Varieties that are well-suited for container growing include the Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck.

When using a container outdoors, go for a larger container if you can. It will retain moisture more effectively. [3] X Research source You can even use a rectangular planter box if you add a trellis for the cucumbers to grow on.

If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, use a drill to make holes. Choose a masonry drill bit for soft, unfinished terra cotta or a tile and glass drill bit for glazed surfaces. Pick a 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in (6. 4 to 12. 7 mm) bit. Place painter’s tape over the bottom of the pot where you want to drill holes. Painter’s tape helps steady the bit. Press the bit lightly into the tape, and turn the drill on at a slow speed. Slowly and steadily apply light pressure to the taped area until the drill goes through the pot. Repeat for at least 1 other hole. If you press too hard or try to drill too fast, you may break the pot. [5] X Research source

Scrub it down thoroughly with a rag or dish brush and soapy water. Rinse it out several times to make sure you get all the soap out.

Consider a teepee-style metal staking system, available at most hardware and garden supply stores. A staking system encourages the cucumber to climb along it from the start. Place the stake in the pot with the stakes spread out on the inside. The legs of the stake should touch the bottom of the pot. The stake itself should stand straight without needing additional support. If it’s wobbly, adjust the legs so that they’re even.

Pack the mix into the pot, carefully patting it in around the stake. Do not make it too compact, however, since your cucumber plant’s roots need loose soil to grow in. Leave approximately 1 inch (2. 5 centimeters) of empty space between the surface of the soil and the rim of the pot. Check the stake. Try to wiggle it around in the pot. If it still moves around a lot, pack more potting mix in the pot to stabilize the stake. Find potting soil mixes and the ingredients for potting soil at your local garden store. Do not use garden soil, which may be contaminated by bacteria and pests.

Alternatively, use a potting soil that already has fertilizer mixed in. The numbers on a bag of fertilizer indicate how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the fertilizer contains, respectively. Each element nourishes a different part of the plant. A 5-10-5 fertilizer gives your cucumbers a mild dose that focuses on improved vegetable yield. A 14-14-14 fertilizer, on the other hand, keeps the health of your plant balanced, making it safer to give your cucumbers the slightly higher concentration. Choose an organic fertilizer for an environmentally safe alternative.

If you’re planting inside, you can begin the seeds whenever you want.

If you have a larger planter, place the holes evenly around the edge of a circular planter or evenly across a rectangular planter, depending on the size and shape.

Cucumber seedlings don’t like being taken out of a container or handled. Choosing seedlings with organic containers, such as coco coir or peat, allows you to plant them in the soil, container and all, without handling the seedlings too much. The roots will grow through the organic container.

If you’re using a seedling, fill in the hole around the container, and pat it down from the top.

These collars provide warmth and wind protection. They may also protect against some pests.

Use a fine sprayer so you don’t stir up the seeds.

If you are growing cucumbers indoors, make sure they are in a sunny room where they get plenty of light. If you don’t have a sunny corner, you can buy a grow light instead. Place it above the plant, and keep it on at least 6 hours a day. Placing your pot near the side of your house or by a fence can minimize potential wind damage. A little wind is fine, but strong wind can be damaging.

Use garden shears or scissors to snip the extra seedlings off at the soil.

Now you should have 1 plant growing in each grouping you’ve made in the pot. In some cases, that may mean you have just a single plant, if you used a small container.

To check the soil, stick your finger in it. If it’s dry, it’s time to water. Lift the pot up to see how heavy it is. The heavier the pot, the more saturated the soil is with water. Check the pot throughout the day to get a feeling for how heavy or light the pot gets when you water. Adding mulch around your plant will help it retain more water. If your area is especially dry or hot, you may need to water twice a day. [15] X Research source

Pick a 5-10-5 or 14-14-14 fertilizer.

To make a spray with neem oil, mix 1 to 1. 5 cups (240 to 350 mL) of water with a few drops of dishwashing soap and about 10-20 drops of neem oil. [17] X Research source With pests like cucumber beetles, you can simply pick them off by hand using gloves covered in petroleum jelly. Drop them into a bucket of water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. You can also use a bug vacuum designed for the purpose of sucking insects off plants. [18] X Research source

Bacterial wilt starts with the leaves turning dull, wilting in the day, and recovering at night. Eventually, the leaves will turn yellow and die. To make an anti-mildew spray, try mixing 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of baking soda into 1 gallon (3. 8 L) of water. Add a dash of dishwashing liquid, and shake it up. Spray it on the plant once a week if you notice a white, powdery mildew on the leaves. [19] X Research source

Most cucumbers are ready to harvest 55 to 70 days after planting.