How to intercrop cucumber

How to intercrop cucumber

The cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., 1753) is a vegetable of the Cucurbitaceae family, native to eastern and southern Asia.
It is a plant that tends to grow creeping (or climbing when it finds supports, to which it attaches through the cirri produced by the stems and branches).
It has five-lobed yellow flowers, not very large, they are unisexual, borne by the same plant (monoecious plant), the male ones in groups of about five individuals, the female ones are solitary or in pairs.
The fruit of this plant is a pulpy berry rich in water.
Like all plants, it benefits from intercropping and, in particular, intercropping with bean, pea, radish and carrot is good. Other possible associations are: celery, lettuce, cabbage, sweet corn.
However, associations with potatoes and tomatoes should be avoided.
Let’s see in detail what the benefits of combining cucumber with some plants are.
– Corn: Corn provides light shade that can protect cucumbers from excessive sun. Additionally, corn’s deep roots can help improve soil structure.
– Beans: Climbing beans, such as runner beans or mung beans, can climb up stakes or cucumber support nets, providing partial shade and fixing nitrogen in the soil, improving the health of cucumber plants.
– Pumpkins: Pumpkins can provide beneficial shade for cucumbers and can also help suppress weeds.
– Herbs: Plants like mint, basil or dill can repel pests and add variety to the garden.
– Lettuce: Lettuce can be planted near cucumbers because it has a shallow root system and grows quickly, so it doesn’t compete too much for water and nutrients with cucumbers.
– Onions and garlic: They can act as natural repellents against insects and common cucumber diseases.
All intercropping must always and in any case also be evaluated based on the pedological characteristics of the soil and the availability of water and fertilizers.