The primary 12 months I grew cucumbers, I had a bumper crop and thought it was simple. Trying again, we had a protracted, delicate spring. It was excellent cucumber climate. Since then, I’ve realized what actually makes the distinction in sizzling climates: plant on the proper time, select heat-friendly varieties, and preserve moisture constant.
This information shares what works in my sizzling, dry backyard in Mesa, Arizona, and how one can develop crisp, flavorful cucumbers in your local weather. When you’ve got struggled with bitterness, poor fruit set, or warmth injury, you aren’t alone. Use the steps beneath to get a dependable, scrumptious harvest.
What we are going to cowl:
When to Plant Cucumbers in Scorching Climates
Cucumbers desire heat, not sizzling, climate and don’t thrive in excessive warmth. When temperatures soar, the vegetation might flip bitter, cease producing, or die again. Timing is all the pieces.
Normal Planting Timing
In most heat climates, plant open air in spring as soon as all hazard of frost has handed and the soil has warmed to a minimum of 60°F (15°C).
Late summer season plantings are additionally potential in areas with lengthy rising seasons. Plant about 6 to eight weeks earlier than your first anticipated frost.
Soil temperatures between 70 and 90°F (21 to 32°C) are perfect for germination.
Low Desert Timing (Zones 9b and 10a)
Planting early offers your cucumbers a greater likelihood of maturing earlier than essentially the most intense warmth of summer season units in. Some years, the warmth arrives quick and rising is tough, however in years with a protracted spring, the vegetation develop and produce nicely. The Low Desert Vegetable, Herb & Fruit Planting Information is offered right here.
Finest Cucumber Varieties for Warmth
Selecting the best selection helps scale back bitterness and enhance manufacturing in sizzling climates. To be taught extra methods to forestall bitter cucumbers, learn this information.
Conventional Cucumbers
Search for varieties labeled as “burpless” or “bitter-free.” These varieties include decrease ranges of cucurbitacin, the compound that causes bitterness.
‘Diva’ – Crisp, delicate, and reliable in heat circumstances.
‘Suyo Lengthy’ – A Japanese cucumber with candy, thin-skinned fruits. Japanese varieties normally are much less prone to flip bitter and are perfect for slicing contemporary.
Armenian Cucumbers for Summer time Warmth
Armenian cucumbers are technically melons, however they develop and style like cucumbers. They don’t flip bitter, they usually deal with excessive warmth higher than true cucumbers.
Glorious selection for summer season rising
Proceed producing when temperatures attain 110°F (43°C)
My favourite selection: ‘Painted Serpent’
Learn: Easy methods to Develop Armenian Cucumbers
Seeds or Transplants?
Each strategies work, relying on the season.
Begin from seed if soil temperatures are a minimum of 60°F (15°C)
Use transplants to get a head begin in early spring whereas the soil remains to be warming up
Cucumber seeds sprout greatest in soil between 70 and 90°F (21 to 32°C). At all times keep away from disturbing the roots an excessive amount of when transplanting.
Develop Vertically for Higher Outcomes
Trellising helps save house, improves airflow, retains fruit cleaner, and makes harvesting simpler. I develop all my cucumbers vertically utilizing a number of completely different strategies. (Click on on the identify to be taught extra about every kind)
Get extra concepts for vertical gardening on this information: Artistic Methods to Backyard Vertically
Pollination and Flowering
Cucumber vegetation produce each female and male flowers and depend on pollinators like bees to set fruit.
Plant flowering herbs or flowers close by to draw pollinators
If feminine flowers are wilting with out forming fruit, pollination often is the situation
Hand-pollination is feasible by transferring pollen from a male to a feminine flower
Be taught extra right here: Easy methods to Hand-Pollinate
Watering Ideas for Scorching Climates
Cucumbers are thirsty vegetation and require ample water to develop nicely. In sizzling summer season circumstances, they require extra water than ordinary. So ensure to water them usually and deeply. It’s also possible to present them with shade by utilizing shade material or by planting them close to taller vegetation. This may stop them from getting scorched by the solar and preserve them cool.
Cucumbers are delicate to inconsistent watering. Even one dry spell can result in bitter fruit.
Use drip irrigation to maintain moisture ranges constant
Add mulch to preserve soil moisture and preserve the basis zone cool
In containers, use an oya or different methodology to supply regular moisture on the roots
Be taught extra: Easy methods to Water Your Backyard and Easy methods to Mulch Your Backyard
Frequent Pests and Easy methods to Deal with Them
Scorching, dry climate can invite a number of pests. Preserve a watch out for the next:
Use companion vegetation to draw helpful bugs and scale back pest stress. Finest Cucumber Companion Vegetation
Harvest and Storage Ideas
Harvesting cucumbers on the proper time is necessary for one of the best taste and texture. Cucumbers must be picked when they’re agency however nonetheless barely tender. Cucumbers are greatest harvested when small, and the flower remains to be hooked up. Overripe cucumbers can get bitter and lose their crispness. So preserve a detailed eye in your vegetation and harvest usually to maintain the fruits coming.
Harvest cucumbers within the morning when temperatures are cool. Lower the stem or twist quite than pulling on the fruit to interrupt off.
Instantly immerse them in chilly water to disperse “discipline warmth” to extend the standard and lifetime of the picked fruit.
Harvest cucumbers ceaselessly to maintain the vegetation productive.
Wrap harvested cucumbers in a dry paper towel
Retailer in an hermetic container within the crisper drawer
If you’re harvesting so much directly, listed below are some concepts:
Add to contemporary salads
Make cucumber water or chilled dips
Toss into smoothies
Fast fridge pickles are a simple solution to protect additional cucumbers
Share with neighbors
Steadily Requested Questions
Plant after your final frost when soil reaches a minimum of 60°F, with 70°F excellent for germination. In lots of heat areas that’s spring, with an extra late-summer planting 6 to eight weeks earlier than the primary frost. Low desert: late February to early March, and late August to early September.
Conventional cucumbers wrestle as soon as excessive warmth units in. For midsummer, develop Armenian cucumbers as a substitute. They style like cucumbers, tolerate warmth, and don’t flip bitter. See: Easy methods to Develop Armenian Cucumbers.
Select varieties labeled burpless or bitter-free. Favorites embody ‘Diva’ and Japanese varieties reminiscent of ‘Suyo Lengthy’. These have decrease cucurbitacin ranges, the compound linked to bitterness. For extra suggestions, see: Easy methods to Forestall Bitter Cucumbers.
Each work. Direct sow when soil is a minimum of 60°F, ideally nearer to 70°F. Use transplants to achieve time in early spring whereas soil warms, taking care to not disturb roots.
Sure. Most fruit develops on lateral shoots. Keep away from heavy pruning that removes all aspect shoots. Use mild pruning to enhance airflow and handle progress.
Preserve soil evenly moist. Drip irrigation helps stop the dry-then-soak cycle that may trigger bitterness. Mulch to average soil temperature and scale back evaporation. In containers, an oya can present regular moisture on the root zone. Extra particulars: Easy methods to Water Your Backyard
Aphids on new progress, spider mites leaving tremendous webbing, and whiteflies that flutter when disturbed are widespread in sizzling, dry gardens. Spray with water to knock them again, skinny vegetation for airflow, and encourage helpful bugs by planting cilantro or dill close by. See: Cucumber Companion Vegetation.
Scorching spells adopted by humidity can invite powdery mildew. Enhance airflow with vertical rising and lightweight pruning, water on the soil line, take away affected leaves, and select tolerant varieties. Early morning care helps foliage dry rapidly.
Deal with them as the identical household for rotation. Each are cucurbits and might share soilborne pests and ailments. Rotate beds so cucurbits comply with a distinct plant household for a minimum of one season, ideally a 12 months.
Wrap in a dry paper towel and place in an hermetic container within the crisper. This absorbs extra moisture and reduces publicity to ethylene, which may velocity ripening.
Plant pollinator-friendly flowers close by and keep away from broad-spectrum pesticides. If feminine flowers yellow and drop with out fruit, hand-pollinate by transferring pollen from a male to a feminine flower. See: Easy methods to Hand-Pollinate.
Recent salads, cucumber water, chilled dips, smoothies, and fast fridge pickles are all simple choices. Vertical rising and frequent harvests preserve fruit straight, clear, and able to use. For concepts on space-saving helps, see: Artistic Methods to Backyard Vertically.
Remaining Ideas
Rising cucumbers in sizzling climates is feasible with cautious planning. Deal with correct timing, select heat-tolerant varieties, help your vegetation with trellises, and preserve the soil evenly moist. If you get it proper, you’ll take pleasure in crisp, refreshing cucumbers all season lengthy.
