Did you know that cucumbers are one of the most finicky crops that we grow? It's true! We usually have cucumbers for sale by the last week in May, but this year, we're about three weeks behind that norm. Don't worry though, as shown in the photo, it won't be long!
Cucumbers can wither and die if exposed to temperatures below 45 degrees. Their roots will rot if the soil temperature is below 60 degrees. Furthermore, they loathe transplanting (if you transplant, don't disturb their roots or cover their stems with soil!), and the seeds and seedlings are a favorite of mice and voles!
Our 2020 cucumber crop suffered from all of the above this year, and low-and-behold, the crop that we're about to harvest is our THIRD try this year! We start the seeds in cell trays on a heat mat set to 80 degrees in early-March. We cover them with a clear plastic dome to keep the rodents off and keep the moisture in. When they have one set of true leaves and are about 6" tall, about the end of March, we transplant them into a heated high tunnel (heated to 65 for tomatoes and peppers), being very careful to set the soil block in the ground and not cover up the stem. Then we wait, trellis, and start picking. This year, we lost our first round 100% to rodents despite the clear domes. We lost the second round to a chilly night when the temperature in our heated tunnel dipped below 40 unexpectedly (the tomatoes and peppers, being more hearty, survived just fine). Now we're in the clear and we'll have cucumbers available starting in 1-2 weeks and through nearly to the end of the season!
Enjoy your produce this week. We sure enjoy growing it for you.
