Crop details

Cucumber

Cucumis sativus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Quick stats

Family	Cucurbitaceae
Typical harvest	20.7 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	7
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	65
Main uses	Fruits eaten raw in salads, sandwiches and kachumbari, or lightly cooked and pickled.
Pollination	insect
Origin / where it grows	Cucumber is widely grown in warm and medium-altitude vegetable areas of East Africa, especially around homesteads and irrigated plots.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	18–28 °C
Rainfall	700–1000 mm/yr
Altitude	0–2000 m
Best pH	6–6.8
Soil type	Loose, well-drained loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter so Cucumber roots can spread easily.
Row spacing	150 cm
Plant spacing	50 cm
Planting depth	2 cm
Seed rate	3.5 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 65 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for fruits eaten raw in salads, sandwiches and kachumbari, or lightly cooked and pickled..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Cucumber is widely grown in warm and medium-altitude vegetable areas of East Africa, especially around homesteads and irrigated plots. It is grouped under: Vegetables.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 700 to 1000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2000 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6 to 6.8. It does well in loose, well-drained loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter so cucumber roots can spread easily.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 150 centimetres apart, and leave about 50 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 2 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 3.5 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Plant Cucumbers in warm, moist soil. Place 2–3 seeds per hole on raised beds or ridges, then thin to one strong plant. Keep soil loose and free from crusting.

Transplanting: Cucumbers can be raised in small pots or trays and transplanted with soil around the roots, but direct planting is simple and common.

Irrigation: Keep soil moist, especially during germination, flowering and fruit filling. Avoid long dry spells and waterlogging, both of which reduce yield and quality.

Fertigation: With drip, apply frequent small doses of NPK. Reduce nitrogen after strong vegetative growth and increase potassium during flowering and fruiting.

Pest scouting: Check Cucumbers 2–3 times per week for aphids, whiteflies, mites, leaf spots and rots. Inspect the underside of leaves and around flowers and young fruits.

Pruning: Train vines along beds or simple trellis to keep fruits clean and straight. Remove very old, diseased or badly damaged leaves.

Harvest: Harvest Cucumbers when they are full-sized, green and still tender, before seeds become hard and skin turns dull. Pick regularly to encourage continuous fruiting.

Postharvest: Handle fruits gently to avoid bruising. Keep in shade, avoid storing in very cold conditions and sell or use soon after harvest.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	150 kg/ha	N: 26, P₂O₅: 26, K₂O: 26	Apply along the bed or ridge and mix with soil before planting Cucumbers.
2	Vegetative topdress	20	CAN 26% N	80 kg/ha	N: 21, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply along rows on moist soil and lightly cover.
3	Fruiting topdress (high K)	35	NPK 12-12-24 or SOP-based mix	120 kg/ha	N: 14, P₂O₅: 14, K₂O: 29	Apply at first flowering to support continuous Cucumber fruiting.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	50	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	40	kg/ha
N	Topdress_vegetative	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_vegetative	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_vegetative	30	kg/ha
N	Topdress_fruiting	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_fruiting	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_fruiting	40	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Long green slicing Cucumber	KE	60	Long, smooth fruits preferred for salads and fresh markets.
Short pickling Cucumber	KE	55	Shorter fruits suitable for pickles and mixed vegetable packs.
Hybrid Cucumber (indeterminate type)	TZ	65	High-yielding variety for trellised or greenhouse systems.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	150	Provides balanced nutrients at the start of the Cucumber crop.
Topdress (vegetative)	CAN 26% N	80	Supports vigorous vine growth before heavy fruiting.
Topdress (fruiting, high K)	NPK 12-12-24 or SOP-based high K mix	120	Improves fruit size, skin quality and shelf life.
Organic	Well-rotted manure or compost	8000	Apply and incorporate before planting to improve soil structure and water holding.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Aphids	pest	Small insects on young shoots and the underside of leaves causing curling, yellowing and sticky honeydew.	Encourage natural enemies, avoid excessive nitrogen and use selective insecticides or biopesticides when numbers are hig...
Whiteflies	pest	Tiny white insects flying up when plants are disturbed, with yellowing leaves and sooty mould on Cucumbers.	Monitor regularly, remove heavily infested leaves and use recommended products when necessary.
Spider mites	pest	Fine speckling, yellowing and webbing on leaves during hot, dry weather.	Maintain some humidity, avoid dusty conditions and use miticides/biopesticides if infestations are severe.
Fruit flies and chewing insects	pest	Stings, scars and rotting spots on fruits, sometimes with maggots inside.	Harvest fruits regularly, keep field clean of fallen fruits and use baiting or recommended sprays where needed.
Downy mildew	disease	Yellow angular spots on upper leaf surface with grey mould underneath in humid conditions.	Plant in well-aerated fields, avoid overhead irrigation late in the day and apply suitable fungicides when needed.
Powdery mildew	disease	White powdery growth on both leaf surfaces leading to yellowing and early leaf drop.	Improve airflow, avoid excess nitrogen and use fungicides if disease spreads.
Anthracnose / fruit rots	disease	Dark sunken spots on leaves and fruits; fruits may rot in the field.	Rotate crops, use clean seed, avoid overhead irrigation in the evening and remove badly affected fruits.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Backyard / low-input Cucumbers	12	8	15	Some manure, little fertilizer and irregular picking.
Open-field Cucumbers with good management	20	15	25	Improved variety, recommended fertilizer and timely pest control.
Irrigated / high-input Cucumbers	30	25	40	Drip irrigation, fertigation and careful disease control.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Warm lowland and mid-altitude Cucumber areas	Onset of rains or any time with irrigation and warm temperatures.	First fruits from about 6–7 weeks after planting with regular picking.
KE	Peri-urban irrigated vegetable belts	Most of the year where frosts do not occur.	Extended harvest with staggered plantings and good pest control.
TZ	Coastal and lake basin Cucumber zones	Main rainy seasons and under irrigation in warm months.	Regular picking over several weeks during warm periods.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Peri-urban irrigated Cucumber belts	High
KE	Warm lowland and mid-altitude vegetable zones	High
TZ	Coastal and lake basin horticultural areas	High
UG	Warm smallholder vegetable zones around towns	High