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Do You Need to Rotate Cucumbers in a Garden?

Cucumber gardens can yield some of the most productive vegetable gardens. Roland E. Roberts at Texas A & M University notes that crop rotation is important in both commercial and home gardening and can result in increased crop production. Conversely, not rotating crops can have a detrimental effect on the life and health of crops. Rotating crops has the effect of preserving nutrients in the soil.

  1. Crop Families

    • Crops, including cucumbers, need to be rotated according to the crop families to which they belong. There are about 10 major crop families, and cucumbers fall within the gourd family. Other gourds include cantaloupes, pumpkins, watermelons and squash, among others. Cucumbers and other gourds should be rotated to an area were gourds were not grown the previous season. Vegetables are rotated according to families because these families are often affected by the same diseases and insects.

    Basic Rotation

    • Putting together a basic crop rotation plan is the simplest way to ensure effective crop rotation. Penn State University recommends that you plant the same crop family in the same vegetable garden bed no more than once every three years. You should take notes and keep a record of what you plant and where you plant it so you won't make the mistake of planting a crop with the same crop family within a span of less than three years. Some vegetables, such as onions, radishes, carrots and beets, can be planted along with cucumbers.

    Soil Preparation

    • Because each type of vegetable has its own soil requirements, cucumbers must be treated according to their specific planting needs. Soil preparation is essential to a successful cucumber crop. Cucumbers need at least 4 to 6 inches of rich soil for their deep roots to take hold. Approximately 25 to 50 pounds of compost should be used for every 100 square feet of soil. Commercial fertilizer can also be used.

    Succession Cropping

    • An alternative to yearly crop rotations is to use another method of rotation known as succession cropping. Succession cropping simply involves rotating crops within the same crop bed or soil space within the same season. Therefore, you could plant cucumbers and other gourds at the beginning of the season, while following these up with legumes in the latter part of the season. If time permits, you could grow another cucumber crop that same season in another bed, following the planting of another crop family.

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Vegetable Garden
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