Cucumber
Cucumbers give freshness to salads,
sandwiches and drinks.
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Requirements for Growing Cucumber
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Cucumbers crop best in a well-drained sunny position in a slightly
limey soil enriched by dried fowl manure or about one-third cup per sq.
m of complete plant food. Well-rotted compost mixed in or applied later
as a surface mulch is an added advantage.
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Planting time for Growing Cucumber
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In temperate districts you can sow
cucumbers from September-December and to the end of January in warmer
spots. In cool districts they can be sown from October-December. In
semi-tropical areas from September-February and in more northern
monsoonal areas during autumn.
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Cultivation for Cucumber
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Cucumbers are normally sown on 1 m mounds
raised 12-15 cm above the surrounding soil and dished slightly in the
centre. Groups of 2 or 3 seeds are sown 2 cm deep at 50 cm intervals
around the mound toward the edge, then after germination the strongest
plant in each planting is removed. Many people prefer to train the long
green cucumbers on trellises 1.5 m high with the plants spaced about 30
cm apart along the trellising. Don't keep the soil continuously moist
but give a good soaking whenever it becomes dry to 1-2 cm below the
surface.
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Special problems in Growing Kohlrabi
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Germination, often a problem early in the
season, is usually due to cold soil conditions, over-wet soil and deep
planting. Powdery mildew (an ash-like film) can be controlled by
spraying with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride. Downy mildew
(small white tufts below shriveled foliage) is checked by spraying with
Zineb or Mancozeb. Some cucumber strains are resistant to mildew and
this will be indicated on the seed packet.
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