BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CUCUMBERS

» Optimal cucumber production requires appropriate site selection, along with proper planting, and irrigation practices.
» Both bare ground and plasticulture systems are used for commercial slicing cucumber production.
» Adequate pollination can be key to proper fruit formation.

Three basic types of cucumbers are grown in the U. S.; plasticulture system include weed control, increased
slicing or fresh market types that are usually eaten irrigation efficiency, especially with drip irrigation systems,
uncooked; pickling types that are shorter and lighter in color and better fertilizer management. The disadvantages of
than slicing cucumbers, normally used for processing into these systems include the higher cost of production and the
pickles; and the European burpless types, which are need to dispose of the plastic mulch at the end of the
produced in greenhouse systems.1 This article will focus on season.3
production of the slicing/fresh market types.
Double cropping cucumbers following tomato, eggplant, or
SITE SELECTION AND TEMPERATURES peppers, using the same beds, mulch, and irrigation system
can spread production costs, including the costs of soil
Cucumbers can be grown on most soil types. However, they
fumigation, over two crops, while not risking problems with
perform best in soils with good moisture holding capacity
mutual diseases and pests.1
and water infiltration rates. Soil pH levels should be between
5.8 and 6.6. If pH levels are below 5.8, lime applications can In either system, cucumbers can be direct seeded or grown
be used to adjust the level into the optimum range. from transplants. Starting with transplants can result in an
earlier crop, but the added costs of purchasing or growing
Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold temperatures. They
transplants may not always be economically justified.
can be easily injured by frost, and growth will be slow at
temperatures below 50°F. Optimum soil temperatures for
germination and growth are between 70 and 80°F, with air
PLANT SPACING
temperatures between 70 and 85°F.1 Seeds or transplants Spacing recommendations for cucumbers vary somewhat
should be planted after soil temperatures are above 60°F among states and growing regions. For bare ground
and when air temperatures remain above 50°F.2 production, University of Florida-IFAS guidelines recommend
planting on 48 to 60 inch rows, with a plant-to-plant, in-row
BARE-GROUND VS. PLASTICULTURE SYSTEMS spacing of 6 to 12 inches.1 The Cornell Extension guidelines
recommend row spacings of 60 to 72 inches with in-row
Slicing cucumbers are
spacings of 10 to 15 inches,4 and the Midwest Production
grown in both bare
Guide recommends row spacings from 48 to 72 inches with
ground and raised bed,
in-row spacings of 15 to 18 inches.5 However, planting with 6
plasticulture systems.
inch in-row spacing is not uncommon in the Midwest.
Bare ground systems
have lower input costs, Plasticulture systems can be arranged with one or two rows
but earlier production per bed. For two row systems, a 10 to 18 inch spacing
and higher yields are between rows is recommended with beds on 48 to 72 inch
usually seen in the centers. Within rows, holes in the mulch are spaced every 8
plasticulture systems. Figure 1. Cucumbers growing in a raised
bed, plastic mulch system. to 10 inches, with one or two plants per hole.1
Black plastic mulch
over raised beds (Figure 1) results in higher soil FERTILIZATION
temperatures early in the season, promoting rapid Fertilizer application rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
germination and earlier fruit development. In the warmer and potassium (K) should be based on soil type and annual
summer months, white-on-black plastic mulch is used to soil nutrient tests. Again, recommendations vary somewhat
prevent the soil from over heating. Additional benefits of the (Continued on page 2)
 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CUCUMBERS
(Continued from page 1) number of flowers present on a variety is important to
from state to state, but most recommendations call for 60 to consider, as special steps may be needed to ensure an
100 pounds of N per acre, and 40 to 120 pounds of P (P2O5 adequate supply of pollen. If gynoecious or predominantly
equivalent) and K (K2O equivalent) per acre. 1,2,3,4,5 Typically, female varieties are planted, pollenizer plants with male
about half of the fertilizer is applied to the soil before flowers will need to be planted along with the production
planting or banded over the row at planting. The remaining variety.3 Most seed companies will pre-package pollenizer
amounts are put on as one or two early season sidedress varieties in the bag, eliminating the need to purchase a
applications, usually when plants begin to vine out. Lower separate
overall levels of N can often be used in mulched systems pollenizer
because the mulch reduces the amount loss from leaching variety.
due to rain or overhead irrigation. With drip irrigation It is also
systems, the post-plant applications can be made through important to
the drip system (fertigation) at rates of 3 to 6 pounds per make sure that
acre per week.1,5 an adequate
IRRIGATION number of
active
Cucumber plants need between 1 and 2 inches of water per Figure 2. Female (left) and male (right) cucumber pollinators
week for optimum production and fruit quality. Plants have a flowers.
(usually honey
higher demand for moisture during pollination and fruit bees) are present during the pollination period. A typical
development.1,5 Irregular watering, especially during the recommendation is to provide one active honey bee hive
bloom and fruit development stages can result in misshapen per acre of cucumbers.2 However, declines in native bee
fruit, hollow fruit, carpel separation, or hooked fruit.4,5 populations has resulted in a recommended rate of two
Overhead sprinkler, drip, and seepage irrigation systems are hives per acre in some areas.3
all used in commercial cucumber production.1 Drip systems
are typically the most efficient in terms of water usage per Care must be taken to protect bees from nearby insecticide
acre. They can be used to deliver nutrients to the root zone; applications, and growers should coordinate activities with
they can reduce weed growth between rows; and they the bee keepers. It is best not to apply any insecticides
minimize leaf wetness, which can lead to increased disease. during the pollination period. However, if an insecticide
However, they may require more management effort, and application is necessary, the time of application is very
drip tape needs to be replaced, usually every season. important in reducing bee exposure. Bees are present in
cucumber plantings and pollinate most actively in the
POLLINATION morning and early afternoon. So applications of any
In addition to adequate soil moisture, proper fruit pesticides should be made late in the day, preferably near
development requires adequate levels of pollination. dusk.2
Cucumber plants produce male and female flowers, and Sources:
pollination requires the presence and activity of pollinators, 1
Larson, B.C., Mossler, M.A., and Nesheim, O.N. 2014. Florida Crop/pest management
mostly bees, to move pollen from the male to the female profiles: Cucumbers. UF IFAS Extension. CIR 1255.
2
Orzolek, M.D., Kime, L.F., Bogash, S.M., Harper, J. K. 2010. Cucumber production.
flowers. Multiple pollinator visits per flower are required to Agricultural Alternatives. Penn State. UA463.
adequately pollinate the fruit, and good plant and pollinator
3
Kelly, T., Granberry, D., and Boyhan, G. 2009. Commercial production and management
of squash and cucumbers (B 1178). University of Georgia Extension.
management can be crucial for successful production. 4
Reiners, S. and Seamen, A. 2016. Cornell integrated crop and pest management
guidelines for commercial vegetable production.
Cucumber varieties differ in the types of flowers they 5
Egel, D.S. 2016. Midwest vegetable production guide for commercial growers.
produce. Standard cucumbers are monoecious, meaning
that they produce both male and female flowers on the
same plant, with male flowers producing pollen, and fruit For additional agronomic information, please contact your local seed representative.
developing only from female flowers (Figure 2). A majority of Developed in partnership with Technology Development & Agronomy by Monsanto.

the flowers on these varieties are male. Some varieties are Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from
gynoecious, producing only female flowers. These varieties year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing,
soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations
need to be planted near pollenizer varieties that produce and years whenever possible. The recommendations in this article are based upon
male flowers because they do not produce any pollen of information obtained from the cited sources and should be used as a quick reference for
information about cucumber production. The content of this article should not be
their own. Some varieties are “predominantly female”, substituted for the professional opinion of a producer, grower, agronomist, pathologist and
producing mostly female flowers, and there are some similar professional dealing with this specific crop
SEMINIS DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION OR
experimental varieties that are hermaphroditic, where TECHNICAL ADVICE PROVIDED HEREIN AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY
flowers have both male and female structures. The type and CLAIM INVOLVING SUCH INFORMATION OR ADVICE. 160525095554 0909116DME