Cucumis sativus (Cucumbers)

Botanical name: Cucumis sativus
Common name(s): Cucumbers
Categories: Fruits and Vegetables

Plant description:

When grown naturally outdoors, cucumbers are warm-season vegetables that utilize crosspollination to produce fruits.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Botanical Pronunciation: KOO-koo-mis sa-TEE-vus

Cucumis sativus requirements and features

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Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

Botanical name	Cucumis sativus
Plant Care	Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage. Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned. Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa.
Categories	Fruits and Vegetables
Common name(s)	Cucumbers
Origin	India
Planting instructions	Sow seed directly into the soil where they are to mature.Sow four to five seeds in each basin or planting station and cover with 15mm of soil.When seedlings are ±100mm tall, thin out to three to four plants per basin.They are creeping vines that generally need a trellis or supporting frame, but can also be grown in rows or basins 300mm across and ±1m apart.If grown on a trellis or fence, tie the young vines to the trellis until the tendrils have developed enough to cling on their own.
Maintenance	Keep basins free of weeds and water well during dry weather.Feed every two weeks with liquid fertilizer once flowers appear.
Soil conditions	Prepare the soil well by digging in plenty of compost and/or well rotted manure, plus a handful of general fertilizer per basin or running metre of row.
Uses	Cucumbers are used in salads and sandwich fillings. Medicinal – High in potassium, beta carotene and an enzyme known as erepsin which aids the digestion and helps to dissolve the uric acid that causes kidney and bladder stones, it also regulates blood pressure and is a natural laxative.
Interesting planting ideas	Cucumber can be grown up fences, over pergolas, up sunflower stalks, and love to be near beans, lettuces, radishes and green peppers. Also, they release a root secretion which inhibits weeds.
Interesting info	Recommended variety: Sweet Crunch is very productive, with smooth-skinned fruit (12 – 15cm long) and a superior flavour. It is mildew-tolerant.
Common pests and diseases	Aphids, red spider mite and pumpkin fly. (To control pumpkin fly, use a bait solution of Malathion combined with 100g sugar per litre of water.) Powdery and downy mildew in moist weather conditions.
Harvest	Fruits should be ready for picking 8-10 weeks after sowing.Pick regularly, before the pips start to harden.
Yield	Six plants should yield enough for a family of four.Sow every six weeks in the season.

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Cucumis sativus (Cucumbers)