How to Grow Cucumbers in Your Denver Backyard Garden
There's nothing like the taste of fresh cucumbers picked straight from the vine on a warm Denver summer day. These versatile, warm-season fruits are not only a favorite snack among gardeners and their families but also incredibly easy to grow in the Mile High City. Let’s dive into how you can cultivate bountiful cucumbers right in your backyard!
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Choosing the Right Spot
Planting Techniques
Supporting Your Cucumbers
Harvesting and Storing Tips
Choosing the Right Spot and Planting cucumbers in colorado
Cucumbers thrive in full sun, needing 6-8 hours of sunlight daily to reach their full potential. In Denver’s climate, consider planting your cucumbers at the base of an arch trellis or obelisk to support their climbing vines.
Planting Technique: Create small mounds about 6 inches apart. Plant 2-3 seeds per mound, about 1 inch deep. After germination, thin to the strongest plant per mound if desired.
Using Transplants: You can also start with cucumber transplants. Just handle them gently, especially the roots, to avoid stress.
FIND YOUR SEEDS: Check out the local Colorado resources we recommend!
Watering and Care
Consistent watering is super important for cucumbers, especially during Denver's hot summers. Follow these watering tips to keep your cucumbers happy:
Watering Schedule: Aim for at least 1 inch of water per week. Water them slowly in the morning or early afternoon to minimize leaf wetness and reduce the risk of diseases like powdery mildew.
Soil and Fertilization: Ensure your soil is rich in compost to feed your cucumbers throughout the season. A top dressing of compost around the plants 6 weeks after planting should suffice, as cucumbers are light feeders.
Fun fact:
Cucumbers will use their tendrils to climb trellises, but they might need a little initial help!
Training Vines: Use twine, clothespins, or garden velcro to guide and support your cucumber vines until they can cling to the trellis on their own.
Harvesting Your Cucumbers
When it comes to picking cucumbers, timing is everything to ensure the best flavor and texture:
Harvest Size: Pick regular slicing cucumbers when they are about 6-8 inches long. For burpless varieties, like Persian cucumbers, you can wait until they are up to 10 inches. Gherkins should be harvested when they are small for that perfect crunch.
Taste and Texture: If in doubt, err on the side of picking cucumbers a bit smaller to ensure they’re crisp and tasty. Overripe cucumbers turn yellow and lose their flavor and firmness.
Storing Your cucumber Harvest
To maximize the shelf life of your cucumbers, wash and dry them thoroughly before storing in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 7-10 days, though they often get eaten much quicker!
Ready to add cucumbers to your Denver garden? Check out the local Colorado resources we suggest and get started on your herb gardening journey today!
Have questions or want to share your gardening success stories?
Drop a comment below, or reach out through our Contact Page!
Check out our free resources or services!
Save this Blog on Pinterest!
**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I earn a small profit if you click on the link to make a purchase. Other links are not sponsored, because I also like supporting small, local businesses.**
Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
