warm-weather vegetable and very
sensitive to frost. It will grow
anywhere in the United States,
however, because it has a very short growing season — only 55 to 65 days f r o m planting to
harvest — and most areas can provide it w i t h at least that much sunshine. Cucumbers like night temperatures of 60° to 65°F, and day temperatures up to 90°F. Plant them w h e n the soil has warmed u p , three to four weeks after your area's average date of last frost.
How to plant
Cucumbers will tolerate partial shade, and respond to a rich, w e l l -w o r k e d , -well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. W h e n you're preparing the soil, dig in a complete, well-balanced
fertilizer at the rate of one p o u n d per 100 square feet or 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
Plant cucumbers in inverted hills, w h i c h you make by removing an inch or t w o of soil f r o m a circle 12 inches across and using this soil to make a rim around the circle.
This protects the y o u n g plants f r o m heavy rains that might wash away the soil and leave their shallow roots exposed. Plant six or eight seeds in each h i l l , and w h e n the seedlings are growing strongly, thin t h e m , leaving the three hardiest plants standing six to 12 inches apart. Cut the
t h i n n e d seedlings off w i t h scissors at soil level to avoid disturbing the roots of the remaining plants.
Fertilizing and watering Fertilize before planting and again at midseason, at the same rate as the rest of the garden.
Detailed information on fertilizing is given in " S p a d e w o r k : The Essential S o i l " in P a r t i .
Cucumbers are 95 percent water and need plenty of water to
keep t h e m g r o w i n g fast. D o n ' t let the soil dry o u t . In hot weather the leaves may w i l t d u r i n g the day, even w h e n soil moisture is h i g h , because the plant is using water faster than its roots can supply. This is n o r m a l ; just be sure that the plant is receiving regular and sufficient water.
M u l c h to avoid soil compaction caused by heavy watering.
Special handling
Cultivate to keep weeds d o w n . If you are g r o w i n g cucumbers inside, or in an area w h e r e there are no insects to pollinate the female flower — your 51st floor balcony, for example — you may need to help w i t h pollination.
Take a soft-bristled brush and dust the inside of a male flower (the one w i t h o u t an immature fruit on the stem), t h e n carefully dust the inside of the female flowers.
Harvest p r o m p t l y ; mature cucumbers left on the vine suppress the p r o d u c t i o n of more flowers.
Pests
Aphids and cucumber beetles are the pests you're most likely to encounter. To control aphids, pinch out infested vegetation or hose t h e m off the cucumber vines, or spray w i t h Malathion or Diazinon. Cucumber beetles may not do much feeding damage, but they carry cucumber
bacterial w i l t . Hand-pick t h e m off the vines p r o m p t l y , or spray t h e m w i t h carbaryl. Cucumbers are so prolific that the organic gardener w h o doesn't want to use chemical controls can afford to lose a few to the bugs. Detailed information on pest control is given in " K e e p i n g Your Garden Healthy" i n P a r t i .
Diseases
Cucumber plants are
susceptible to scab, mosaic, and mildew. Planting
disease-resistant varieties and maintaining the general cleanliness and health of y o u r garden w i l l help cut d o w n the incidence of disease.
If a plant does become infected, remove and destroy it before it can spread disease to healthy plants. Cucumbers are not tolerant to air p o l l u t i o n ; a high ozone level may affect their development. Detailed information on disease
prevention is given in "Keeping Your Garden Healthy" in Part 1.
When and how to harvest
Time f r o m planting to harvest is 55 to 65 days, and a 10-foot row should give y o u as many
cucumbers as you can use. Pick the cucumbers w h i l e they're
immature — the size will depend on the variety. W h e n the seeds start to mature the vines will stop p r o d u c i n g .
Storing and preserving
Cucumbers can be stored in the refrigerator up to one week, but if the temperature is t o o low
they'll freeze and t u r n soft. You can pickle t h e m or use t h e m for relish if they're the right variety.
Detailed information on
storing and preserving is given in Part 3.
Serving suggestions
In the Gay '90s the hallmark of an elegant tea party was cucumber sandwiches, open-faced on thin-sliced bread. In England the sandwiches are closed and cut into small squares or triangles.
Slice cucumbers thinly and
dress t h e m w i t h plain yogurt and a little d i l l . D o n ' t peel t h e m — cucumbers are mostly water anyway, and most of the vitamins they do contain are in the skin.
Instead of eating t h e m , you can make t h e m into a refreshing face cleanser — cucumbers are an ingredient in many cosmetic products.
Common name: dandelion Botanical name: Taraxacum
officinale
Origin: Europe and Asia
Varieties
leaved; Improved Thick-leaved.
Description
The dandelion is a hardy perennial that's g r o w n as an annual for its foliage and as a biennial for its roots. The jagged green leaves grow in a short rosette attached by a short stem to a long taproot. Bright yellow flowers one to t w o inches wide
g r o w o n s m o o t h , h o l l o w flower stalks. The dandelion is best k n o w n — and feared — by gardeners as a remarkably persistent lawn w e e d , but its leaves are actually high in vitamin A and four times higher in vitamin C than lettuce. It's also versatile:
Dandelion leaves are used raw in salads or boiled like spinach, and the roots can be roasted and made into a coffeelike d r i n k . Where and when to grow
Dandelions g r o w well in any soil anywhere. They prefer full sun but w i l l do fine in partial shade.
They're very hardy and will survive both the hottest summers and the coldest winters. Plant the seeds in early spring, four to six weeks before the average date of last frost.
How to plant
Dandelions g r o w best in a well-drained fertile soil f r o m w h i c h you've removed all the stones and rubble. If you're g r o w i n g dandelions for their foliage o n l y , they'll tolerate soil in poorer physical c o n d i t i o n . W h e n
you're preparing the soil, dig in a c o m p l e t e , well-balanced
fertilizer at t h e rate of one p o u n d per 100 square feet or 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Plant seeds in the garden a quarter inch deep in rows or w i d e rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Thin plants six to eight inches apart after the true leaves appear.
Fertilizing and watering D o n ' t bother to fertilize
dandelions at midseason. Detailed information on fertilizing is given in " S p a d e w o r k : The Essential S o i l " in P a r t i .