Trellising and training of greenhouse cucumbers Trellising of cucumbers should not be confused with pruning. They do go hand in hand, but are very different. Trellising is leading the whole plant up the twine in a certain growth direction or pattern while pruning is removing leaves, fruit and growth points during the growth period. I [...]
We all know the basics of nitrogen in plants. The good and the bad. Every grower and student knows nitrogen is important for good looking healthy plants. Too much nitrogen and you get dark green vigorous growing vegetative growth, too little and plants show smaller leaves but it seems that there are more flowers and [...]
Cucumbers are sensitive to water stress (to little water) and to water logging (over watering). Any of these two conditions will reduce plant vigour and cause physiological fruit disorders such as crooked fruit. The frequency of water application cannot be standardized because of so many factors that vary within each farming system. Fertigation scheduling should [...]
When it comes to fertigation programmes or recipes, most commercial growers have a good indication of what is required. The nutrient program is either obtained from the fertilizer company or it is a tried and tested custom mix. Quite often what these recipes do not indicate or provide, is the variations of nutrients required within [...]
Physiological disorders caused by low temperatures Low temperatures injury only occurs with fruit that are in storage (either in transit or in storage rooms). Small circular pits each 3-9mm in diameter and up to 1 mm deep appear. They can coalesce to form large irregular sunken areas. The minimum temperature that cucumber fruits should be [...]
Selecting a cucumber pruning system The question arises which system should be used. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages according to the ability and managerial skill of the grower, the experience of his labour, capital available to build the various structures, climatic conditions of the area etc. The easiest to apply are the vertical [...]
Never use chemical that are not registered by your local Department of Agriculture. A range of chemicals that can be used on cucumbers are provided below and must be followed to control most insects and diseases found in hydroponic production systems (in South Africa). Please check your local Agricultural extension officer for a list of [...]
Establishing the cucumber crop Cucumbers are tropical plants. In order to grow optimally a tropical environment should be created. This implies that temperatures should not exceed 32 °C and should also not fall below 16 °C. These are optimum values and are not always obtainable. Cucumber seedlings are sensitive to low temperatures. The ideal germination [...]
