Successfully growing lemon cucumber: this is how it works

If you soon see roundish yellow fruits on climbing plants in your garden neighbors, it could be lemon cucumbers. The yellow ones Cucumber are an eye-catcher in the garden and taste wonderfully exotic.

Lemon cucumber

In summer when the temperature is high, cucumber dishes are a big hit. Cucumber salads, cucumber soups and smoothies are refreshing, tasty and healthy.
More and more often bright yellow mixes with the usual green of the cucumbers. The lemon cucumber with the scientific name Cucumis sativus 'Lemon' has made its way into the gardens and onto the plates. We will show you how you can successfully grow the tasty and equally attractive vegetables.
description

• lemon-yellow, apple-sized fruits
• yellow skin, white, typical cucumber pulp with seeds
• Taste mild, slightly sweet, refreshing
• Can be eaten raw, perfect as a snack during breaks
• also suitable for insertion
• Ripe for consumption recognizable by the yellow color
• strongly trailing

Location

Like all types of cucumber, lemon cucumber likes it warm and sunny. The plant spreads quickly on the sheltered bed. The large cucumber leaves cover the ground and protect against drying out. In the greenhouse, the cucumbers need a climbing aid. We recommend equipping the climbing vegetables with a trellis or climbing aids outdoors. This way the fruit will hang in the air. Lying on damp ground can damage the lemon cucumbers.
If you don't have a garden, you don't have to do without the delicious fruits. You can also grow cucumbers in the large bucket on the balcony.

Tip: The cucumber variety Curcuma sativa 'Lemon' is ideal for greening garden fences. However, it can happen that every now and then passers-by steal some of the delicious fruits.

Multiplication

The propagation of cucumbers is carried out by seeds. We do not recommend harvesting semen yourself. With cucumbers it often happens that the properties of the plant change and inedible substances develop. Use certified seeds if you plan to grow lemon cucumbers in the garden.

You can prefer lemon cucumbers on the windowsill as early as April.

Advance Instructions:

1. Fill bowls with potting soil.
2. Put the cucumber seeds inside.
3. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil one to two centimeters thick.
4. Spray the floor with water.
5. Cover the bowls with a glass plate or with cling film.
6. Prick the cucumber plants when at least four leaves appear.
7. Plant the plants in groups of three in small pots.
8. Place the plants on the balcony during the day on frost-free, sunny days to get used to them.
9. At the end of May, after the ice saints, the young plants can move to a sunny spot on the bed.

Alternatively, you can sow the seeds directly outdoors from the end of May.
Instructions for sowing outdoors:

1. Loosen the bed and carefully remove it weed.
2. Rake a smooth surface and make two centimeter deep seed grooves.
3. Put the seeds in evenly.
4. Seal the seed grooves with the back of the rake.
5. Carefully water the area with a watering can and shower head.
6. Keep the bed moist. Prick the plants when at least four leaves appear.
7. Plant the lemon cucumbers six to eight inches apart in a sunny spot.

Note: To save space, you can let lemon cucumbers cling to trellises or fences. If you want to grow the vegetables in pots, support from climbing aids or plant sticks is required.

Substrate

Cucumbers are heavy eaters. You need nutrient-rich, well-drained substrate for optimal development.

care

Weed the weeds on the cucumber patch regularly. Check the leaves for discoloration in order to be able to combat diseases such as powdery mildew in good time. As soon as the first fruits appear, cucumber plants should be equipped with a climbing aid. This prevents the beautiful cucumbers from lying on the ground and being damaged when wet.

Fertilize

Particularly Potted plants require regular fertilization. Use a commercially available organic vegetable fertilizer. Provide the young plants with fresh compost soil. Lemon cucumbers on the bed develop excellently if you fertilize them every now and then with horn shavings and vegetable manure that you have prepared yourself.

to water

The refreshing vegetables require regular watering. The best time to water is early in the morning, before the sun shines. Always water cucumber plants from below without wetting the leaves with water. Damp leaves are prone to disease.
In the case of potted plants, an unimpeded drainage must be ensured. Waterlogging is a common cause of cucumber diseases and must be prevented.

Tip: Cover the soil with a layer of mulch to prevent it from drying out.

To harvest

The lemon cucumbers gradually ripen from the end of June to September. At first the fruits are green. When the peel turns yellow, the time is right to harvest.
Harvest ripe lemon cucumbers regularly, this will stimulate the formation of new fruits. Cut the cucumbers off the plant with a sharp, clean knife.
storage

Lemon cucumbers do not have a long shelf life. They should be processed or consumed after harvest. Do not store the variety with apples. All apple varieties give off ethylene, which speeds up the perishability of the cucumber.

use

Lemon cucumbers can be eaten like an apple as a low-calorie snack. Sliced ​​the refreshing vegetables make a perfect side dish for fish and meat dishes. Prepare fresh salads or delicious soups.
Lemon cucumbers are an eye-catcher on the buffet. Surprise your guests with the extraordinary decoration.

Note: The apple-sized, round fruits are not suitable for grating or planing. Cut the cucumbers into slices or cubes.

Diseases

Cucumbers come from subtropical regions. Above all, they need warmth for good development. Cold combined with moisture can damage plants.
The most common diseases are:

Powdery mildew

• Fungal disease
• Features: white spots on the leaf surfaces
• Control: spray with milk-water solution or pour garlic stock

Wrong mildew

• Fungal disease
• Characteristics: light green to yellow-brown spots on the cucumber leaves, gray-violet coating on the underside of the leaves
• Control: Destroying infected parts of plants

Sclerotinia wilt

• Fungal disease
• Characteristics: white, soft coating first on the stems, later on the fruits
• Control: Avoid moisture on the leaves

Cucumber Mosaic Virus

• Viral disease
• Features: bright, mosaic-like spots on leaves and fruits
• Control: Control aphids as the carrier of the viral disease at an early stage

Planting partner

The composition of plants in a bed has a decisive influence on their development. Ornamental and useful plants can strengthen one another, but they can also weaken one another. Those who skillfully design plant partnerships can look forward to healthy plants and high yields.
Suitable plant partners for lemon cucumbers are:

• asparagus
• Onions
• Beans
• celery
• basil

Do not belong on a bed of lemon cucumbers:

• pumpkin
• zucchini
• Melons

frequently asked Questions