How to Grow Cucumber Indoor?

If you want to enjoy the crunchy treat which is available whole round the year, but you do not have enough space to grow cucumber then no need to worry, you can even grow cucumber indoor. The quality of this plant is, it is nutritious and can be grown and eaten in a variety of ways. When they are planted outdoor the vines of cucumber plant spread out over a large area of the ground, but to grow indoor you have to choose different varieties of cucumber for indoor plantation and that have been bred to grow and produce fruit without pollination.

Cucumbers grow well in indoor conditions when growing inside a container by given specific growing conditions. Bush cucumber varieties are well suited for indoor containers, as same as outdoor ones because they utilize one-third the space of vine varieties. Some container bush varieties also include Patio Pickler for pickling cucumber and Bush Whopper and Bush Champion foe the purpose of slicing and salads. Cucumber is easier to grow indoors as long as you have got a sunny window and provides the plant the care they require.

Plant type:

The cucumber has gained popularity in the home garden over the years due to its pickling and slicing properties. The main consideration for cucumber is real estate, as they require substantial space to thrive. Those growing in smaller spaces should consider training vines onto vertical structures to extend the growing surface of the garden. They will even be grown in containers, the more decent option to grow for residential farmers. The cucumber ranges in size from the little gherkin type to the long thin slicing variety. There is also present yellow fruited varieties. A gardener incorporates a great number of options when selecting what kind of cucumber to grow indoor.

Description of indoor plant species:

Cucumber is a subtropical crop, requiring long warm days along with many sunshine and balmy nights. Many new cultivars are bred to supply shorter growing seasons making them ideal for cooler climates. They can withstand even with high temperatures 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit which is ideal for its optimum growth. The plant will even die under frost conditions. As quickly they grow, always ensure the accurate supply of moisture and plant nutrients throughout the season.

Methods to grow cucumber indoor:

The different ways and principles for growing cucumber indoor are very similar to grow cucumber outdoor. If you want to urge indoor cucumber growth, then you have to follow certain principles of growing cucumber indoor.

Selection of appropriate variety:

You cannot grow every variety of cucumber indoor because of fruit setting issues. Here is some indoor variety which gives a better fruit setting.

Picolino F1: A European slicer with a sweet flavor, thin skin, and crispy texture. It is parthenocarpic in nature and gives mature fruit in 50 days.

Saber F1: The fruit is about 8″-9″ long which got matures in 55 days. Here no pollination is required.

H-19 Little Leaf:  It also required no pollination for this pickling variety, which produces 3″-4″ fruit in about 58 days.

Paraiso F1: A slicer with 8″-10″ fruit. High-yielding at 59 days.

National Pickling: The 5″ fruits, with blunt ends, are perfect for pickling. It starts fruiting at 52 days. Also delicious in salads.

Poona Kheera: Unusual variety which gives the fruit of 4″5″ long with golden skin and a juicy, crisp texture. It is very productive which gives fruit in 50 days. Climbs easily on a trellis to 5 or 6 feet.

Selection of growing container:

For indoor planting, you have to choose the container and pot for effective growth. Select a container that is large enough to accommodate the cucumbers as they grow. A container should be 8 inches wide and 12 inches deep for the proper growth of the cucumber plant.

Potting medium:

Combine one part each of potting soil, sphagnum, peat moss, perlite, and compost to create a potting mixture. First, fill the three-quarter of the pot with potting medium and place the cucumber plant in the container then add the remainder of the soil, filling in around the plant. Water the plant thoroughly, allow the soil to settle. Fill the pot until the soil level is within ¾ inch of the container top. For seeding, fill the container to almost full and place about five seed within the middle of the pot and cover them with ½ inch of soil.

Choosing and Planting the seed:

First of all, choosing the right seed for indoor plantation to pick the best crop. As with most indoor vegetables and fruit, it is vital to settle on a spread that suits your growing environment in addition because the condition you will provide so as to urge the most effective of seeds that you just plant. With cucumber that is no different. Most sorts up and out usually these are trained around a trellis. They are also notorious for sending huge tap roots down into the soil below them. For the indoor gardener, there are sorts of cucumber that are rather more suited to space typically provided by the common home. For an interior cucumber plant, you must choose a bush variety that is much more compact than the quality variety. They also require less soil and may still bear cucumber of normal size.

You can plant these in a very 7-inch pot. You just have to sprinkle some seeds over loosened soil and cover them with another inch of soil to cover them. They usually take almost 10 days to germinate if the proper condition is provided. They almost take around 60 days to get fully mature. You should sim to grow about a minimum of 2 plants for pollination purposes.

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Light and temperature:

After choosing the planting seed, next, you have to maintain the light and temperature of the surrounding environment. In the early stages of growth, if you will be able to provide continuous light for the plants then do so as this may provide stimulation. If this can be inconceivable, then provide light for as long as possible for the same effect. For growing cucumber, you will be able to provide a high temperature of around 25-30 ^oC for an extra boost in growth. However, this can be not completely necessary. In later stages, particularly at a time of fruiting, the plants will need consistent, strong light for about 8hours every day, which must be supplemented by a grow light if natural light is not sufficient.

For cucumber, it is still possible to grow the fruit indoor but under optimum condition, however, you may find out the assembly of the plant is greatly reduced. You will be able the frequency of low light with a longer period of lighting around 16 hours.

Nature of soil:

Cucumber can grow successfully in different kinds of soils. The well-liked soil is loose, sufficiently drained and adequately provided with organic matter and plant nutrients. Add organic matter like well-rotted manure or compost before planting. The soil pH should be between 6 and 7. Lime and fertilizers are best applied using soil test results as a guide. Excessive-fertilization also interferes with the assembly of fruit.

Irrigation:

Cucumber is very thirsty plants and can require a large amount of water especially after they begin fruiting. Keep the soil completely moist in the least times in order that the plant can constantly draw water for the fruit.

Feeding:

Always make sure the availability of nutrients in the soil should be in an appropriate quantity. The essential micro and macronutrients are required for the proper growth of the cucumber plant. You can use compost and farmyard manure to enrich the soil. Make sure the proper amount of nitrogen fertilizer in the soil. Cucumber plants would require feeding with nitrogen-based chemical dissolves in water. The two feedings should carry the plant through to maturity. Fertilize the plant once in every week by employing 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer and ensure the irrigation thoroughly whenever you apply fertilizer.

Pollination:

Cucumber plant will produce both male and female flowers. Male flowers are outnumbering the female flowers which may be identified by the small cucumber growing behind the flower. For pollination purposes, the pollen must be transferred from the male flowers to the female flowers. For fruit set just try to clip a male flower off the plant and peel back the petals to use the flower as a brush. Ideally, you ought to use males and female flowers from alternative plants for the perfect results.

Harvesting:

Once the cucumber reaches to a desirable size, just pick the fruit by cutting the stem with hand shears roughly, some from the tip of the fruit. You should remove any fruit that shows signs of yellowing as this could cause the whole plant to prevent growth and production.

Tips for growing Cucumber indoor:

Here are the following tips for growing cucumber indoor.

• Start picking your cucumbers once they are not any larger than the palm of your hand. Your plant will keep producing cucumbers for several months.
• If your potting soil does not have a time-release fertilizer in it, you will be able to purchase some at your garden supply store and add it to your soil and compost mixture to assist your cucumber plant to grow quickly.
• If you have got an abundant crop, then preserve in form of pickles.

Warning for growing Cucumber indoor:

• Your plant will produce flowers, which is able to form into cucumbers, so don’t pick or pinch off the flowers.
• Low temperatures and frost can kill cucumbers. If you plant within the winter, do not let the melon get too near the window, particularly if it is drafty.
• Isolate your cucumber planter, because the vine grows, its tendrils will reach out and connect to any furniture or objects nearby. Employing a stick or trellis within the planter and inspiring the vine to wrap itself around an item of your choosing will alleviate this problem. If you utilize a dangling pot for your plant, ensure the pot and therefore the hook it hangs from are sturdy, an abundant crop of cucumbers can get heavy.

Hopefully, you get all guide about growing cucumber indoor, now you will be able to enjoy crunchy treat all the year-round.