Growing Medium
C. sativus are heavy feeders, and for the crispest, firmest, and most flavorful fruits, they require a light, well-draining soil mixture that’s rich in organic materials with a slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
I find that potting soil alone is too lightweight in texture and nutrients for container grown veggies and prefer to mix my own blend.
Here’s how to make it:
- Into a large bin or wheelbarrow, place two parts of loamy garden or potting soil.
- Mix in two parts of organic matter such as compost, well-rotted manure, or worm castings.
- If desired, add in one-half or one part of moisture retentive materials such as coconut coir, peat moss, or vermiculite. This can be helpful in smaller pots where the soil tends to dry out more quickly than large planters.
- If using larger pots or planters, add in one part of gritty materials such as landscape sand, stone chips, pea gravel, or perlite to prevent compaction and ensure the soil is well-draining.
Also, avoid using garden soil alone for potted vegetables – it’s too heavy and compacts easily, causing problems for the roots.
Cultivars to Select
There are many vigorous bush varieties that are ideal for container cultivation – here are a few popular choices to get you started.
Bush Champion
A non-climbing, compact cucumber, ‘Bush Champion’ is early fruiting and produces an abundance of large cukes with a crisp texture and full flavor.
The fruits measure eight to 12 inches long on plants that grow up to eight inches tall with a 24-inch spread.
‘Bush Champion’ has good disease resistance and is a smart choice for patio pots and other containers.
You can find ‘Bush Champion’ seeds available at Burpee.
Pick A Bushel
A semi-bush variety, ‘Pick A Bushel’ is a small cucumber cultivar but reliably high yielding with up to 20 flavorful and firm-textured fruits per plant.
The small, light green fruits grow three to six inches long on 12-inch plants that spread up to 24 inches.
An easy choice with good disease resistance, ‘Pick A Bushel’ is ideal for hanging baskets, kitchen potagers, or patio planters.
You can find seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.
Saladmore
Perfect for container gardens, ‘Saladmore’ is a reliable bush variety that provides an ample harvest of crisp, sweetly flavored fruits.
The dark green cukes grow seven to eight inches long on cucumber plants that reach up to 24 inches with a similar spread.
A handsome, disease resistant choice for patio pots and mixed veggie planters.
You can find seeds available in a variety of packet sizes at True Leaf Market.
How to Grow
Heat-loving cucumbers shouldn’t be planted out until overnight temperatures remain above 50°F and soil temperatures are a minimum of 60°F.
To ensure the deeper soil in pots doesn’t become soggy, I like to add a one- to two-inch layer of porous drainage material, like broken pottery or pebbles, to the bottom of the container.
Prepare your pots with your favorite soil mixture then allow it to warm in the sun for a couple of days.
