Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetable plants among gardeners. They taste refreshing, have few calories but are full of vitamins and minerals. When planting snake cucumbers, a distinction is made between outdoor cucumbers and greenhouse cucumbers and you should pay particular attention to this.
How do I plant snake cucumbers correctly?
To plant snake cucumbers successfully, choose high-yielding varieties such as Printo, La Diva F1 or Rawa F1 and plant them in the greenhouse or outdoors in a warm, sunny and wind-protected location. Provide climbing aids and pay attention to good plant neighbors such as beans, garlic and dill.
Proven snake cucumber varieties
You can choose between classic long cucumber or short midi snake cucumber. Generally high-yielding varieties are the F1 hybrids with a long harvest period. Some are also free of bitter substances and resistant to mildew.
- Printo – cold-tolerant mini snake cucumber for balconies and pots
- La Diva F 1 – sweet, bitter-free refined home cucumber, for outdoors and greenhouses
- Rawa F 1 – robust, tasty, purely female-flowering, ideal for single households
If you dream of robust home-grown cucumber plants, you can graft cucumbers yourself and wait excitedly to see what grows.
Snake cucumbers in the greenhouse and outdoors
Snake cucumbers do not feel comfortable at temperatures below 10 degrees and react with growth depression and low yields. Therefore, snake cucumbers can be grown more successfully in the greenhouse. Prepare the ground beforehand and attach shade nets and climbing ropes to the roof.
Snake cucumber plants can go outdoors in mid-May. Your location should be warm, full sun and protected from wind. Grow 60 centimeters apart in the prepared bed or planter. If the weather gods are in a good mood, they will shoot up quickly. So don’t forget the climbing aid! There is no harm in maximizing cucumbers.
Planting snake cucumbers at lofty heights
You can plant snake cucumbers on the balcony in a bucket or pot that is at least 20 liters in size. Fill the planter with substrate or potting soil, plant cucumbers, attach them to a trellis and place them in a sunny, wind-protected location.
From flower to cucumber in 2 weeks
You can harvest the first snake cucumbers just two weeks after flowering. Snake cucumbers have the best flavor when they are smaller than supermarket cucumbers. As soon as they turn yellow, the ripening period has passed. Cut off overripe fruits from the plant so as not to weaken them unnecessarily.
Snake Cucumber Friends
Whether in the greenhouse or outdoors – good friends are beans, garlic, kohlrabi, spinach and dill. Not so good: peas, cabbage, beetroot and celery.
Tips & Tricks
Snake cucumber plants are a treat for snails. You can prevent this if you put up snail fences (€89.00 on Amazon) or scatter slug pellets around the plants immediately after growing.
