Try raised beds if drainage is an issue.īecause cucumbers are so susceptible to pests and disease, rotate where you plant them from year to year. Try planting something tall on the west side of cucumbers-such as sunflowers or dill-to provide some evening shade.Ĭucumbers like consistent moisture, but they should not be grown where soil remains soggy. Since they are susceptible to mildew, the morning sun will dry the dew from the leaves and minimize mildew, according to The Impatient Gardener. Plant cucumbers on the east side of the garden so they can access the morning sun. They like heat, moisture, well-drained soil, and evening shade, according to How to Grow More Vegetables. Grow a garden that’s both productive and manageable with my Complete Garden Planning System, which includes practical tools for planning your season from seed to harvest.Ĭucumbers can be finicky about the amount of sunlight and water they receive. Salad Bush (slicing cucumber, dwarf-good for containers)įor more information, see Disease-Resistant Cucumber Varieties.

These varieties are also resistant to mosaic virus, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. The following popular varieties are a few that are currently resistant to bacterial wilt, a disease spread by cucumber beetles. By choosing varieties that resist disease, you’ll be one step closer to success. (If you need some guidance, your local extension office can help you out.) 2: Choose Resistant Varieties of CucumbersĬucumbers are susceptible to a number of diseases and pests. Get a soil test to determine whether your garden soil is ideal. If your soil doesn’t meet this specification, look for organic soil amendments that either increase or decrease the pH.

The higher the pH, the less susceptible to fungal disease the plants will be. However, if you don’t have access to homemade compost or local livestock manure, adding store-bought worm castings is one of my favorite store-bought amendments. I like to make my own compost (in my compost bin as well as in my worm bin). One month before planting, amend the soil with compost and manure, and loosen it with a digging fork or broadfork in the no-till garden.

The soil for cucumbers should be rich, but not heavy.

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