How to Grow Pickling Cucumbers in Pots

Choose a pot that is 12 inches tall and 12 inches deep. It needs at least one hole in the bottom for drainage.

Cut a piece of fiberglass screen with a utility knife to line the bottom interior of the pot. This prevents soil from leeching away when watering the plants.

Fill the pot to within 1/2-inch of the rim with a mixture of equal parts potting soil, perlite, compost and sphagnum peat moss. Incorporate slow-release fertilizer with the growing mix in the amount indicated on the packaging directions.

Sow five or six pickling cucumber seeds in the pot at a depth of 1/2-inch. Water until the growing mix feels slightly moist.

Place the pot in a location that receives exposure to bright sunlight.

Snip off the smallest seedlings at soil level, leaving only the two largest in place when they are 2 to 3 inches tall.

Monitor the soil closely and water whenever the top 1/2-inch dries out.

Feed the plants weekly with water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. Apply in the amount instructed on the package. Avoid adding fertilizer when the soil feels very dry; add enough water to lightly moisten the soil, before feeding, to reduce the risk of damage to the cucumber vines.

Examine the vines often for problems, such as yellowed or dropped leaves, insect damage or discoloration. Contact your local extension office for diagnosis and treatment advice.

Harvest the cucumbers as soon as they reach the preferred size. This results in tender pickling cucumbers and encourages continued blooming.