Cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed, and starting them indoors is a great way to get a jump start on your garden. This article will walk you through the process of growing cucumber seeds indoors and getting them ready to transplant to your outdoor garden.
Starting cucumber seeds indoors will not germinate in soil temperatures below 50° F, so it’s important to wait until the last frost date has passed and the outside air has warmed up before planting cucumber seeds directly into your garden. Alternatively, you can start your seeds indoors two to three weeks before the expected last frost date.
Indoor Cucumber Gardening 101: Tips and Tricks for Successful Seed Starting
Sow your cucumber seeds in small peat pots or large cell trays filled with a good seed-starting mix. Plant one or two seeds per site, 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Fill the tray or pot with water until it’s evenly moist. Place the seed trays or pot in a warm location (60 to 85° F) with plenty of sunlight. Soaking the seeds in warm water for 12-24 hours beforehand will speed up their germination time.
When the seeds germinate, you’ll need to water regularly so the soil stays evenly moist. After the cucumber plants begin to grow, you can add a light layer of organic mulch like straw or shredded leaves to keep the soil moisture consistent and help control weeds. Fertilize the seedlings weekly with a liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion or a diluted complete fertilizer at half strength.