Your Guide To Growing Cucumbers In steadyGROWpro
SteadyGROWpro is an ideal media for the growth of cucumbers. SteadyGROWpro is:
Inert – allows for maximum nutrient intake to the plant. It does not attract pests.
Sterile – eliminates algal, fungal and bacterial growth
Good aeration – makes sure the root zone is provided with ample oxygen
Optimum water-holding capacity – facilitates healthy root formation
Picking Your Cucumber Seeds
The most common cucumber variety for indoor gardening is the European seedless cucumber. These are parthenocarpic, which simply means that they do not need pollination to produce fruits. Select cucumber seed varieties which grow quickly, are known to produce higher yields and can tolerate temperature fluctuations during the various stages of growth. Be sure the seeds you select are disease resistant and will produce good quality fruit. Never use seeds more than nine months old.
Preparing Your Indoor Garden
Prepare your indoor gardening area by cleaning and sterilizing with a disinfectant. If this is your first indoor garden, see the diagram to the right for the recommended layout and set up.
Sowing Cucumber Seeds
Once the seeds are selected, sow them in steadyGROWpro sheets or plug strips. Make sure the steadyGROWpro product is thoroughly saturated with water.
Sowing in Plug Strips - Plug strips should be watered from the top only; place the plugs in standard 10" x 20" grower trays to capture any excess water. Push the seed down in the foam about ½" into the starburst hole using a sharp and thin object (ie: sharpened pencil). Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro plug media should feel moist at the top. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are oversaturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Sowing in Sheet Media - Sheet media placed in a standard 10" x 20" grower tray may be subirrigated or watered from the top. Maintain a water level within the grower tray of about ⅓ the media height. Drop the seed in the prepunched holes. Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro sheet media should maintain a water level of ⅓ the height of the media. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are oversaturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Germination And Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Blocks
Seeds will germinate in about three to five days. When you see the formation of three to four leaves, transplant the seedlings to steadyGROWpro blocks. Make sure the blocks are thoroughly saturated with water and nutrient supply before transplanting. At this stage of the growth cycle, we recommend a nutrient supply of 216 ppm Nitrogen, 58 ppm of Phosphorous, 286 ppm of Potassium, 185 ppm of Calcium and 185 ppm of Magnesium. Reduce the day temperature to around 70° F and nighttime temperature to around 66° F. Water the steadyGROWpro cubes every two to three hours with 150 ml of water and nutrient solution. Drip irrigation systems are highly recommended as they ensure an even distribution of water and nutrients. For more on drip irrigation systems, click here.
Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Slabs
After two to three weeks, when the seedlings are about 6" long, transfer the blocks to the steadyGROWpro slabs. Make sure the slabs are thoroughly soaked first with water and nutrient supply. You will find precut 4" x 4" holes in the steadyGROWpro slabs for you to place your steadyGROWpro blocks. When using a drip irrigation system, make sure that the drip tubes are placed on the blocks. Place your drip irrigation tube on the block near the main stem to effectively supply water and fertilizer to the actively growing stem and roots. Ideally, during the day make sure about 150 ml of water and fertilizer mix is provided every two to three hours. Thirty-six hours after transplanting, cut two drainage slits at opposite bottom corners of your slabs. The slits should be roughly 1" in length.
You will start seeing flowers in about four weeks. Immediately after, the cucumber fruits will begin their growth. Soon you will be harvesting fresh cucumbers!
