Cucumber Farming PDF Guidebook

1. General information ............... 4

1.1 The origin of cucumbers ............... 4

1.2 Botanical taxonomy ........... 4

1.3 Nutritional and health values of the cucumber fruit ....... 5

1.4 Plant description ................ 5

1.5 Growth stages ................. 6

1.5.1 Vegetative growth ................ 6

1.5.2 Flowers and fruits ................ 7

1.5.3 Pollination .......... 9

1.5.4 Cucumbers types sorted by final usage, morphology and culture practice ......... 9

2. Growing cucumbers .................... 12

2.1 Growing requirements and habits of the plant............... 12

2.2 Important growing parameters ......... 12

2.2.1 Temperature, general and with special reference to greenhouses ............ 12

2.2.2 Light, with special reference to greenhouses................ 13

2.2.3 Relative humidity, with special reference to greenhouses .................13

2.2.4 Carbon dioxide in greenhouses ............ 13

2.2.5 Seed germination ............ 14

2.2.6 Planting ...................... 14

2.2.7 Soils ............................ 15

2.2.8 Trellising ......................... 16

2.2.9 Greenhouse cucumbers ......... 17

2.2.10 Specific sensitivities ............. 21

2.2.11 Yields .................... 23

2.2.12 Harvesting ........................................... 23

3. Plant nutrients functions, optimal- and off-levels ........... 25

3.1 Leaf analysis .................... 25

3.2 Nitrogen (N) ................. 26

3.2.1 Nitrogen application form: nitrate, ammonium, urea and ammonia ............ 26

3.2.2 Nitrogen deficiency ........................ 27

3.2.3 Excessive nitrogen ............. 28

3.3 Phosphorus (P) .......................................... 29

3.3.1 Phosphorus deficiency ...................... 29

3.3.2 Phosphorus toxicity ....................... 31

3.4 Potassium (K) ............................... 31

3.4.1 The role of potassium in cucumber nutrition ............. 31

3.4.2 Potassium enhances cucumber yield ....................................... 33

a) Soilless on peat bags, potassium applied by fertigation ................. 33

b) Open field, potassium applied by side dressing........... 34

3.4.3 Potassium enhances cucumber disease resistance ......... 34

3.4.4 Potassium deficiency symptoms .............. 35

3.4.5 Interrelationships between potassium and other nutrients ............ 37

3.5 Calcium (Ca) ...................................... 37

3.6 Magnesium (Mg) ..................................... 38

3.7 Sulfur (S)............................................ 39

3.8 Manganese (Mn) ................................ 39

3.9 Iron (Fe) .......................... 40

3.10 Boron (B) .................... 42

3.11 Zinc (Zn) ................................... 43

3.12 Molybdenum (Mo)........... 45

3.13 Copper (Cu) ................... 45

4. Fertilization Recommendations ....................... 47

4.1 Nutrients demand/uptake/removal .............. 47

4.2 Generic fertilizers recommendations ................ 48

4.2.1 General fertilizing principles for cucumbers ........................... 48

5. Haifa’s fertilization recommendations ............................ 57

5.1 Fertilizers recommendations for a variety of growth conditions ...................... 57

5.1.1 Open-field using granular N-P-K fertilizers .............................. 57

5.1.2 Open-field using fully water soluble N-P-K fertilizers and fertigation setup ..................... 57

5.1.3 Greenhouse and tunnels ........................... 58