How to Easily Grow Clean Cucumbers in Foam Boxes for a Bountiful Harvest

Growing cucumbers in foam boxes is a popular choice for many families with limited space. Here’s a guide you can follow.

Why Grow Cucumbers:

Cucumbers have long been a common vegetable in family meals, known for their cooling effect, skin benefits, and thirst-quenching properties in summer. Growing them at home ensures you have fresh, clean vegetables readily available.

Important Preparations:

Regardless of the method, preparing the soil is crucial. The soil should be loose, rich in humus, and nutrients to help the plants grow well. You can choose light soil or organic humus soil, mixed with fertilizer in a “7 parts soil, 3 parts fertilizer” ratio. Fill the foam box, which should have drainage holes at the bottom, with a soil layer about 20-30 cm thick.

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Method 1: Growing Cucumbers from Seeds

Depending on your preference, you can buy cucumber seeds from supermarkets or online, such as climbing cucumbers, green cucumbers, or spiny cucumbers. For cucumbers, there’s no need to soak the seeds beforehand; you can plant the seeds directly into the prepared soil in the foam box. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and water slightly to increase moisture.

Steps:

  1. Place the foam box in a location with plenty of sunlight and open space to help the seeds sprout and grow quickly.
  2. Water the cucumber plants about twice a day and apply NPK fertilizer twice a month.
  3. In about 2 months, the seeds will grow, flower, and bear fruit, ready for harvest.

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Method 2: Growing Cucumbers from Seedlings

For the first time growing cucumbers, many prefer this method for higher success rates. Instead of directly planting seeds in the foam box soil, soak the seeds in warm water (2 parts boiling, 3 parts cold) for about 4-6 hours.

Steps:

  1. After soaking, take the seeds out and wrap them in a damp cloth. In 2 days, the seeds will sprout.
  2. Continue to plant the sprouts in a plastic container, and in 1-2 days, the sprouts will grow into seedlings.
  3. Transfer the seedlings to the prepared foam box soil, and they can be harvested in about 45 days.
  4. Water the plants twice a day to ensure they grow well.

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Flowering Stage:

When cucumber plants are in the flowering stage, ensure they are not water-stressed. At this stage, the plants are sturdy and won’t die from excessive watering.

 

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Harvesting:

The more cucumbers you harvest, the faster the plants will grow. The best time to harvest cucumbers is when the fruits are of medium size (with the flower still attached at the tip, green smooth skin with a white bloom) or about 15 cm long. This allows the plant to continue growing vigorously.

 

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