Cucumbers Grow Astonishingly Well In Most Extreme Desert Environments. 

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The following shows how to grow cucumbers well in most desert environments.

Soil Temp for Germ65–90°F
Seed Depth½”
Seed Spacing4–6/hill
Days to Emergence4–13
Thin Plants to1–2/hill
Row Spacing3–4′
Fertilizer NeedsHigh
Minimum Germination80%
Seeds per Gram≈ 25–30
Seed Life3 years
Cucumber on the vine.

Cucumis sativus A favorite in cuisine worldwide, cucumbers possess health benefits too numerous to mention. Incorporate cucumbers in your diet to aid with weight loss, as they are exceptionally low in calories (only about 8 calories in 1/2 cup), aid digestion, and rid toxins from the body. Among the more unusual qualities of the humble cuke is its ability to ease skin irritations. Use a piece of cucumber skin to soothe burns.
Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding. 

Culture
• Cucumbers perform best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH 5.5-7.0
• Consistent, even watering is critical for best plant growth and fruit development
• Raised beds, plastic mulch, and trellising can improve yields, keep fruit straight and scab free
• Incorporate a shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC’s Complete fertilizer per hill

Direct Sowing
• For best germination, keep soil evenly moist but not too wet
• Cover hill with Kozy-Coats, Victorian Bell Cloches, or a row cover to speed up germination
• Thin to the strongest 1-2 plants when first true leaves emerge

Transplanting
• Start indoors in 4 inch pots, 3-4 weeks before anticipated transplant date
• Avoid letting starts get root bound; transplant carefully as to not disturb roots

Pests & Diseases
• Common pests: Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs, stink bugs
• Pest control: Pyrethrin
• Common diseases: See chart below
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation, Zonix for Powdery Mildew

Harvest & Storage
• Consistent harvest will keep plants productive
• Store at 45°F and 95% relative humidity
• For pickling, harvest cukes when small, before seeds form

KEY TO FLOWERS AND FRUIT SET
GY | Gynoecious – Has nearly all female flowers.
HE | Hermaphrodite – Flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts.
MO | Monoecious – Has separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
PAT | Parthenocarpic – Has the ability to set fruit without pollination.

KEY TO CUCUMBER DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
A | Anthracnose*
ACu | Alternaria Leaf Blight
ALS | Angular Leaf Spot
C | Cercospora
CCa | Corynespora Blight & Target Spot
CCu | Scab & Gummosis
CMV | Cucumber Mosaic Virus
CVYV | Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus

CYSDV | Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus 
DM | Downy Mildew
PM | Powdery Mildew
R | Common Rust
S | Scab
TSP | Target Spot
WMV | Watermelon Mosaic Virus
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

Learn More About Your Area of Interest Below

Planning Your Desert Garden

Taking the time to prepare a helpful plan is one of the most significant things you can do for your garden. You’ll need to consider which crops to raise, how much of each crop to plant, and when to expect your crop. It’s no overstatement to say that a comprehensive garden plan alone can double or triple the productivity of a garden.

Learn More
layout of raised garden beds.
A Planned Garden

Preparing the Soil in Your Desert Garden

SOIL PREPARATION AND BUILDING
The best soil should be deep, well drained, and fertile, and should contain plenty of organic materials and retain moisture well. The preservation of a good level of organic matter in the soil solves a lot of common desert gardening problems.  Here in the Southwest, you will need to add a great deal of organic matter–compost to your gardens.

Learn More
Caliche in the soil

Getting Water to Your Plants

The object of water use in the desert is to conserve the water whenever possible. There are many water conservation methods that can be used when watering the garden.  A gardener of the desert must learn to live with the limitations of the climate.

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Raised Beds for Your Desert Garden

In my opinion, a raised garden bed is the best way to grow Vegetables in the Desert.
The soil in a raised bed is well aerated, which encourages healthy root systems and healthy soil.
Raised beds allows you to put your resources into a small area, allowing you to grow vegetables as frugally as possible.

Learn More
Picture of raised garden beds.
Raised Garden Beds

The Art of Composting

Composting is an extraordinary soil improver, and is especially important for successful desert gardening.
The soil is not, as many suppose, a dead, inert substance. It is very much alive and dynamic. It teems with bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, molds, yeasts, protozoa, algae and other minute organisms. —J. I. RODALE, PAY DIRT

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A Picture of a rectangular compost bin and a double barrel type of composter.
My Compost Bins

STARTING SEEDS INDOORS

Starting seeds has several benefits but learning how to start them indoors can be a little overwhelming, and a lot of things can go wrong. I tried and failed several times to start seeds indoors, but each disappointment taught me something new. Learning from my missteps and avoid making the same mistakes. The following method has proven to be very successful for me, and it’s very consistent and easy. 

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Great information on the back of seed packages.

How Do Hungry Worms Nourish and Enrich Soil?

Conceivably no other living organism in the soil is as significant as an earthworm in helping to increase soil healthiness.  Earthworms increase soil ventilation, penetration, construction, nutrient sequence, water movement and plant development. Hungry Worms are one of the main decomposers of organic matter.

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Worms in soil.
Worms In Black Gold

Growing a Vegetable Garden in the Southwest USA offers a distinctive set of trials, particularly if you are new to it. 

To start planting your garden, you’ll need to get some vegetable seeds. Order your seeds from reputable seed companies to verify the seeds are high-grade and most seed companies offer catalogs for free.

Learn More

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