Compared with other commonly grown vegetables, cucumber plants can engulf a large amount of ground space in the garden. Many varieties require a minimum of 4 square feet (0.4 sq. m.) per plant. That makes this crunchy crop impractical for gardeners with a limited size vegetable bed. Luckily, growing cucumbers in bags is an excellent way to preserve your ground space and also grow cucumbers.
How to Grow a Cucumber Plant in a Bag
Follow these simple steps for your own bag grown cucumbers:
- Choose a cucumber grow bag. You can purchase bags specially made for this purpose or reuse heavy-duty plastic bags. White potting soil bags work well and can be turned inside out to hide the printed label. Avoid black garbage bags as these absorb too much heat from the sun.
- Prepare the cucumber grow bag. Commercially available woven or plastic bags are often designed to be self-supported. Hanging type bags do require a method for installation. Homemade bags lack structural support and need to be adapted for drainage. When using the latter, a plastic milk crate is an inexpensive and reusable method for supporting the grow bag. Poking holes or cutting slits about 2 inches (5 cm.) from the bottom of the bag allows excess water to drain while providing a small well to maintain moisture.
- Fill the cucumber grow bag. Place 2 inches (5 cm.) of small rocks or a coir planter liner in the bottom of the bag to facilitate proper drainage. If needed, add a layer of charcoal to discourage algae growth. Fill the bag with quality potting soil. Adding compost or a slow-release fertilizer can provide additional nutrients throughout the growing season. Mixing in perlite or vermiculite will help maintain soil moisture levels.
- Plant the cucumber grow bag. To ensure evenly moist soil, water the bag prior to planting. Plant two to three cucumber seeds per bag or one to two cucumber seedlings, depending upon the size of the bag. Overcrowding can result in too much competition for nutrients.
- Give it some light. Place your cucumber plant in a bag where it will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid setting the bags on black asphalt or other surfaces which absorb the sun's heat. Cucumbers require more water than other crops, so locate your bag grown cucumbers where they can be easily watered.
- Provide a trellis or fence. Giving cucumber vines a support to climb will reduce the space needed for each cucumber plant in a bag. Planting cucumbers in the top of a hanging type bag and allowing the vines to dangle to the ground is another space saving option.
- Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Container plants dry more quickly than those in the ground. During hot, dry weather thoroughly water your cucumbers in bags in the evening as the heat of the day begins to dissipate.
- Routinely feed your cucumber plant in a bag. Apply a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer or use manure tea every two to three weeks. For bushier bag grown cucumbers, try pinching off the growing tip when the vines have formed six leaves.
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FAQs
Cucumbers will grow quickly with little care. Be sure they receive an inch of water every week. Make the most of your food growing efforts by regularly feeding plants with a water-soluble plant food.
How often should I water cucumbers in grow bags? ›
Cucumbers will grow quickly with little care. Be sure they receive an inch of water every week. Make the most of your food growing efforts by regularly feeding plants with a water-soluble plant food.
Are cucumbers better in pots or grow bags? ›
Growing bags are ideal for plants that don't have deep roots, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, chilli peppers, aubergines and courgettes.
How many cucumber plants can you grow in a 10 gallon grow bag? ›
Cucumbers: One compact type in a 5-gallon (19L) container and two to three standard variety plants in a 7- to 10-gallon (26-38L) container. Eggplant: Grow one plant per 5-gallon (19L) container.
What do you put under grow bags? ›
First, put down a cardboard base, open up the grow bag, fill with soil and plant with vegetables, herbs and flowers. A layer of mulch between the bags keeps down weeds for a tidy look.
How do I know if I'm watering my cucumbers too much? ›
💦 Signs of Overwatering
Wilting and yellowing leaves are red flags for overwatering. If your Creeping Cucumber's leaves are more limp than a forgotten birthday balloon, it's time to reassess your watering habits. A soil that feels like a wet sponge and a musty odor are your plant's way of saying, "Ease up on the H2O!"
How to support cucumbers in a grow bag? ›
Giving cucumber vines a support to climb will reduce the space needed for each cucumber plant in a bag. Planting cucumbers in the top of a hanging type bag and allowing the vines to dangle to the ground is another space saving option.
Should I pinch off cucumber flowers? ›
Young cucumber plants may get ahead of themselves and flower while they're still small. Clipping off the lower flowers redirects the energy to stem and leaf growth, leading to more fruit in the future. Additionally, you'll be cutting back wayward branches as part of training young vines.
What helps cucumbers grow better? ›
Cucumbers thrive best at relatively high temperatures, between 75 to 85 degrees F. The plants do not tolerate frost. Since they are a quick-growing crop, they must be well supplied with moisture and plant nutrients throughout the growing season. Water is especially critical for cucumbers during the fruiting stage.
Do you put holes in the bottom of grow bags? ›
The first thing you will need to do is give your grow bag a good jiggle! Roll it about a bit to break up the compost inside it as it's likely to be quite compressed. Then turn it over and poke a few drainage holes in the bag.
Total expected yield depends directly on length of harvest period. Yields range from 1 – 3 pounds of fruit per plant per week during the peak harvest period. A normal harvest period of 12 weeks in a well-managed crop can yield a total of 20-25 pounds of fruit per plant.
What kind of fertilizer for cucumbers in pots? ›
Fertilize the seedlings after their first true leaves appear using a time-released pelleted fertilizer. A 1-1.5-3 NPK ratio is optimal. Then stay on schedule with weekly applications of a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer. Follow label instructions for plant type and pot size.
What soil is best for grow bags? ›
Grow bags require well-draining soil that retains just enough moisture so the root mass will not dry out between waterings. Bagged products labeled as potting soil or container mix are ideal. Many potting soils contain peat moss but more and more mixes are now using coir (coconut fiber) instead.
Should I put rocks in the bottom of my grow bag? ›
Rocks in the bottom of containers do not contribute to better draining soils and healthier plants. Instead plant roots encounter saturated soils that don't drain efficiently.
What are the disadvantages of grow bags? ›
The cons of fabric grow bags
Because there is so much exposure to the air, the soil can dry out much faster than it does in a terra cotta, wood, or stone container. This means your plants will use more water, which means you'll need to water them more often.
How often should I water my grow bag? ›
Oklahoma gardeners are well-versed in summer heat, and plants grown in grow bags need to be watered more frequently, said David Hillock, OSU Extension consumer horticulturist. “In the heat of the summer, the bags will need to be watered probably once a day,” Hillock said.
Should you water cucumbers every day? ›
They thrive with a regular watering schedule, ideally receiving 1–2 inches of water per week. This amount can be adjusted based on weather conditions and soil type. For optimal absorption, water cucumbers early in the morning, allowing the leaves to dry throughout the day and reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
How often do you water plants in a grow bag? ›
Plants in grow bag gardens need more frequent watering.
Because grow bags are so well aerated, they dry out quickly once the plants they contain have grown large enough to fill them. So you'll probably need to water the bags at least once a day during the heat of summer.
