Cucumbers are part of the gourd family. The cucumber is a creeping vine originally from India but is now grown on most continents. Here is a short guide on how to grow them and some delicious varieties.

Cucumbers are relatively easy to grow outside in the garden, although they do tend to produce quite thick skins when grown outside. I prefer to grow them in a cold greenhouse. Cucumber seeds like a warm atmosphere in order to germinate successfully so it is worth placing them on a wet piece of cloth or kitchen towel for a few days before you sow them. Indoors, cucumbers can be grown in pots or grow bags. They can be grown up supports or left to their own devices to trail around the greenhouse. Seeds can be sown in April in a propagator or directly into compost in May or early June. Seeds should be planted at least 45cm apart. When the seeds have germinated, transplant seedlings into larger pots. Once your plant has developed about six leaves, pinch out the growing tip to help the plant bush out and feed regularly. Cucumber plants are either male or female. Although female plants do sometimes produce male flowers. On indoor plants these should be pinched out as they appear.

Cucumbers need to be regularly watered and fed with a liquid fertiliser. To get the best flavour it is best to harvest cucumbers when they are young. If you let the fruits mature fully and turn on the plant, this will stop flowering.

Varieties of cucumber

Cucumber ‘Passandra’ is an all female indoor cucumber and highly recommended as a heavy cropper. It produces lots of medium sized slightly ribbed, cylindrical and dark green fruits of 15-18cm long. ‘Burpless Tasty Green’ is both easy to grow and (as its name suggests) easy on the stomach! It is a very prolific variety, producing tender-skinned, crisp and tasty cucumbers with no bitterness. This variety is also resistant to mildew and high summer temperatures. It grows to about 6ft in height. Cucumber ‘Euphya’ is another prolific, all-female variety, with good disease resistance. It produces long straight cucumbers with a delicious taste. It is a more hardy variety that will tolerate cooler conditions and can even be grown outside as long as it is placed in a sunny, sheltered position. Cucumber ‘Ilas’ is a mini variety that is just perfect for those who maybe want to grow cucumbers but don’t eat a lot of them. It is a heavy cropper producing crunchy mini cucumbers. It also has high mildew resistance.

Cucumbers can be easily grown in garden planters or in grow bags, either inside a cold greenhouse, or outside in the garden.

Jo Poultney is one of two people behind Garden Planters. I have an RHS general certificate in horticulture. Garden Planters source unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts – whatever your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have something for you. I believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden – they enhance the overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden belongs. If you would like to know more about Garden Planters, visit our website at http://www.gardenplantersshop.co.uk