Cucumbers masterclass: best expert content

Here’s a collection of the best independent content to help you grow your own crunchy cucumbers. These videos, articles and Instagram posts feature everything from sowing cucumber seeds through to pricking out and pollination. If you want to successfully grow cucumbers in your garden or allotment, you’ve come to the right place…

This article was reviewed by T&M’s horticultural team and updated on 24 April 2024.

Grow smooth skinned cucumbers in a greenhouse

The most important thing for Jack of Jack’s Garden is getting the right cucumber for the job. Ridged types are good for outdoor growing while smooth-skinned varieties do better in the greenhouse, he says. And that’s before you consider which are best for slicing, pickling and eating whole! To help you choose the best variety and raise a successful crop, read Jack’s full article: How to grow cucumbers.

Experiment with fun shapes and colours

Cucumbers are one of the crops that taste completely different when you grow your own. And you can choose varieties that can’t be bought in a supermarket. Check out @monikabrzoza’s amazing cucumber harvest where she shows off her sweet cucamelons, large round ‘Crystal Apple’ cucumbers and spiky, snack-sized cukes. Imagine the refreshing salads you could make from ribbons of these extra long fruits. Take a leaf from Monika’s book when it comes to cucumbers – more is more!

Prick out cucumber seedlings very gently

“You’re not pulling the seedling out, you’re guiding it out,” explains Claire in her excellent video over at Claire’s Allotment. Her top tip for pricking out cucumber seedlings? Lever your seedling from underneath using a pencil or a spike, going into the soil a good distance away from the stem so you don’t damage the roots. See how Claire chooses which seedlings to prick out, and which should be left for another day in this step-by-step guide.

Find a sunny spot for outdoor cucumbers

You don’t need a greenhouse to grow your own cucumbers. Carole from @plot303 grows her cucumber plants outside in long planters and, by the end of June, they already have plenty of promising flowers appearing! Check out this Lincolnshire gardener’s plant-packed Instagram for more helpful hints.

Train cucumbers vertically to save space

Over at @robsallotment, Rob has created special supports for his outdoor cucumber plants by securing the bases of two obelisks together. It looks great, and he says he can train the plants up and around the frame to save space. His young cucumber plants go outside in mid-May, but he keeps a few backups in case of late frosts. “I’ve got a couple more plants still in the greenhouse to replace these if they die, so all my eggs aren’t in the one basket,” he says.

Pinch off male cucumber flowers to prevent pollination

Make sure your indoor and greenhouse-grown cucumbers don’t pollinate, says Sue Sanderson, writing for Thompson & Morgan’s blog. Fruit from pollinated female flowers will have a bitter tasting flesh, she explains, so pinch any male flowers you find off the plant as soon as you see them. Read the full article for more specific tips on growing indoor and outdoor cucumbers.

Don’t worry about fasciated stems

If you notice that the stems of your vines look a little flat, don’t worry, says Abdur over at his YouTube channel Garden Ideas & DIY. This is just a sign of a harmless genetic disorder called ‘fasciation’. Your flat stem will likely branch out into multiple healthy stems, he says, but if it doesn’t, you’ll just get unusual and fun-shaped fruit. See Abdur’s impressive indoor grown cucumber plants for yourself – this experienced grower is definitely one to watch!

Pinch out side shoots for maximum harvest

Wondering whether you need to pinch out your cucumber side shoots? It all depends on how much space you have, says Daniel, AKA Patient Gardener. “If you don’t have the height to allow your cucumber to grow up to or past 6ft in height, then a little side growth is no bad thing,” he says. But don’t leave too many side shoots or “you’ll have tons of leafy growth but not many cucumbers,” he adds. See Daniel’s full guide to pinching out for more advice on how to prune your cucumber plants.

Make sure your support canes are long enough

Ten litres is a good final container size for your cucumbers, says Ian from DIY Home and Gardening. He starts with a three foot stake, but when he gets to the final pot size, he carefully adds a five foot cane to support their last burst of height. Watch how Ian adds extra support with minimal root ball disturbance, and have a peek at his healthy outdoor container grown cukes in this friendly video: How to Tie Up Cucumber Plants.

Take cuttings to make new cucumber plants

Over at Adam’s Gardening Guides, Adam’s indoor cucumbers look so healthy. And to make even more plants for free, he explains that “any side shoots you remove can be prepared as cuttings.” Watch Adam’s video to see how to coax roots from the little shoots. Once the plants are growing happily, he also demonstrates how to tie them in so they can support heavy fruits.

Remove low-hanging leaves to avoid mildew

“Removing yellowed or low-hanging leaves encourages healthy fruit production and prevents plant disease,” explains garden content creator Jamie at @nettlesandpetals. He recommends pruning away the very bottom leaves to prevent water splash which can cause mildew. It also improves the airflow around your plant, he says. See how he deals with side shoots in his clear and quick video.

Treat powdery mildew with baking soda

If your cucumber leaves are covered in white spots, it could be powdery mildew, says the greenfingered father and son duo behind YouTube channel Ali Raja Bagan Bari UK. They use everyday household ingredients like baking soda to keep their plants healthy, and by the looks of their impressive vines, it’s working! Watch their video on treating common cucumber diseases to find out how to mix your own natural and organic remedies.

Pick cucumbers regularly to avoid a glut

Don’t turn your back on your cucumbers for long! Left to their own devices they’ll be groaning under their own weight in no time, just like this outdoor pot-grown vine courtesy of @ingrid_grows_and_eats. Pick your cucumbers often so you don’t become overwhelmed, and enjoy the bounty while it lasts. Check out Ingrid’s pot grown vine as part of her patio vegetable garden. She’s starting a new allotment too, if you want to follow her progress.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our favourite cucumber growing content. If you didn’t get round to sowing cucumber seeds this year, there’s still time to order a few cucumber plants. Remember to share your journey with us via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or tag us at #YourTMGarden. And if you’d like more advice on growing cucumber plants, visit our dedicated hub page.