CUCUMBERS
Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins we need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium.
The creeping – on – the – ground variety is the best. You have to take care of the young plants, occasionally cutting the weeds, but after that, the plants will grow strong. Lay out Bamboo, or the branches of a tree and the Cucumbers will twine all over them. The branches keep the fruit just above the ground so that it does not rot. This method of growing Cucumbers also works for Melons and Squash.
PREPARING SEEDS
As the seeds are tiny, they should be soaked in Pancha Gavya (3% solution) for 20 minutes. before sowing.
VRIKSHAAYURVEDA:
Sprinkle jaggary water over them, tie them in a leaf cup, keep on the floor to give heat for three days and sow..
PESTS
Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices of Cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
CUCUMBER PLANTING
An acre needs 100 g. seeds.
VRIKSHAAYURVEDA:
Sprinkle water mixed with Jaggary on the seeds. Tie them in leaf (Dhonnai – Tamil) cups. Keep on the floor for three days. They will become warm. Then you can plant them.
Creepers like Cucumbers should be sown in a pit filled with manure. Spread hay over the area.
INSECTS
To avoid insects in all creepers, sprinkle sieved ash.
Clear Lime (Sunnambhu in Tamil) water can be sprinkled for all saplings to prevent insects.
COMPANION CROPS
Companion crops or mixed crops are the crops grown generally to avoid diseases and pest attacking the main crop. The companion crops attract the pests that attack the main crop, in turn maintaining the quality and quantity of yield. This helps in reducing the man power and extra costs incurred on pesticides or insecticides.
Beans, Tomatoes and Sunflower plants can be grown together for this purpose.
Beans, Maize and Cucumber.
Beans and Cucumbers grow better if planted in conjunction with each other, and that other plants, such as Beans and Fennel seem to fare badly together.
