Zimbabweans and people all around the world love cucumbers, making it one of the most sought-after fruits. Cucumber is in such high demand that there will never be enough of it in the world.
In Zimbabwe, how do you grow cucumbers? A nice Farmland with a proper temperature and soil quality, as well as a better Cucumber species, is all you need to get started growing Cucumber.
Farming Cucumber has many processes, but we’ll take the time to go over them all in a step-by-step manner so that novice farmers can get up to speed.
How To Start Cucumber Farming In Zimbabwe Step By Step Guide
In addition to the numerous benefits of cucumber gardening, there are some drawbacks. A successful farm requires a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the farmer.
Cucumbers are a popular choice because they are a nutritious crop that can be grown practically everywhere. Many considerations must be made before beginning the actual seed-planting process.
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Cucumber farming in Zimbabwe can be started by following the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Buy or lease a Suitable farmland
When it comes to growing cucumbers, you need an area that is well-prepared and properly chosen. Here are some things to look for in your farmland before you choose it as your Cucumber farmland:
Fertility of soil
6.5-7.5 is the ideal PH range for their loam-rich, well-drained soil. A plant’s growth can be stifled by an excess of acid in the soil, making it less productive. An increase in nitrates might hinder plant growth if the soil is overly alkaline.
So, while you’re looking for a farm location, keep this in mind.
Availability of Water
As a result, it’s critical to keep an eye on the weather and irrigate when necessary. As a result, if your area is prone to drought, you should avoid planting this crop.
Temperature
optimum temperatures for planting Cucumber are between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius.
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Step 2: Clear The selected farm
Clearing your farmland comes next after checking all of the other things that have been mentioned in the preceding section of this article.
The farm setting should be cleared of all grass and weeds, as this will make your task easier and your job more efficient.
Step 3: Procure Quality Cucumber seed
After that, you’ll need to buy the seeds you’ll be planting. As you may find your desired quality at any Agrovet shop in Zimbabwe, finding cucumber seeds is a cinch in Zimbabwe.
You can plant an acre of farmland with just a sachet containing 50g of cucumber seeds. Let us know in the comments if there are any recommendations for the best agricultural store in Zimbabwe.
Step 4: Start Planting Cucumber Seed
Make a 90-centimeter x 30 cm hole in the ground.
Mix manure and DAP fertilizer into the soil to make it rich.
It is necessary to apply CAN to the seeds after 3 weeks of this treatment.
Keeping the following measures in mind, begin planting your seed.
Do not cultivate them in an open field without mulching.
Plants in a greenhouse should be exposed to sunlight for at least six to eight hours each day.
Step 5: Start Weeding and Pruning
Make sure your Cucumbers don’t have to compete for nutrients with weeds by keeping your garden clear of weeds!
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Step 6: Ensure you Water/irrigate Your Farm
Plant growth can be hindered by dry conditions, thus it is important to water and irrigates frequently to prevent this.
Step 7: Put Pests and diseases Control in place
In order to keep aphids at bay, you can use ladybugs to keep an eye out for them. Keep your plants clean and avoid over-watering to prevent powdery mildew.
Step 8: Harvesting of cucumbers
It’s time to harvest the cucumbers and preserve them for later use when the fruit becomes tall and thick. Having a firm grasp is essential because of its great thickness.
It’s time to harvest them when their lustrous sheen disappears, an indication that they’ve lost water content. You should avoid harvesting them because of their small size and unpleasant taste if they are plucked too early.
Using a pair of scissors or a knife to remove them from the shrub is the best way to prevent damaging the skin, which can lead to long-term degeneration.
The best time to go out and gather cumbers is in the early morning.
Step 9: Preserving after Harvesting
They should be kept cool and dry. To avoid softening the texture of the fruit, avoid storing them adjacent to anything that releases ethylene gas during storage.
Onions, which have a strong aroma and can cause the cucumbers to wilt, should be kept apart from the rest of the produce in the refrigerator.
What Is The Best Time To Plant Cucumbers In Zimbabwe?
The best period to start planting cucumber in Zimbabwe is April or March. You can also start your cucumber farming during late rain, September to December’.
Cucumber Varieties In Zimbabwe
There are the different species of cucumbers they are over 33 specie, but some of them include;
- Salad Bush.
- Straight Eight.
- Sugar Crunch.
- Sweet Slice.
- Sweet Success.
- Tendergreen Burpless.
What Is The Best Way To Grow Cucumbers?
In Zimbabwe, the best way to go about cucumber farming includes getting a nice Farmland with a proper temperature and soil quality, as well as a better Cucumber species, which is all you need to get started growing Cucumber.
Cucumber Farming Pdf
Here is a pdf document to aid your further studies in growing cucumber in Zimbabwe.
Cucumber Fertilizer Requirements Pdf
To know the best guide to apply fertilizer on your cucumber farm, here are the pdf documents to put you through.
Cultural Practices Of Cucumber Pdf
In Zimbabwe, the best way to go about cucumber farming includes getting a nice Farmland with a proper temperature and soil quality, as well as a better Cucumber species, which is all you need to get started growing Cucumber. Here is a Pdf Guide to continue your learning.
Cucumber Yield Per Hectare
Usually, you can get about 40,000 tubers of cucumbers in a hectare of farmland.
Commercial Cucumber Production Pdf
In Zimbabwe, the best way to go about cucumber farming includes getting a nice Farmland with a proper temperature and soil quality, as well as a better Cucumber species, which is all you need to get started growing Cucumber. Here is a Pdf Guide to continue your learning
Challenges Of Cucumber Farming
There are varieties of challenges facing cucumber farming in the world, ranging from inadequate capital, lack of storage facilities, poor sales, and many more.
Conclusion
Cucumber farming in Zimbabwe can be a rewarding business enterprise if you can take the strain that comes with the plant.
All you need to know about how to grow cucumbers in Zimbabwe has been explained to you step-by-step.
So, let us know what you think about this content and any difficulty you faced during your planting.