Not everyone has access to wide-open spaces with raised garden beds. For some, an apartment balcony or small deck is all that is available, which are perfectly suitable for growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, including cucumbers. Common space-saving solutions include growing cucumbers in containers or pots. But why not grow your garden off the ground? Plant your cucumbers in hanging baskets!

Though it is a less common method, with the right care, this vegetable is happy to grow suspended in the air. Looking to garden from above? Discover six tips for growing cucumbers in hanging baskets!

Choose the Right Cucumber

small cucumber growing amongst plant leaves

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Because you are growing your cucumbers up high in a basket, you must have the right variety. Most garden cucumbers have deep roots -- some reaching as deep as 45 inches! However, by selecting a dwarf or compact type of cucumber, the roots do not go as deep, making them better suited to life in a basket.

Find cucumber seeds or plants labeled dwarf, bush, patio, or compact. These varieties like to grow in tighter spaces, whereas others (like vining cucumbers) sprawl outwards with deep roots.

Using small varieties prevents the plant and cucumbers from becoming too heavy for the hanging basket. It also ensures a smaller root system that does not outgrow the narrow space too quickly.

Some cucumbers that work well in hanging baskets include the 'Spacemaster,' 'Salad Bush,' or bushel hybrids. These cucumbers have vines that do not extend as long as vining cucumbers, reducing the need for trellises or stakes. Their vines usually require a space of 2 square feet or less and are content to drape over the pot.

Select the Right Basket

Using the right-sized basket is critical to give your cucumbers the best chance of success.

Choose a basket with drainage holes large enough for your plant's root system. Ideally, use a basket 8 to 10 inches deep and about 12 inches wide per plant. Of course, if you have the space and the proper supports, the larger the basket, the better!

Pro Tip: Always ensure fasteners and hanging mechanisms can support the basket's weight. You don't want your cucumbers to come crashing down with a single gust of wind!

Use the Right Soil

Gardening soil

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Fill your baskets with well-draining gardening soil that includes a mixture of loam, sand, and organic matter. Cucumbers prefer slightly acidic soil -- a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5.

When filling your basket with soil, the most important thing is to include nitrogen to help with growth. Use a nitrogen-rich component like compost to provide the nutrients needed to grow plump and delicious cucumbers!

Make your own compost using vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and other organic debris around your yard. Another great solution to offer your cucumbers both nutrients and water is to create a compost tea.

Pro Tip: If you are unsure of the pH level of your soil, do a DIY home pH test to find out!

Find the Perfect Hang-Out

Of course, your cucumber hang-out must coincide with your available space. However, to achieve success, choose a spot with lots of sunshine. Cucumbers need at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily.

Not getting enough sunlight may lead to overly moist soil, causing root rot. Also, if your plant experiences stress through a lack of requirements, it leads to bitter cucumbers.

Water Regularly

Watering green cucumber plant.

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Cucumbers need plenty of water. And those grown in hanging baskets require even more!

Hanging baskets dry out faster due to the sunlight required and the compact growing space. With this in mind, watering a few times each week ensures the soil stays moist (but not overly wet).

Give your cucumbers about roughly 1 inch of water each week. However, remember that those in places with warmer climates and hot temperatures need to increase this amount. More watering is required when your plant begins to fruit. Insert a finger into the soil to verify the moisture of your soil and water if it is getting dry.

To reduce the frequency of watering, plant and hang a larger basket (so long as it isn’t too heavy to suspend). The larger the space you give your plant, the more likely the soil around the roots remains moist. 

Another alternative to reduce watering is to use natural mulch on the top layer of soil around your plant. Natural mulches help to retain water in the soil, preventing it from drying too fast. They even offer nutrients over time!

Pro Tip: Want to save more on watering costs? Harvest rainwater!

Protect Your Cucumbers

Cucumber Beetle

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Cucumbers are known to struggle with pests like cucumber beetles and aphids. As well they are susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew and bacteria wilt.

One way to protect your cucumbers from these afflictions is to use netting to keep pests away. Also, try using baking soda on your cucumbers to ward against diseases like powdery mildew. If you'd rather use insecticides, apply these to your plant in the spring.

Another tactic to protect and promote the wellness of your cucumbers is to grow them next to beneficial companion plants! If you have the space for more hanging (or grounded) planters, try growing dill to draw beneficial insects, such as lacewings and syrphid flies. Another plant to grow is nasturtium which attracts good insects while repelling bad ones like white flies and cucumber beetles.

Hang Out With Your Cukes!

When growing cucumbers above the ground, these tips will guide you toward success.

Use good soil, have a sunny spot, regularly water your plants, and strive to keep away pests! If you do this, you will have your very own fresh, home-grown cucumbers ready to harvest in no time!

Do you love to grow cucumbers yourself? Have you tried hanging them from above? Comment below with your favorite type of cucumber to plant, and share your success stories!