in the afternoon. Planted on the south side cucumber beds that are high-growing species or cloth awning, which do not permit 40-50% of sunlight will help you. Weekly feeding with nettle and dandelion tincture gives good results (they are to be distilled for a few days at a ratio of 1:1, when used are to be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10).

Incipiently germinating seeds can be sown in conventional beds in early June.

To obtain the good crop of tasty cucumbers, plant them in a well-lit area in the heated and drained soil, with the PH level of 6-7. High ridges are ideal for cucumbers. Do not sow the seeds and seedlings, if there is a threat of frost or soil is not warmed till 15 ° C. Frost will kill your plants, and cold soil will slow their growth and will trigger stress. Plant the seeds on the seedlings at home for 3-4 weeks before the expected date of planting it in the outdoor soil and be careful to not damage the tender roots when transplanting them.

Cucumbers will please you with an excellent crop, if the soil in which they will grow will be enriched with organic substances like good compost or mature manure. The soil should be light and loose. Once the shoots will form on the lashes and the first flowers appear, once again fill in the rows with compost or other organic fertilizers. Yellow leaves indicate that the plants do not have enough nitrogen, and they need extra feeding.

By providing sufficient space for plant growth, you will make one more step in combating stress. If you grow cucumbers on the trellis, plant the plants at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. Wells with a 1-2 seeds or seedlings (if you prick) are located at a distance of 90 cm in the row and 120-150 cm between the rows. Bush varieties are planted at a distance of 90 cm from each other and between the rows.

Keep the cucumber bed and the adjacent area clean of weeds, since many of them are breeding grounds for bacterial infection, causing drying cucumber lashes. Its distributor is usually a beetle. Incidentally, these insects are especially attracted by plants weakened by stress

Arrange strip shelters to protect seedlings, cover them with paper or plastic caps or build small greenhouses. All this will help get the harvest faster and will not only ensure good plant growth and its early flowering, but also will protect it from pests. Do not forget to remove all the shelters with the beginning of flowering.

Depending on the type of cucumbers they are harvested in 50-70 days after planting. The size of a ripe cucumber depends on its variety. Some varieties of American cucumbers have the best taste when they reach 15-20 cm in length, Middle East varieties, such as Amira - 10-15 cm, most Canning Cucumbers - 7,5-12,5 cm and Asian varieties - 20 - 30 cm.

Some gardeners while picking cucumbers break them off the lash with rapid movement. However, if you are not sure that you can do it neatly enough to not damage the plant, better use scissors or shears.

As you see knowing how to grow cucumbers properly will reward you with fresh and natural cucumbers in your kitchen.