Cucumber

Get informed about the properties and requirements of cucumber, and we will guide you to the best formulations to optimize your horticultural cultivation.

Get to know cucumber to achieve excellent results in your crops.

Cucumber is a vegetable from the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes species such as melon, watermelon, and zucchini. It is currently available in European markets throughout the year. It has an elongated shape and its skin is green, which lightens and turns yellow when fully ripe. Its leaves are pointed and have 3 to 5 triangular lobes. It can be distinguished from melon because melon leaves are more angular.

Spain is the third largest producer of cucumbers in the European Union, with a volume of 720,000 tons. Approximately 70% of the 7,500 cultivated hectares are in greenhouses. Greenhouse production alone can reach up to 650,000 tons, with Almería, Granada, and Las Palmas being the provinces with the highest production volume in Spain.

Furthermore,a significant portion of the cultivated varieties are hybrids (F1) derived from different varieties. We can mainly differentiate four types: short-fruited (gherkin) varieties such as Ceto F1, long-fruited Spanish type (Serena F1), medium-long or French type (Bellando F1), or long Dutch type (Alaska F1).

Soil characteristics

They prefer medium-textured soils that are rich in organic matter and deep. They are more tolerant than melons to acidic pH levels (up to 5.5), but they are less tolerant to excessive salinity, which can result in high losses if not controlled. Waterlogged soils are also not well-tolerated by cucumber plants.

Medium soils
Rich soils with organic matter
Deep soils

Soils with acidic pH levels above 5.5
Soils with excessive salinity
Waterlogged soils

Climate needs

For the successful growth of the cucumber crop, it is essential to maintain optimal temperatures, which are slightly above average. It requires slightly less heat than melon and slightly more than zucchini. The optimal temperature for germination is 24-32 ºC, 18-24 ºC during growth, and it should not exceed 35-40 ºC to prevent a decrease in productivity. Nighttime temperatures should not drop too low.

Germination 24-32 ºC
Growth 18-24 ºC
Maximun 35-40 ºC

Irrigation

Cucumber, a water-demanding plant, requires consistently moist soil without excessive waterlogging and saturation. Adequate water supply is particularly crucial during the fruiting stage. Given that the cucumber's flowering and fruit-setting phase is extended, it is recommended to ensure sufficient water availability to ensure good production. It is important to avoid wetting the leaves during irrigation.

Considered

TOP recommended formulations for most crops