Green Finger cucumbers are smooth and crispy vegetables with thin skin and excellent taste.
If you are among those who like cucumbers, this variety might be something you would like, especially if you prefer these vegetables to be crunchy. Let’s look at how to grow and care for a Green Finger Cucumber plant.
What is a Green Finger Cucumber
Their smooth skin and texture make them perfect to use in fresh salads, sandwiches, and healthy smoothies. And you know what the best part is? They are durable and relatively easy to grow in your garden. Plus, if you don’t have a yard, you can even successfully grow them indoors.
Indeed, they grow well in a vast array of conditions: from containers to vegetable beds, you won’t need a greenhouse for harvesting your Green Finger cucumbers. If you want to know how to ensure they thrive, keep reading our essential care guide.
How to care for the plant
If you know something about growing your vegetables at home, you must know how different they taste from supermarket-bought products. If you are an amateur, consider growing cucumbers: it is one of the best ways for beginners to start their gardens.
The green finger variety is self-pollinating, early-bearing, and adapts to even harsher conditions. Its vines can grow up to 4 feet in height and three feed in width. However, they will thrive only under adequate conditions. Make sure you can fulfill their needs to see voluminous harvests.
Sunlight
These plants require full sun or partial shade. Plant the seeds between May and June (when the soil is warm) if you decide to grow them outdoors and make sure you give them enough space to thrive. If you live in colder regions, start the seeds indoors at least one week before the last frost.
If planting outdoors, keep them at least 15 inches apart to ensure they can grow to their optimal size.
Watering
For high yields, ensure you keep the soil moist. As a rule of thumb, stick to watering your vegetables no more than 1 inch per week. It is best to water less but be consistent than overdoing it.
Pruning
When growing cucumbers outdoors, it is best to keep them pruned to a central leader and create space as the vines grow. If you are growing them a pot on your balcony, you might not need pruning. However, make sure you give them a mesh structure to allow their vines to grow upwards.
Humidity
The ideal humidity for cucumbers is around 60% to 70% during the day. It could be higher at night, but it is not necessary. In general, you won’t need to add a humidifier: as long as you provide them with moist soil, you will fulfill their humidity needs.
USDA Climate Zones For Outdoor Growth
Green finger cucumbers do not tolerate cold conditions as much as other vegetables. It is best to grow them in the summer in regions that do not go through harsh winters.
USDA Climate zones between 3 and 5 are ideal. Adding row covers can help extend the growing season and make the ground warmer for the colder regions.
Remember that cucumbers do not do well if night temperatures go below 50F. If you are using plastic mulch, remove it during flowering to ensure pollination.
Fertilizer
For better results, you may want to consider using liquid fertilizer regularly during the growing period. Of course, granular versions will do the job, but you’ll need to work it into the soil effectively to feed your plant.
These cucumbers are heavy feeders. We recommend fertilizing them one week after blossoming and four weeks later.
Signs of nutrient deficiency include yellowing of fruit and bronze leaves. Once the fruits appear, commit to picking them daily to ensure a steady harvest.
Soil Type
These plants require a well-drained soil that has near to neutral pH. They also do well in sandy soil, as long as they are not too close to tree roots, to prevent them from being deprived of water and nutrients.
Propagation
You can propagate green finger cucumbers by seed. Start them in the heat in mid-spring and use compost and water. Ensure to keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge.
At this stage, it is crucial not to let the temperature fall under 50F. If you can’t ensure that outdoors, start them indoors in a pot with soil rich in nutrients.
Alternatively, you can consider propagating from cuttings, but remember that it is harder to get results.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to care for green finger cucumbers, there’s nothing to stop you from growing homemade vegetables and enjoying them in fresh summer meals!
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