Propagation

    Cucumbers are both direct seeded and transplanted in Hawaii. Proper soil temperatures for seed germination range between 55-95F (13-35C). Thinning is conducted in two operations for direct seeded crops . The first thinning occurs at the two leaf stage leaving 4-5 plants per hill. The final thinning takes place about a month after seeding, leaving two plants per hill. Cucumbers can be transplanted when adverse growing conditions are expected during the initial growing stages, when expensive seed is used, or for special operations as in hydroponic cultures. About 1-2 lbs/Acre of seed is required for direct-seeded cucumbers (there are about 1100 seed per ounze). Cucumber inoculation with Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza fungi Glomus spp., which has been shown to improve nutrient uptake in other crops, also improved tolerance to salt stress and prevented attack from damping-off, Pythium ultimum, in cucumbers. However, Glomulus seed inoculants are not currently commercially available. Seed at a depth of 3/4-1 inch.