The Old Farmer's Almanac Tip For Growing Healthy Cucumbers (And If They're Right)

If you want fresh cucumbers from the garden, but fret about making room for these sprawling vines in your flower beds, don't worry. The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests that growing cucumbers in containers might actually make for healthier cukes. But are they right? The answer is yes, as long as you don't mind a little more work.

While you absolutely can grow these veggies in the ground with the right care, pots do offer some advantages. The Almanac suggests using a pot or even growing cucumbers in a hanging basket will help you control variables like light. You can chase the sun, moving any pot to a sunnier part of your patio as needed. Containers also mean you get to pick the soil. Cucumbers prefer organically rich mixes and don't like too much acidity, aiming for pH levels between 6.0 and 6.5. 

The soil refresh benefits cucumbers in another way, too. Planting them in the same spot year after year can increase your chances that diseases will become a recurring problem. Deadly plant pathogens often live in the soil, such as black root rot – a common garden fungus. Of course, keeping cukes confined to pots also means you may have to do more work, like fertilizing them regularly and watering them more consistently. But the work could be worth it if you want more control over the growing conditions for one of your favorite salad veggies.

To grow healthier cucumbers in containers, first pick the right variety. Choose a bush type, rather than a vining variety, for best results. Most bushy varieties, like 'Pick a Bushel,' 'Salad Bush,' or 'Spacemaster,' thrive in pots because they stay relatively compact. If you don't mind mini cukes (between 2 and 4 inches long), then the Almanac also recommends 'Parisian Gherkin' and 'Little Leaf' cultivars.

Next, it's time to pick your pot. Pick one that is at least a foot wide and 10 inches tall in order to have proper root depth. Plant your seeds in patio containers outside after there's no danger of frost. They need lots of sun and regular watering. Aim for about an inch or two of water every week, but they could need more on super-hot summer afternoons. You'll know your cucumbers need more water if the soil begins to separate from the pot's wall or if plants wilt.

Sporadic watering may lead to bitter cucumbers, and no one wants that. It's also a good idea to pick young veggies before they're fully mature if you want them to taste sweeter. Harvest them before they turn yellow. While bush cucumbers may stay compact enough to not need support, a small trellis in the pot or a fence behind it can help the small vines hold the weight of the fruits. Plus, they are a stylish way to clean up the plant's appearance while on your patio.