Who doesn’t like cucumber salad? In fact, this is one of the must have items in my daily meal. Cucumbers are tasty to eat and easy to grow. However, if you want to get the best outcome from your cucumber garden, then you also have to provide the best fertilizers.
Now the question is; what is the best fertilizer for cucumbers?
In short, any type of fertilizer that has a well-balanced nutrient ratio and is free from toxic chemicals. The tomato and vegetable fertilizer also be the best cucumber fertilizer.
For your convenience, Here I listed and reviewed the best fertilizer for cucumbers. Also, I added some additional information related to the cucumber fertilization.
So, without wasting your valuable time, let’s get started-
In a Hurry? Here is my quick recommendation for you that you may buy right now for your outdoor or potted cucumbers.
Best Fertilizer For Cucumbers-Comparisons
| Fertilizers | NPK | Type | Form | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobe’s 9026 Fertilizer | 2-5-3 | Organic | Granular | |
| Jobe's Fertilizer Spikes | 2-7-4 | Organic | Spike | |
| Dr. Earth Fertilizer | 4-6-3 | Organic | Granular | |
| Miracle-Gro Edibles Plant Nutrition | 7-6-9 | Organic | Granular | |
| Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food | 18-18-21 | Inorganic | Granular | |
| Neptune's Harvest Fertilizer | 2-4-2 | Organic | Liquid | |
| JR Peter's 51324 Jack's Classic | 12-15-30 | Inorganic | Granular |
Best Fertilizer For Cucumbers-Reviews
1.Jobe’s Organics 9026 Fertilizer
It has NPK ratio of (2-5-3) which helps growing cucumber properly. Besides, it has a ton of other ingredients and especially microbial agents.
It is the best organic fertilizer for cucumber gardeners with OMRI certification.
This organic fertilizer is biodegradable, renewable, sustainable, and good for the environment. It provides long term advantages without synthetic chemicals, developing a healthy ecosystem for your organic vegetable garden, your family, and the environment.
One of the key features is, it is a mixture of healthy Mycorrhizal, fungi, bacteria, and Archaea. This extraordinary and proprietary mixture of useful microorganisms enhances the long-term soil integrity of your garden, boosts root mass, stimulating plant development, and helping your garden resist disease, drought, insects, and other unfavorable situations within a thriving season.
To apply the best organic fertilizer to your cucumber-
Apply 3 cups per 20 square feet in the time of soil preparation.
And to apply the fertilizer to established cucumbers-
Use 3 cups per two feet of plant spread or 4 cups for 6 feet plants. Read the label of the fertilizer for more dosages.
2.Jobe’s Organics Vegetable & Tomato Fertilizer Spikes
This “into-the-ground” feeding is the most effective delivery procedure for organic fertilizers. The pre-measured spikes bring a quick, simple, and mess-free fertilizing event. To get the best results, try using Jobe’s Organics Vegetable Spikes earlier in the season or after the first truss of flowers emerge.
This fertilizer has 2-7-4 of NPK ratio which is sufficient for your cucumber plants. And the nutrients of this fertilizer formulated from some organic sources. That is also certified by OMRI certificate.
The specialty of this fertilizer is its microbial action boost capabilities. Exclusive Biozome formula stimulates beneficial microbial activity and you know soil microbes help the soil to improve fertility and soil conditions.
Easy to use fertilizer spikes with no excessive runoff, mess, hazards, or smells formulated to assure a steady supply of nutrients below the ground, where the vegetables’ active roots are thriving.
In my opinion, this is the best fertilizer for cucumbers in pots. Take one or more spikes according to the manufacturer’s instructions and simply insert them a few inches deep near the plant root.
3.Dr. Earth Organic Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer
It contains 4% water-insoluble nitrogen; 6% phosphate, 3% water soluble potash, and 4.75% calcium.
Good news; water-insoluble nitrogen can feed the plant continuously up to a few months. That’s also known as the slow-release fertilizer.
This fertilizer is derived from alfalfa meal, kelp meal, rock phosphate, fishbone meal, fish meal, kelp flour, and potassium sulfate.
As you saw, all the nutrient sources are organic and natural. So, there is no doubt about the organicness of this fertilizer.
It has a vast spectrum of biological soil inoculants that further contain very helpful and necessary soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi in order to bring life to all soil gardens or pot plants.
To feed the new plantings-
- For soil preparation, mix in 1 and 1/3 cups per 10 square feet or 6 cups per 50 feet of planting row.
- For containers, mix ½ cup per cubic foot in 5 gallons of potting soil.
To feed established plant-
- 1 cup per 20 square feet area.
Apply every month through the whole growing season and get healthy cucumber plants with this best natural cucumber fertilizer.
4.Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules
What does that imply for you? More bounty—vegetables, herbs, flowers—organically (vs. unfed plants). Within as few as 7 days, you’ll begin to see results (vs. unfed potted plants).
It has a 7-6-9 of NPK ratio that is the perfect ratio to feed cucumbers, tomatoes(learn more about tomato fertilizer), bell paper, zucchini, fruits, and other herbs for maximum growth. Also, it contains some other macro and micronutrients for plants.
This is also an OMRI listed organic fertilizer and the OMRI certificate proves that it has no inorganic chemicals.
The plant food comes in nutritional granule that is one of the best fertilizers for growing cucumbers, squash, lemons ana jalapenos cucumber.
Mix 2 tablespoons of fertilizer for every 1 gallon of barrel volume into the soil at the time of planting. And for grown-up plants, sprinkle some granules properly onto the soil and lightly work it in.
Now water to begin the feeding cycle. Reapply between every 4-6 weeks interval.
5.Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Tomato Plant Food
This fertilizer enables you to grow more bountiful and bigger vegetables. It is a safe fertilizer for all kinds of vegetables and the manufacturer guarantees you that your cucumber leaves won’t burn when used directly on them.
It has a NPK ratio of 18-18-21. This is the best fertilizer ratio for cucumbers that helps your cucumber plant to get all those main three elements at an adequate rate and grow bigger and healthy cucumbers and vegetables. Also, this fertilizer contains other macro and micronutrients.
Good news; the fertilizer comes with water-soluble granules and you know water-soluble nutrients release quickly and feed the plant instantly. So, that begins working as soon as you spray on the plant to boost quick, stunning results.
To feed the fertilizer with a watering can-
- Take 1 gallon of water
- Add 1 and a half tablespoon of fertilizer
- Mix them properly, Then soak the soil by spraying it around the base of the plants.
- Reapply every 10-14 days interval.
To feed with Miracle-Gro garden feeder–
- Fill the feeder jar till the top of the label.
- Mix them adequately.
- Soak the soil surrounding the base of each plant.
- Use every 10 to 14 days interval.
6.Neptune’s Harvest Tomato & Veg Formula Fertilizer
This fertilizer contains a good NPK ratio of 2-4-2. It boosts and expands the density and volume of buds that develop healthy, fresh fruits.
This fertilizer is echo friendly with an excellent mixture of over 60 major and minor nutrients. It also contains amino acids. These important nutrients keep your plants healthy, strong, vigorous, and happy with powerful root zones and lush foliage.
It also strengthens their ability to tolerate numerous diseases, harsh temperature, deficiency, and help them to maximize their production ability! Many farmers who are using Neptune’s Harvest Tomato & Veg Formula Fertilizer, said that it improves stem and stalk with higher yields.
This fertilizer is prepared with phosphoric acid (stabilizer), Hydrolysed North Atlantic Fish, Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum), Humic acid, Potassium Hydroxide (A Processing Aid), Molasses etc. The North Atlantic fish and seaweed increase helpful and necessary microbial activities in soil.
It is an organic fertilizer and you can understand it also by seeing from where this fertilizer is made up. Also, it has an OMRI certificate.
In my opinion; this can be the best hydroponic cucumber fertilizer as well as potted and in-ground cucumber plants.
Take 1/8 Cup with one gallon of water. Feed vegetables, flowers, shrubs, or trees at every 2 or 3 weeks interval. Use until the soil is moist or as a foliar feed until leaves are wet from top to bottom. It is ideal to foliar feed early or late in the day in the morning or evening.
Shake adequately before using it. Try to prepare a spray for a single application and never keep stored diluted fertilizer.
7.JR Peter’s 51324 Jack’s Classic Fertilizer
This fertilizer contains a hefty 12-15-30 of NPK that is very important and perfectly balanced for cucumbers. It boosts the plant’s health and improves soil quality that helps to grow your cucumber.
It is a water-soluble and quick-release fertilizer that provides an optimum combination of nutrients for fruiting vine vegetables like cucumbers, very fast.
This is not a true organic fertilizer. However, It is a concentrated formula and does not fulfill the strict definition of the word “organic”. But there is actually nothing in it that is risky and unsafe.
This fertilizer comes with both micro and macronutrients that are essential for the healthy growth of plants. Especially the high potassium index is very necessary and useful for stimulating the health of the blossoms and leaves which finally results in strong, healthy, and green vines and stalks.
It also contains calcium to prohibit blossom end rot and magnesium for enhanced results.
Jr Peters’s advanced formulation ensures the highest integrity nutrients available, providing proficient results to your cucumber gardens. This is considered as the best inorganic fertilizer for cucumbers.
You can use this fertilizer for both systemic and root feeding. Use 1 spoon per gallon of water diluted directly to the soil, but If diluted to 2/6 scoop per gallon then it can be applied as a foliar feed sprayer. Use once every 7/10 days. And avoid spraying under full sun to get maximum value.
What Nutrients Do Cucumbers Need?
Cucumbers are commonly grown in a similar house as tomatoes, aubergines, and peppers. And most of the gardeners like to feed the cucumbers with the exact feed they are utilizing for the tomatoes.
Naturally, the effect of feeding cucumbers with tomato feed is sufficient and you will get the best outcome from it.
The most required nutrients for growing cucumber are nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and some other nutrients such as iron, boron, and manganese.
Cucumber Required High Nitrogen
By staring at a fully grown cucumber plant, it’s noticeable the leaf area is much bigger than a fully grown tomato plant. So, it is pretty clear that the fuel of leaf growth is nitrogen and so cucumbers require more nitrogen than all other main nutrients, unlike tomatoes, that’s main demand is potassium.
Looking at the suggestions for commercial cucumber farmers, they agree that a much greater nitrogen level is needed along with calcium, magnesium, and other trace elements like iron, boron, and manganese.
Most of our listed fertilizer has lower nitrogen. But you know, cucumbers need extra nitrogen. Doesn’t it make sense? Let me help-
For most of the fertilizer, the nitrogen portion of the fertilizer has been coated for slow release. But other nutrients don’t have a slow-release coat. As a result, the nitrogen remains available in the soil through the ratio is poor.
Remember; cucumbers don’t only need nitrogen for their growth. So, you need the best NPK fertilizer for cucumbers to produce healthy and flavored cucumbers.
If you think the vegetative portion is not growing well, so if you can add additionally 1 tablespoon of ammonium sulfate (our pick: Ammonium Sulfate by Earthborn Element).
When To Fertilize Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are heavy feeders, so make sure to feed the soil with abundant aged manure or compost. After the vines expand, the first flowers and runners arise, followed up with a side dressing of aged manure, fertilizer, or compost once a month.
The best idea; read the label directions of the fertilizer and follow their schedule strictly.Because the fertilizing schedule varies depending on the type of fertilizer.
Also, add fertilizer when you notice your plant’s leaves become yellow and other nutritional deficiencies.
How to Fertilize Cucumbers?
Mix 1-2 tablespoons Liquid Natural Fertilizer with gallons of water. Spray as a fine mist with sufficient solution to completely cover leaves (rise spray volume as the crop grows bigger to ensure thorough coverage). Complete the first application when plants are 3-5 inches in height. Repeat when plants start to run. Increase ratio if leaves are chlorotic.
Plants can sometimes respond to another application of Natural Fertilizer at their first bloom, relying on other inputs. If you want to extend the season to reach a fresh market for your cucumbers then apply fertilizer in the season but up to 2-3 weeks before final harvest.
Spray rates differ according to soil fertility and other inputs utilized. Increased dilution rates are somehow more helpful than lower dilution rates. Two to three lighter applications are sometimes more beneficial than one heavy application. If other conditions only allow one trip over the field, do not overuse than 4 percent dilution rate.
If you pick granular fertilizer, then measure the fertilizer according to the label directions and sprinkle around the plant, mix, and water them thoroughly.
Best Homemade Fertilizer for Cucumbers
Many organic farmers will use comfrey liquid as a greenhouse tomato feed. This fertilizer is well fitted to tomatoes as the NPK ratio is very relevant to commercial tomato feeds. However, once again, it’s ideal to feed cucumbers.
A better organic, homemade feed for cucumbers would be nettle tea, prepared by steeping nettles for around 3 to 6 weeks in water.
Another organic, homemade, liquid, high nitrogen feed that would boost cucumbers growing and fruiting is prepared by steeping a hessian sack full with fairly fresh horse droppings in a container of water until the water turns dark brown. This is known as muck tea.
A decent level of homemade compost fertilizers in the border delivers the trace element required for feeding cucumbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cucumbers like acidic soil?
Cucumbers like most other garden vegetables grow best in close neutral soil with a pH range between 6.0 to 7.0. They’ll withstand slightly acidic or slightly alkaline, as long as the soil has sufficient fertility and drains properly.
When do cucumbers grow?
Outdoor cucumbers are normally planted when the soil gets warmed in early summer or late spring. Deliberately acclimatize plants for 1 or 2 weeks beforehand. A cold frame is helpful for this hardening off-season. In warmer environments, you can sow seeds right into their final growing places.
Is Epsom salt good for cucumber plants?
Cucumbers might sometimes become a little bumpy and worn come mid-season. You can utilize Epsom Salts as a treat to green them up and give a quick boost. One time, mid-season for those heavy feeding plants is all you require in the way of Epsom Salts.
How much Epsom salt for cucumbers?
If you want to use Epsom salt as a foliar spray, then-
- Take a gallon of water.
- Add two tablespoons of Epsom salt.
- Mix them properly.
- Take the mixture into a sprayer.
- Spray on your cucumber plants.
- Spray every once a month.
- For bi-weekly use, take one tablespoon of Epsom salt instead of two.
Last Words
Hopefully, now you know what is the best fertilizer for cucumbers and squash. So what are you waiting for? Get the perfect fertilizers for cucumbers and use them properly.
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Happy Gardening!
