MISTAKES IN CUCUMBER FARMING OR CULTIVATION
cucumber farming, there are several problems.
Mistake 1: Planting Poor Quality Seeds
The use of poor quality cucumber seeds is a major factor contributing to poor yield in cucumber farming in Nigeria. G and D Maga Farms encourages farmers to plant good hybrid cucumber seeds or your own improved seeds. Hybrid seeds ensure good disease resistance and great yields. Farmers should plant cucumbers seeds suitable to the climate of their region like seeds from Thailand.
Mistake 2: Poor Soil Management
Cultivating cucumber in poor soil is a recipe for failure. G and D Maga Farms advice farmers to do soil type, Cucumber plants need nutrient dense soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil pH must range between 5.5 to 7.0. Poor Soil must be amended with manure, microbial inoculants, humates (humic acid and fluvic acid) and fertilizers if need be. Good soil ensures a healthy start for the seedlings till harvest time.
Mistake 3: Poor Water Management
Irrigation is very imporant in cucumber farming especially during the dry times. Drip Irrigation is advised as the best type of irrigation for cucumber farming as it saves water, reduces labour need, allows fertigation, inadequate watering causes bitterness and very efficient in root zone wetting.
Mistake 4: Inadequate Fertilisation
Several cucumber farms where insufficient fertilizers and manure were used, these farms recorded very low yield. Cucumber plants are heavy feeders, they guzzle nutrients voraciously, when these nutrients are not enough, the plants punish the farmer with low yields.
Soil must be amended soluble fertilizers like Potassium Nitrate, Monoammonium Phosphate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Chelates, Urea, NPK and Calcium Nitrate etc must be used to ensure good yield.
For organic Farmers, manure, nutrient solubilising microbes, humates and organic fertilizers must be used for great yield.
Mistake 5: Poor Pest and Disease Management
Diseases and pests can wipe away acreages of cucumber plants within days if proper strategies have not been put in place to prevent and attack pest and diseases.
Prevention is always better than cure in plants’ disease management. Different pesticides should be used to guard against resistance issue. Pesticides must not be sprayed speculatively. Crops with good and healthy growth are better prepared to withstand disease and pest attack.
Some beneficial microbes like Bacillus spp and Trichoderma spp prevents and attacks diseases and pests when they strike.
Cucumber leaves are attractive to insects; good insecticides can resolve insect attacks quickly. Downy Mildew is a fungal disease cucumber farmers fight year in, year out in Nigeria. Cucumber farmers are advised to raise the pH of their leaves by spraying humic acid, Potassium Silicate or Bicarbonate of Soda. Downy Mildew hardly survives in alkaline environment. Kaolin spray on cucumber leaves also prevents Downy Mildew. Fungicides with copper and Mancozeb are also effective for prevention.
It should be noted that careless usage of Nitrogen fertiliser may aggravate Downy Mildew, other fungal infections and insect attack problem. Potassium imbalance during cucumber fruiting may also worsen fungal attacks on cucumber leaves.
Mistake 6: Weed Management
Weeds are unwanted plants growing side by side with your crops. They may host harmful pests and diseases, they compete for nutrients and water with your crops and they generally inhibit healthy growth of your crops.
Weeds should be removed as soon as possible on your farm. Herbicides may be used but Veggie Grow Limited encourages physical removal of the weeds instead of herbicides.
Weeds can reduce cucumber yield by as much as 70%.
Mistake 7: Not Staking your Cucumber Plants
Unstaked cucumber plants can get infected by soil borne diseases easily. They also take space and make it difficult for the Farmer to work on his farm.
Cucumber plants are better staked as this makes it easy for Farmers to increase their planting density. In most cases, staked cucumber plants perform better with great yields.
Mistake 8: Reckless Usage of Pesticides
Uncontrolled application of chemical pesticides can negatively impact the growth and yield of cucumber plants. During flowering, chemical insecticides should be avoided. Chemical Insecticides kills pollinating bees, this may affect pollination of flowers and ultimately lead to poor fruiting.
Farmers are advised to use less chemical insecticides and fungicides during flowering. In the case that pesticides are necessary, it is preferably they are sprayed in the evening when bees are less active.
Mistake 9: Not Harvesting on time
Leaving big fruits on the cucumber plants can stress the plants and make the plants stop production of further fruits. Frequency of harvest is beneficial to cucumber plants as it makes them fruits profusely. It is good to harvest cucumbers every two days for maximum yield.
Mistake 10:Marketing
Cucumber farming is lucrative in Nigeria. However, Farmers are expected to do their marketing analysis before planting. Organised supermarkets pay premium prices for cucumbers grown in a healthy way.
Cucumbers are also sold in the open markets throughout Nigeria. There are peak and off-peak seasons for fresh cucumbers sale in Nigeria.
Mistake 11: Planting The Seeds Too Early
Despite the old expression, “Cool as a cucumber,” this versatile summertime veggie thrives in the sunshine and the heat.
Cucumber seeds shouldn’t be planted any earlier than two weeks after the last frost date because they are very sensitive to frost damage. Your soil needs to be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination,
Mistake 12: Having A Tiny Gardening Space
Most cucumber varieties grow on vines so they do require a lot of space. If you don’t have a big enough yard, though, you can grow cukes up a trellis, according to the Oregon State University Extension Service. Not only are trellises space savers, but they can also protect the cucumbers from damage that happens from lying on moist grounds. Talented gardeners might even be able to grow cucumbers in a hanging basket.
.Mistake 13: Crowding plants together
Some salad crops, such as spinach, looseleaf lettuce, arugula, and kale, don't mind growing shoulder to shoulder. However, most vegetables do best when they aren't packed together too tightly. Tomatoes, for example,
require good air circulation to remain healthy, so be sure to space them at least 2-3 feet apart. If planted too closely, your plants are more likely to be stricken with problems such as blight or mildew. Other vegetables that need a bit more breathing room include broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, sweet corn, potatoes, and peppers.
Mistake 14: Sitting in the dark
Vegetables and herbs need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day to perform well. Some leaf crops such as lettuce and spinach can be grown in partial shade, but even they don't perform all that well out of direct sunlight. If you don't have a sunny plot of land for a traditional garden, try gardening in containers that you can move around on your deck or patio to take advantage of what sun you do have. Vegetables grown in shady conditions won't generally produce fruit, or if they do produce a crop it will be smaller and less flavorful than any grown in full sun.
Mistake 15: Overplanting
It's easy to get a little out of control when it comes to growing vegetables and herbs. The idea of harvesting baskets of delicious, fresh produce can tempt you to plant crops your family doesn't really like. For example, if your kids won't eat green beans, use the space in your garden to grow veggies everyone can enjoy. There's no reason to grow everything you find in the seed catalog if all you really need are some tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers. And, more important, there's no need to grow 20 tomato plants when two or three will do the job. Plus, having so many vegetables growing at once takes time and energy and could lead you to slack off on weeding, watering, and other chores.
Mistake 16: Offering not enough support
Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans, and melons do best when they can grow up, over, or through a support that keeps their fruit from touching the ground. Tomatoes grow well in sturdy cages designed just for them, and melons and cucumbers can be trained to sprawl over a mesh tunnel or trellis. Pole beans prefer to twine their way up a trellis, tepee, or other vertical support. The supports help keep these crops healthier by providing better air circulation and the fruits stay healthier and cleaner held high above the surface of the soil.
cucumber farming, there are several problems.
Mistake 1: Planting Poor Quality Seeds
The use of poor quality cucumber seeds is a major factor contributing to poor yield in cucumber farming in Nigeria. G and D Maga Farms encourages farmers to plant good hybrid cucumber seeds or your own improved seeds. Hybrid seeds ensure good disease resistance and great yields. Farmers should plant cucumbers seeds suitable to the climate of their region like seeds from Thailand.
Mistake 2: Poor Soil Management
Cultivating cucumber in poor soil is a recipe for failure. G and D Maga Farms advice farmers to do soil type, Cucumber plants need nutrient dense soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil pH must range between 5.5 to 7.0. Poor Soil must be amended with manure, microbial inoculants, humates (humic acid and fluvic acid) and fertilizers if need be. Good soil ensures a healthy start for the seedlings till harvest time.
Mistake 3: Poor Water Management
Irrigation is very imporant in cucumber farming especially during the dry times. Drip Irrigation is advised as the best type of irrigation for cucumber farming as it saves water, reduces labour need, allows fertigation, inadequate watering causes bitterness and very efficient in root zone wetting.
Mistake 4: Inadequate Fertilisation
Several cucumber farms where insufficient fertilizers and manure were used, these farms recorded very low yield. Cucumber plants are heavy feeders, they guzzle nutrients voraciously, when these nutrients are not enough, the plants punish the farmer with low yields.
Soil must be amended soluble fertilizers like Potassium Nitrate, Monoammonium Phosphate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Chelates, Urea, NPK and Calcium Nitrate etc must be used to ensure good yield.
For organic Farmers, manure, nutrient solubilising microbes, humates and organic fertilizers must be used for great yield.
Mistake 5: Poor Pest and Disease Management
Diseases and pests can wipe away acreages of cucumber plants within days if proper strategies have not been put in place to prevent and attack pest and diseases.
Prevention is always better than cure in plants’ disease management. Different pesticides should be used to guard against resistance issue. Pesticides must not be sprayed speculatively. Crops with good and healthy growth are better prepared to withstand disease and pest attack.
Some beneficial microbes like Bacillus spp and Trichoderma spp prevents and attacks diseases and pests when they strike.
Cucumber leaves are attractive to insects; good insecticides can resolve insect attacks quickly. Downy Mildew is a fungal disease cucumber farmers fight year in, year out in Nigeria. Cucumber farmers are advised to raise the pH of their leaves by spraying humic acid, Potassium Silicate or Bicarbonate of Soda. Downy Mildew hardly survives in alkaline environment. Kaolin spray on cucumber leaves also prevents Downy Mildew. Fungicides with copper and Mancozeb are also effective for prevention.
It should be noted that careless usage of Nitrogen fertiliser may aggravate Downy Mildew, other fungal infections and insect attack problem. Potassium imbalance during cucumber fruiting may also worsen fungal attacks on cucumber leaves.
Mistake 6: Weed Management
Weeds are unwanted plants growing side by side with your crops. They may host harmful pests and diseases, they compete for nutrients and water with your crops and they generally inhibit healthy growth of your crops.
Weeds should be removed as soon as possible on your farm. Herbicides may be used but Veggie Grow Limited encourages physical removal of the weeds instead of herbicides.
Weeds can reduce cucumber yield by as much as 70%.
Mistake 7: Not Staking your Cucumber Plants
Unstaked cucumber plants can get infected by soil borne diseases easily. They also take space and make it difficult for the Farmer to work on his farm.
Cucumber plants are better staked as this makes it easy for Farmers to increase their planting density. In most cases, staked cucumber plants perform better with great yields.
Mistake 8: Reckless Usage of Pesticides
Uncontrolled application of chemical pesticides can negatively impact the growth and yield of cucumber plants. During flowering, chemical insecticides should be avoided. Chemical Insecticides kills pollinating bees, this may affect pollination of flowers and ultimately lead to poor fruiting.
Farmers are advised to use less chemical insecticides and fungicides during flowering. In the case that pesticides are necessary, it is preferably they are sprayed in the evening when bees are less active.
Mistake 9: Not Harvesting on time
Leaving big fruits on the cucumber plants can stress the plants and make the plants stop production of further fruits. Frequency of harvest is beneficial to cucumber plants as it makes them fruits profusely. It is good to harvest cucumbers every two days for maximum yield.
Mistake 10:Marketing
Cucumber farming is lucrative in Nigeria. However, Farmers are expected to do their marketing analysis before planting. Organised supermarkets pay premium prices for cucumbers grown in a healthy way.
Cucumbers are also sold in the open markets throughout Nigeria. There are peak and off-peak seasons for fresh cucumbers sale in Nigeria.
Mistake 11: Planting The Seeds Too Early
Despite the old expression, “Cool as a cucumber,” this versatile summertime veggie thrives in the sunshine and the heat.
Cucumber seeds shouldn’t be planted any earlier than two weeks after the last frost date because they are very sensitive to frost damage. Your soil needs to be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination,
Mistake 12: Having A Tiny Gardening Space
Most cucumber varieties grow on vines so they do require a lot of space. If you don’t have a big enough yard, though, you can grow cukes up a trellis, according to the Oregon State University Extension Service. Not only are trellises space savers, but they can also protect the cucumbers from damage that happens from lying on moist grounds. Talented gardeners might even be able to grow cucumbers in a hanging basket.
.Mistake 13: Crowding plants together
Some salad crops, such as spinach, looseleaf lettuce, arugula, and kale, don't mind growing shoulder to shoulder. However, most vegetables do best when they aren't packed together too tightly. Tomatoes, for example,
require good air circulation to remain healthy, so be sure to space them at least 2-3 feet apart. If planted too closely, your plants are more likely to be stricken with problems such as blight or mildew. Other vegetables that need a bit more breathing room include broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, sweet corn, potatoes, and peppers.
Mistake 14: Sitting in the dark
Vegetables and herbs need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day to perform well. Some leaf crops such as lettuce and spinach can be grown in partial shade, but even they don't perform all that well out of direct sunlight. If you don't have a sunny plot of land for a traditional garden, try gardening in containers that you can move around on your deck or patio to take advantage of what sun you do have. Vegetables grown in shady conditions won't generally produce fruit, or if they do produce a crop it will be smaller and less flavorful than any grown in full sun.
Mistake 15: Overplanting
It's easy to get a little out of control when it comes to growing vegetables and herbs. The idea of harvesting baskets of delicious, fresh produce can tempt you to plant crops your family doesn't really like. For example, if your kids won't eat green beans, use the space in your garden to grow veggies everyone can enjoy. There's no reason to grow everything you find in the seed catalog if all you really need are some tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers. And, more important, there's no need to grow 20 tomato plants when two or three will do the job. Plus, having so many vegetables growing at once takes time and energy and could lead you to slack off on weeding, watering, and other chores.
Mistake 16: Offering not enough support
Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans, and melons do best when they can grow up, over, or through a support that keeps their fruit from touching the ground. Tomatoes grow well in sturdy cages designed just for them, and melons and cucumbers can be trained to sprawl over a mesh tunnel or trellis. Pole beans prefer to twine their way up a trellis, tepee, or other vertical support. The supports help keep these crops healthier by providing better air circulation and the fruits stay healthier and cleaner held high above the surface of the soil.
Mistakes In Cucunber Farming Or Cultivation
Reviewed by ganddmaga
on
May 11, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by ganddmaga
on
May 11, 2019
Rating:
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