How to Farm Cucumbers

Test the soil to make sure that you have the proper pH, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous levels in the soil to grow your cucumbers. Cucumbers grow best in a sandy or sandy-loam type of soil with a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.0, up to 50 pounds of nitrogen, and up to 150 pounds of potassium and phosphorous. Add commercial blends of lime and other minerals to adjust the soil to the necessary levels.

Plant a cover crop prior to planting your cucumbers. Plow the crop over and apply well-rotted manure to increase the organic matter content of the soil. Contact your local university extension office for approved suppliers of manure.

Plant your crops in the late winter or early spring, depending on your climate at the last late frost date, for a midsummer harvest. Plant your cucumbers in early August for a mid- to late-fall harvest.

Plant cucumber seeds at a rate of about 1 to 2 lbs. (16,000 to 32,000 seeds) per acre, spaced 8 to 12 inches apart. Create a wide seed bed separated by water channels on either side. Arrange to plant seeds in every row that is wider than 40 inches; for rows less than 40 inches, skip every third row. Plant seeds to a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch.

Line the soil with mulch to keep the weeds to a minimum and keep the soil moist.

Watch your cucumber seedlings closely; seeds will germinate in about 10 days and should grow to full term in up to 50 days. Water often, as cucumbers are made up of around 95 percent water. Use a drip irrigation process to water your plants, checking every two or three days to make sure that your watering schedule is set properly. Configure the water sprayer to provide up to 100 gallons of water per acre.

Watch for common diseases such as belly rot, bacterial wilt and powdery mildew, as well as cucumber pests such as aphids, miners and cucumber beetles. Use USDA-approved herbicides to control your pest and disease problems.

Harvest the cucumbers by hand. Pick cucumbers around 10 days after the flowering process. Remove the cucumbers by snapping the stems using your thumbs and forefingers. Harvest your cucumbers for about two to three weeks, then plow over the field, using the old plants as mulch and begin the process anew.