I’ll admit it – with all the rain we’ve had in Atlanta this summer, my plants are struggling. The herbs are doing fine, but the veggies are struggling to produce good fruit. The one plant that seems to be doing far better than others is my cucumber plant. I’ve had one large, delicious cuke already with about four more on the way. I’m not particularly sure why it’s been this successful, but I’m going to share what I’ve done in this post as part of my summer garden series.

Growing Cucumbers in Pots:

• Diva cucumbers can grow without a second plant for cross-pollination, but cucumbers do better in multiples
• Choose a large pot, as this will help hold water and moisture in for the plant
• Make sure the plant gets LOTS of sun, about 6-8 hours per day is necessary
• Use a good quality, organic potting soil and add fertilizer every other week during growing season
• Water frequently – especially once the plant starts bearing fruit. In the summer, water every day
• Trellis your cucumbers – this will expose more of the leaves to the sun, keep the cucumbers off the ground and away from critters, and make it easier for you to see the produce and harvest it

Harvesting Cucumbers:

• Cucumbers can go from small to very large in a few days, so be sure to keep an eye on them
• When they get too large, they become bitter and are full of seeds
• Don’t pull the fruit off – you can damage the vine. Cut it off, instead.
• Harvest often to keep the plant producing new cucumbers
• Harvest even the bad or too big fruits to help the plant grow new ones

 Uses for Cucumbers:

• As an ingredient in salads
• Sliced and dipped in hummus, greek yogurt, tzatziki, etc.
• Add to water for a refreshing and natural flavoring
• Rub on the a foggy mirror after a shower to clear it and provide a lovely, light scent to the room
• Boost energy: high levels of Vitamin B and carbs make this a great afternoon snack
• Place slices of cucumber in an aluminum dish or pie pan and put it in the garden to keep slugs and bugs out
• Boil cucumbers in water to provide a soothing scent to help you relax
• Freshens breath
• Fights constipation – the seeds are a dihuretic 
• Helps treat sunburn – rub cucumber on skin

Here are some yummy cucumbers from my garden, with my favorite hummus – Roots Roasted Red Pepper. 

Want to learn more about container gardening and what’s possible? Check out the rest of my Summer Garden Series.