Tropical Style

The way to Grow Cucumbers With Roses

Cucumbers are a great summer vegetable harvest for the home gardener and will grow happily alongside roses. Both prefer growing in full sun and fertile soil, high in organic content, which also drains well. Cucumbers aren’t frost tolerant, although a lot of roses are. Organize your cucumber planting schedule to start after the date of average last spring frost in your area.

Test your soil prior to planting. Utilize an entire test kit or support, or contact your local agricultural extension office, even when accessible. Roses and cucumbers prefer growing in soils which are slightly acidic to neutral, typically 6.0 to 7.0. Care for your soil with lime to increase pH or sulfur to reduce it in accordance with your soil test report if needed.

Amend your soil also prior to planting. Work at a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost, humus, aged manure and chopped bark to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. This practice raises soil mineral density, balances drainage and moisture content, and also enhances root oxygenation.

Plant your roses and cucumbers where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily, rather more. Don’t plant cucumber seeds or seedlings until the danger of spring frost has passed for your region. Allow adequate space for cucumber plants, depending on the mature size of the variety you choose, typically 48 to 60 inches wide and tall. Roses do not like to be overly crowded. This can inhibit development and encourage fungal diseases.

Fertilize cucumbers by side dressing with a granular 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 type fertilizer after new growth appears. Always water in fertilizers well. A second application can be repeated 2 to 3 weeks afterwards. These fertilizers blends are also suggested for roses and may also be applied according to the identical schedule.

Stake, trellis or otherwise support cucumber vines as they grow. Support structures can be put into place at planting time or as plants mature from the warmer months of summer. Cucumbers require a soil temperature of 50 levels Fahhenheit to germinate, typically closer to 70 degrees. Most will fruit and mature at 48 to 70 days depending on variety.

Water your cucumber plants regularly if appropriate rainfall is lacking throughout the growing season. Roses and cucumbers grow best when they receive a minumum of one inch of water per week during the growing season. Avoid overhead watering as this can give rise to fungal diseases, and typically is much less efficient than using ground amount soaker hoses or misters to saturate the soil thoroughly.

Remove leaf litter and spent cucumber vegetation from rose regions at the end of the growing season. These may harbor bacterial diseases as well as the larvae of destructive insects. If you are able, compost this material for later use. The composting process typically kills off fungi and insect larvae.

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