In soils that are low in nutrients or sandy, so that fertilizer quickly leaches out, tomato transplants may grow better when given a fertilizer kick start. A less expensive alternative is to mix equal parts potting soil, perlite and peat moss and well-aged compost, then amend the mixture with slow-release fertilizer. The first step to growing cucumbers with the heaviest harvest is to fertilize for the heaviest bloom. Jobe’s Organics 9026 Fertilizer acts to enhance the soil setting for … Cover the container with plastic to preserve the moisture. We hope this was helpful for you in choosing the fertilizer for the next time you plant cucumbers. Adding compost or a slow-release fertilizer can provide additional nutrients throughout the growing season. Cucumbers are heavy feeders so add a slow release all-purpose fertilizer into the potting mix before planting. Other Things to Consider. To get a jump start on the growing season, start your cucumber seeds 10-14 days before you expect to set them out. Applying fertilizer in the correct amounts to these warm-season plants maximizes yield and flavor. Not only is it formulated for vegetables and… Tip# 6: Fertilize the plants. A soil test gives the most accurate guide to the fertilizer you need to apply to grow a bumper crop of tomatoes and cucumbers. Dilute 2 tablespoons of a liquid 5-10-10 fertilizer in 1 gallon of water, and gently pour 1 pint of the mixture around each tomato transplant immediately after planting them out in the garden. The best fertilizer for cucumbers at a glance: Lilly Miller Morcrop Tomato & Vegetable Food – Best Overall; Espoma Garden Tone – Best Organic Fertilizer For Cucumbers What's more, although nitrogen fertilizer results in deep green, lush foliage on tomato and cucumber plants that looks great, it usually results in small harvests. If you plant your cucumbers in well-drained soil enhanced by fertilizer, you’re not quite on the pathway to growing perfect cucumbers every time. Side-dress cucumber plants with 1 1/2 ounces of 33-0-0 fertilizer per 10 feet of row one week after the first flowers begin to open and again three weeks later. Reapply the fertilizer to tomato plants every four to six weeks. If you use organic fertilizers such as compost or manure, you can reduce this amount proportionally. The University of Minnesota recommends a half-cup application of 46-0-0 fertilizer or 1 cup of 27-3-30 fertilizer for each 25 feet of row at mid-season for squash plants. Side-dress cucumber plants with 1 1/2 ounces of 33-0-0 fertilizer per 10 feet of row one week after the first flowers begin to open and again three weeks later. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Conclusion: It is very rare to find soil that contains balance nutrients. Water washes the nutrients into the plants' root zones. Mix the fertilizer granules into the soil with a garden fork. To create a concentrated solution of liquid fertilizer, dissolve 2 cups of a general fertilizer like 8-16-8, 10-20-10 or 12-24-12 in 1 gallon of warm water and stir until the fertilizer has dissolved. Your local university's extension office can probably offer help and advice on testing the soil in your yard. Mixing in perlite or vermiculite will help maintain soil moisture levels. If needed, add a layer of charcoal to discourage algae growth. The fast growing vines of the cucumber requires plenty of moisture and slow-release fertilizers, such as worm castings and compost. Apply fertilizer for growing tomato and cucumber plants through a process called side-dressing. An all-purpose water soluble fertilizer will work fine. Make a proper combination of slow release fertilizer with a soluble fertilizer. The Mid-Season Meal. Green's work appears in SFGate, Mom.me, The Pink Plumber and many home services blogs . Fill the bag with a quality potting soil. After a few days, when all the cucumber seeds in a container have germinated, snip off all but the most healthy seedling. When choosing a granular fertilizer… However, both applying too much fertilizer to tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) encourages pests and can result in low yields. Never transplant your tomato plants from fertile soil to a less fertile soil condition. 5 lbs. Missouri Botanical Garden: Lycopersicon Esculentum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Cucumis Sativus, Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Tomato, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden, Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Cucumber, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Extension: Growing Cucumbers in the Home Garden, Texas A & M AgriLife Extension: Vegetable Gardening in Containers, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education: Impacts of Fertilizers on Insect Pests, How to Care for Bush Goliath Hybrid Tomatoes. Seeds will sprout much quicker with the. Transplant the cucumber seedlings into larger containers or into the vegetable garden. For anyone who prefers a slow-release fertilizer, Osmocote is a must-have. Without the benefit of a soil test, apply one pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 10 feet or row before sowing seeds or transplanting tomato or cucumber plants. For large containers over 12 inches in diameter or multiple plants in one pot, increase the amount accordingly. However, quick research before you buy commercial fertilizer formula, nitrogen fertilizer, or slow-release fertilizer … Both plants are summer crops in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11, and both are damaged or killed by frosts. Check pots daily  for seeds germination. Home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers, still warm from the sun, turn a summer salad into a special treat. Sprinkle the granules or powder evenly on the soil 6 inches from the base of the plants then water the fertilizer into the soil. Before you learn how to grow the world's best cucumbers, lets go over some cucumber growing and fertilizing facts... Chicken Litter Organic Worm Castings Fertilizer, Organic Fertilizers vs Chemical Fertilizers. The Jobe’s Organics Vegetable Fertilizer spikes are one of the best cucumbers fertilizers and are perfect for cucumbers growers. Here’s a really solid video tutorial on fertilizing cucumbers by Gary PIlarchik. You will not go wrong with any of the products above. You can also add a timed-released, low-nitrogen, high-potassium pelleted fertilizer with a N-P-K ratio similar to 2-3-6. If the plants don't use all the nitrogen they receive, it runs off and can contaminate groundwater supplies. When you see a cucumber seeds popping up, immediately place the container in bright light. Dilute 2 tablespoons of concentrated solution in 1 gallon of water, and use the dilute solution to water the tomatoes and cucumber plants every day, or as often as they need water. This will keep you from having to add any more water to the containers until germination is complete. Fertilizing Cucumbers After the cucumber plants have produced blossoms, it may be beneficial to apply a balanced, all purpose fertilizer. To retain moisture, work in a good quality compost into your garden soil and apply mulch. And continues to feed your plants for up to 6 weeks at a time. The big seeds germinate very quickly and can be stared in flats or directly into the garden or containers. Apply 1 tablespoon per pot at planting, and again when you see the first true leaves on your cucumbers. This fertilizer has the right balance of essential nutrients for successful growth. Steaming your potting soil following the right method to sterilize it. Jobe’s Organics 9026 Fertilizer. Don't use this concentrated solution to fertilize the plants, however. As soon as the first sunny-yellow cucumber flower appears, dose your cukes with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. The fertilizer slowly releases its nutrients so that after you plant, your cukes will have a steady food supply. Fertilizer chemicals are harmful to leaves and stems, so the fertilizer is applied to the soil near the plants and mixed into the soil surface. Once plants have formed true leaves, apply mix of 4-6 ounces. A graduate of Leeds University, Jenny Green completed Master of Arts in English literature in 1998 and has been writing about gardening and homes since 2007. Feed your cucumbers with a diluted or half strength fertilizer in about … You can also use a balanced granular fertilizer. Side-dress established tomato plants in the same way, but wait until the first fruits set, and then apply 15.5-0-0 fertilizer at a rate of 3 1/2 ounces per 10 feet of row.