Cucumbers under Row Cover

12 years ago

After seeing and learning about another method to raise cucumbers and other Cucurbits, without chemicals, I thought I would give it a try. I am specifically growing cucumbers in this tunnel. I am trying to exclude squash bugs and more importantly the Cucumber Beetle. The reason for this is they transfer Bacterial Wilt.

Here is how we built this set up.

First we tilled the ground, made raised beds, buried the drip tape for irrigation and then covered the raised beds with plastic/fabric row cover. Then I filled in the middle with some old straw. Then we marked and cut holes every two feet. I was going to go every foot, but I didn't have enough plants to do that.

Then we placed the 6 foot 1/2 inch EMT hoops every 6 feet.

Then we transplanted Diva cucumbers.

I would have planted before I put the hoops on, but I didn't want to transplant them then come back after church and supper. The transplants were larger than I wanted.

Then we added the row cover. We buried all the sides. On the north end, we held it down with water filled two liter bottles. This way we can gain access, if we need to.

These rows are 45 feet long and I plan on leaving the cover on until time to harvest. When it is time to harvest, we will remove the row cover. The plants will be big enough to hold off any damage from the beetles.

I am doing another low tunnel next week with a different type of cucumbers.

Jay

Comments (6)

myfamilysfarm
12 years ago
This may be a dumb question, but don't the plants need pollinated. I don't think cucumbers are self pollinators, but I might be wrong.

Marla
little_minnie
12 years ago
Those are greenhouse cucs that do not need pollinators. What is the word? something 'pathic.
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jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
Original Author
12 years ago
The are called parthenocarpic.

The study this is modeled after didn't use parthenocarpic cucumbers, so it will be neat to see how they do.

You can look at his information at the link below. You will have to page down to Friday's schedule.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great Plains Growers Conference PDF's
boulderbelt
12 years ago
I used to grow Divas in our hoop house but 3 years ago they were incredibly bitter (and this variety is touted to never be bitter) so we stopped growing them and have switched to an Armenian cuke which has a great flavor.

the Armenian cukes do have to be hand pollinated while the plastic is still on the hoop house but once they are open the pollinators find them. i did have to hand pollinate these cukes this year for a week but now they are loaded with baby cukes (and this is the type of cuke they sell as baby for $3.00 for 6 of 'em.)

Growing cukes in hoop houses is great as you do not have any bug issues until the very end of their run and you get top dollar for your cukes because you will be the only person with them at market. I got $1.50 each for my cukes this past Saturday and sold out quickly (I did not have many but it was a very slow market).
little_minnie
12 years ago
I am trying Super Zagross this year. I believe I did Diva last year. I have a problem with gophers and with wind and peas and cucs have been problem crops. I started cucs in peat strips and they all damped off! So I started seeds in the garden 2 weeks ago and the results are amazing! They are covered with FRC until they get big enough to not be nibbled on. I don't have bugs too much but the critters in the field are a problem. I hope the gophers don't go underneath like they did to the peas!
At my market people only sell small picklers in a basket or Marketmore- yuck! I like the "skinless/seedless".
boulderbelt
12 years ago
Zagoss are anything but seedless but a good cuke (actually a melon)