Photograph: amazon.com
It’s a favourite summer time pastime for a lot of—seize a salt shaker, choose a ripe cucumber, and eat it proper there within the yard. Cucumbers, members of the cucurbit household, develop shortly and obtain ample diet in heat sunny circumstances when the times are lengthy.
Whereas some gardeners have honed their soil over time to offer optimum circumstances for rising cucumbers and different produce, most vegetation will nonetheless profit from added vitamins. When in search of a fertilizer for cucumbers, realizing a couple of cucumber-growing fundamentals is useful.
Though cucumbers are literally a fruit, they’re grown as a vegetable, and so they profit from the identical sort of fertilizer used to feed tomatoes, peppers, and different backyard greens. Forward, be taught what to search for when looking for the very best plant meals for cucumbers, and discover out why the next merchandise are among the many finest fertilizer for cucumbers.
- BEST OVERALL: Miracle-Gro 2000422 Plant Food
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Jobe’s 09026NA Plant Food Vegetables & Tomato
- BEST ORGANIC: Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato & Herb Fertilizer
- BEST WATER-SOLUBLE: Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food
- BEST FOR CONTAINERS: Jobe’s 06028 Fertilizer Spikes Vegetable and Tomato
- BEST STARTER FOOD: Down to Earth Organic Vegetable Garden Fertilizer
- MOST COMPLETE: Espoma GT4 4-Pound Garden-Tone 3-4-4 Plant Food
- ALSO CONSIDER: Element Nutrients Flower Fuel The Best Bloom Booster
Photograph: amazon.com
What to Think about When Selecting the Greatest Fertilizer for Cucumbers
Cucumbers are thought of among the many best food-producing vegetation to develop. Gardeners can select from practically 100 kinds of cucumbers and may choose vegetation primarily based on style, development behavior, and productiveness. Whereas some cucumber vegetation ship out lengthy vines that may be skilled on tall trellises, others are compact and might be grown in patio containers. Nonetheless, cucumbers don’t develop properly in most indoor growing circumstances since they want lengthy sunny days to supply fruit.
Even the very best cucumber fertilizer just isn’t a alternative for a brilliant, sunny location and wholesome soil, however including an excellent fertilizer generally is a think about rising sturdy vegetation that produce considerable tasty cucumbers.
Kinds of Fertilizer for Cucumbers
Few fertilizer merchandise, together with these thought of to be the very best fertilizer for cucumber vegetation, are particularly labeled as being “cucumber fertilizers.” As a substitute, most are labeled as all-purpose vegetable fertilizers (or tomato fertilizers). Fertilizers that work properly for cucumbers can be found in one among 4 varieties, a few of that are higher suited to particular rising circumstances than others.
- Granular: This kind of fertilizer resembles tiny pellets and regularly releases vitamins to maintain vegetation fed for a number of weeks. The granules are blended throughout the high inch or two of soil, the place they slowly dissolve.
- Liquid: Out there in concentrated type for mixing with water or as ready-to-spray foliar plant meals, liquid fertilizers are quickly absorbed by the plant, however additionally they wash out of the soil fairly shortly, so extra frequent feedings (each week or so) could also be wanted.
- Spikes: One other time-release fertilizer, spikes include dry vitamins which have been pressed into laborious cylinders growers push beneath the soil’s floor, the place they’ll regularly dissolve and launch vitamins. Spikes are arguably the very best fertilizer for cucumbers in containers as a result of they supply steady vitamins in restricted quantities of soil.
- Water–soluble: This kind of fertilizer is available in a superb granule or powdered type and is designed to dissolve shortly in water. Gardeners can stir it into the water in a watering can or fill a backyard hose dispenser and spray a big space of vegetation.
Nutrient Necessities
The confusion over what the NPK numbers listed on fertilizers imply might be simply solved by studying what the numbers stand for. The product’s NPK evaluation stands for the quantity of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (Okay) the product incorporates by weight.
Cucumbers have related rising must most different backyard greens, and so they choose a fertilizer with much less nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium (typically known as potash by gardeners). For instance, NPK ratios of 5-8-10 and 3-3-3 can be appropriate for rising cucumbers as a result of the nitrogen content material doesn’t exceed the opposite two vitamins.
Keep away from fertilizers with larger nitrogen ranges as a result of they’ll enhance the manufacturing of foliage and vines however might forestall the plant from producing blossoms or cucumbers.
Soil Kind
Cucumbers will develop in numerous soil varieties, however the soil ought to drain properly, be light-weight, and resist compaction for the very best outcomes. Heavy clay soils profit from being amended with natural matter, corresponding to mulch or dried leaves, to lighten the soil and enhance drainage.
Cucumbers additionally choose soil with a near-neutral pH. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being thought of impartial. Numbers larger than 7 are progressively extra alkaline, and numbers decrease than 7 are more and more extra acidic. On the whole, the optimum pH for rising cucumbers is between 6.8 and seven.2. Inexpensive pH testers can be found from backyard facilities or on-line, and so they often include recommendations for amending soil to both elevate or decrease its acid-alkaline stability.
Natural vs. Nonorganic
All appropriate fertilizers can assist the cucumber plant’s development and manufacturing. Nonetheless, for many who wish to use solely pure elements of their backyard, there are natural merchandise accessible.
- Natural: All of the components in an organic fertilizer have to be sourced from nature, corresponding to composted poultry manure, worm castings, or bone meal. As well as, the manufacturing course of used to create the product can’t use any sort of chemical substances. A rising variety of in the present day’s gardening merchandise are natural.
- Nonorganic: This kind of fertilizer might include artificial components. It might probably nonetheless produce wholesome vegetation and enhance harvests, and it’s usually cheaper than natural fertilizers as a result of the manufacturing requirements are relaxed.
Our Prime Picks
To qualify as a high choose, the next fertilizers needed to be throughout the optimum dietary vary for rising cucumbers, and the merchandise needed to be easy to make use of. Some include artificial components whereas others are natural, however all are properly suited to boosting cucumber manufacturing and general plant well being.
Photograph: amazon.com
The very best general choose on this cucumber-fertilizing lineup is from a model that’s synonymous with all issues gardening. Miracle-Gro Plant Meals for Tomatoes and different greens is a water-soluble product that can be utilized with a hose dispenser to spray plant foliage or blended with water in a watering can and poured on the plant or the soil close to the plant’s base.
The granules dissolve shortly, and the fertilizer comes with an NPK ratio of 18-18-21, which is perfect for wholesome development and considerable blossoms. Cucumbers profit from being fertilized with this Miracle-Gro plant meals each 1 to 2 weeks, beginning both when the seeds sprout or cucumber seedlings are transplanted into the backyard. A 1.5-pound bundle will fertilize as much as 600 sq. toes of backyard.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 18-18-21
- Natural or nonorganic: Nonorganic
- Kind: Water-soluble
Professionals
- Mixes simply with water
- Incorporates optimum nutrient ratio
- Designed to advertise blossom setting
Cons
Get Miracle-Gro Plant Meals on Amazon, at Menards, or at Lowe’s.
Photograph: amazon.com
These in search of a long-lasting and reasonably priced fertilizer might have to look no additional than Jobe’s Organics Vegetable & Tomato Plant Meals. The granules are blended into the highest inch or two of soil, the place they’ll regularly dissolve and feed the vegetation a gentle food regimen of vitamins for as much as 6 weeks.
This Jobe’s fertilizer is natural and comes with a 2-5-3 NPK evaluation, which is properly fitted to rising cucumbers. It additionally incorporates Jobe’s Biozome, a proprietary mix of useful microorganisms and wholesome, mushroom-derived micro organism designed to enhance the standard of the soil whereas serving to the vegetation resist insect infestations and illness. Better of all, it comes at a pretty value level.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 2-5-3
- Natural or nonorganic: Natural
- Kind: Time-release granular
Professionals
- Feeds cucumbers as much as 6 weeks
- Incorporates pure components
- Added useful microorganisms
Cons
- Doubtlessly objectionable odor
Photograph: amazon.com
Enhance backyard soil whereas giving cucumbers long-lasting vitamins with Dr. Earth’s Natural Fertilizer, which feeds the vegetation for 3 to six months with only one utility. Its 4-6-3 NPK evaluation is perfect for producing giant harvests. The cucumbers might even style higher, due to added micronutrients, hint minerals, humic acid, and proteins that present a variety of plant vitamins. To high it off, all of the components are licensed natural by the Natural Supplies Evaluation Institute (OMRI), so gardeners can relaxation assured realizing no artificial components are included.
One 4-pound bag can cowl 60 sq. toes of the backyard when utilized as directed, which is lower than another granulated fertilizers cowl. This can be a premium product that lasts for much longer than most, so it doesn’t should be utilized as typically.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 4-6-3
- Natural or nonorganic: Natural
- Kind: Time-release granule
Professionals
- Lengthy-lasting
- Incorporates added micronutrients and hint minerals
- Licensed natural by OMRI
Cons
- A bit expensive for protection
Get Dr. Earth Natural Fertilizer on Amazon, at Walmart, or at Lowe’s.
Photograph: amazon.com
This quick-to-dissolve fertilizer mixes simply with water in both a hose dispenser for spraying on the backyard or in a pail for pouring over foliage and soil. It encompasses a useful 18-18-21 NPK make-up, which inspires sturdy plant growth and helps the plant produce ample blossoms and extra considerable harvests.
As a water-soluble fertilizer, this Miracle-Gro plant meals is finest suited to frequent feedings—each 7 to 10 days—beginning when seeds sprout or when transplanting tiny seedlings to the backyard. It’s useful to be used with all backyard greens in addition to herbs. A 2-pound bundle can fertilize about 800 sq. toes of backyard.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 18-18-21
- Natural or nonorganic: Nonorganic
- Kind: Water-soluble granules
Professionals
- Encourages sturdy plant development
- Dissolves shortly
- Can be utilized in hose dispenser
Cons
Get Miracle-Gro Plant Meals for Greens and Herbs on Amazon, at Walmart, and at Target.
Photograph: amazon.com
Liquid fertilizers can cross by way of and out of container soil as water drains by way of the pot and out of the holes on the backside. These fertilizer spikes from Jobe’s will constantly launch extra vitamins into the soil each time the plant is watered. The spikes are comprised of natural vitamins with a useful 2-7-4 NPK system to spice up sturdy root growth in addition to ample blossom manufacturing.
The spikes are straightforward to make use of—no want to combine something with water or work something into the soil—simply press a Jobe’s spike into the soil a couple of inches away from the bottom of the cucumber plant. The bundle comes with 50 spikes, and the really useful utilization is eight spikes per sq. foot of soil. Use when transplanting seedlings and each 4 to six weeks after that.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 2-7-4
- Natural or nonorganic: Natural
- Kind: Time-release spikes
Professionals
- Simple to make use of
- Lasts as much as 6 weeks
- Good for containers
Cons
- Not appropriate for giant backyard plots
Get Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes for Greens on Amazon, at Walmart or at The Home Depot.
Photograph: amazon.com
Tender seedlings gained’t produce blossoms for fairly some time, so a balanced fertilizer with an equal NPK ratio is simply the ticket for getting them off to a wholesome begin. Right down to Earth Natural Vegetable Fertilizer comes with a 4-4-4 NPK system, making it a useful plant meals for giving younger transplants the enhance they want. The product additionally incorporates the hint minerals calcium, magnesium, and iron and is comprised of natural components.
That is an all-purpose granular backyard fertilizer that may be labored into the soil to enhance the expansion and harvest of all varieties of greens and herbs. It is available in a 5-pound bundle, and one container can deal with about 100 sq. toes of backyard vegetation. Right down to Earth plant meals lasts as much as 1 month per feeding.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 4-4-4
- Natural or nonorganic: Natural
- Kind: Time-release granules
Professionals
- Lasts as much as 1 month
- Added hint minerals
- Natural
Cons
Get Right down to Earth Vegetable Fertilizer on Amazon and at Walmart.
Photograph: amazon.com
Designed for skilled gardeners who wish to cowl all their dietary bases, Espoma Natural Backyard-Tone Herb and Vegetable Meals is simply the ticket. The granular plant meals is enhanced with Espoma’s Bio-tone microbes and incorporates 15 important vitamins so vegetation gained’t lack something wanted for development. The product will fertilize backyard vegetation for as much as a month or longer, and the granules break down slowly to offer a steady provide of vitamins.
The microbe within the combine is helpful for the vegetation, and it additionally helps enhance backyard soil for future plantings. It options a perfect 3-4-4 NPK evaluation and is finest utilized on the charge of a half cup per plant, labored into the bottom close to the plant’s drip line.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 3-4-4
- Natural or nonorganic: Natural
- Kind: Time-release granules
Professionals
- Lengthy-lasting
- Full nutrient system
- All-natural
Cons
Get Espoma Natural Backyard-tone on Amazon, at The Home Depot, and at Walmart.
Photograph: amazon.com
Gardeners in search of heavy harvests have to look no additional than Flower Gasoline’s Tremendous-Premium Bloom Booster that encourages most blossom manufacturing for giant cucumber yields. Good for rising cukes for farmers’ markets or sharing with household and buddies, Flower Gasoline is the fertilizer to make use of when the primary blossoms seem on the plant. Till then, an all-purpose fertilizer is healthier suited to get the plant off to a wholesome begin.
Flower Gasoline encompasses a highly effective 1-34-32 NPK evaluation, which inspires blossoms and helps develop the fruits themselves. This low-nitrogen fertilizer focuses on cucumber manufacturing fairly than considerable foliage. The proprietary mix incorporates greater than 40 components, together with numerous nutritional vitamins, vitamins, and minerals. It shortly dissolves in water, and a single 8.7-ounce bundle produces 200 gallons of fertilizer-rich water. It can be utilized in hydroponic methods.
Product Specs
- NPK ratio: 1-34-32
- Natural or nonorganic: Nonorganic
- Kind: Water-soluble powder
Professionals
- Produces considerable blossoms
- Heavy harvests
- Dissolves shortly in water
Cons
Get Flower Gasoline Tremendous-Premium Bloom Booster on Amazon.
Our Verdict
Thought-about among the many finest cucumber plant meals merchandise in the marketplace, any fertilizer and plant meals choose on this lineup can assist growers produce wholesome cucumbers. Nonetheless, Miracle-Gro for Vegetables is our best choice for its useful NPK system and the producer’s strong repute. If finances is a significant factor in selecting a fertilizer, contemplate Jobe’s Plant Food for Vegetables and Tomatoes because it’s a high choose for affordability and long-lasting time-release feedings.
How We Selected the Greatest Fertilizer for Cucumbers
To make the reduce for this lineup, the fertilizer first had to offer an NPK evaluation that was both balanced or had much less nitrogen (N) than phosphorus (P) and potash (Okay). Any merchandise with the next nitrogen content material have been eradicated instantly as a result of cucumbers don’t produce properly in soil with excessive nitrogen ranges, tending to make all leaves however few, if any, blossoms.
We additionally checked out model repute. It’s laborious to beat manufacturers like Miracle-Gro primarily based on reliability and high quality. Nonetheless, we didn’t get rid of fertilizer merchandise in the event that they met our pointers however have been manufactured by smaller (or area of interest) corporations. As well as, the fertilizer product needed to be popular with different customers who used them and located them useful. Plus, the fertilizer needed to be easy to make use of.
FAQs
Cucumbers are amongst summer time gardens’ favourite treats, and feeding them with optimum plant meals will hold them wholesome and encourage giant, tasty cucumber harvests. Many new to rising this scrumptious fruit might have questions, corresponding to: “What’s the finest fertilizer for cucumbers?” and “Can a fertilizer designed for different backyard vegetation even be the very best fertilizer for cucumber vegetation?” Under are solutions to a few of these widespread questions.
Q. When ought to I fertilize my cucumbers?
It relies on the fertilizer you select. Nonetheless, the final rule of thumb is to fertilize once you transplant seedlings into the backyard or containers, after which each few weeks, in accordance with the product’s directions.
Q. Ought to I fertilize my cucumber vegetation?
Most likely. It’s finest to fertilize cucumber vegetation except you’re planting them in containers stuffed with potting soil that comes already amended with a time-release fertilizer.
Q. Is Epsom salt good for cucumber vegetation?
Epsom salt offers very important magnesium if the soil is magnesium poor. Earlier than including it, nevertheless, take a pattern of the soil to your native agricultural extension workplace for testing. Relying on the outcomes, it should advise on whether or not including Epsom salt will likely be useful for rising cucumbers.
Q. What sort of fertilizer ought to I take advantage of for cucumbers?
Most vegetable and tomato fertilizer varieties are appropriate, however you’ll want to choose a fertilizer the place the nitrogen (N) content material is the same as or lower than the opposite numbers within the NPK ratio. For instance, 5-6-8 NPK or 3-3-3 NPK.
Q. Can tomato fertilizer be used for cucumbers?
More often than not, sure, tomato fertilizer can be utilized for cucumbers. Simply verify the NPK ratio to make sure the nitrogen (N) isn’t larger than the opposite numbers.
Q. How can I develop cucumbers in containers?
Choose a well-drained potting soil, however keep away from filling containers with backyard soil as a result of it tends to compact, which reduces root development. Water regularly to maintain the soil moist and fertilize commonly.
Q. How a lot nitrogen can I placed on my vegetable backyard?
Some nitrogen is OK, however for many greens, the final rule is to pick a fertilizer the place the nitrogen (N) content material is the same as or lower than the quantity of phosphorus (P) and potash (Okay). The very best fertilizer for tomatoes and cucumbers will encourage wholesome plant development, enhance root growth, and promote blossom and fruit manufacturing.
