the guide will help us to know how to grow cucumber in Ghana step by steps
Cucumber cultivation is one of the most profitable agricultural activities in Ghana and has become an important source of income for many people.
One of the most interesting things about growing cucumbers is that there is already a farmers market.
Growing cucumbers in Ghana is not as complicated as it is in other fields of cultivation, so you can start small with relatively little or no experience.
You don’t need any formal training to start a cucumber growing project.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to start a profitable cucumber growing business in Ghana.
All the effort to make in this guide that is growing cucumbers in Ghana is to follow this step by steps guided.
TYPES OF CUCUMBER
There are two types of cucumber plants: Vining cucumber and bush cucumber.
The vining or grape cucumber grows on sturdy vines shaded by large leaves.
The growth of these plants is rapid and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly. Varieties of vines grow best when trained on a trellis or fence. They will be cleaner – compared to those that grow directly on the ground – often more prolific and easier to pick.
However, the bush cucumber is well suited for containers and small gardens.
Do successive sowing (every two weeks for continuous harvest). On already warm soil, cucumbers will grow quickly and ripen in about six weeks!
If you are interested in making pickles, we recommend the several rich varieties below that have been specially chosen for pickling, such as the inherited “Boston Baking”. For crunchy pickles, be sure to prepare them a few hours after harvest!
WHEN TO PLANT CUCUMBERS
1. Cucumber plants should be planted or transplanted outdoors into the ground no later than two weeks after the last frost date. Cucumbers are very sensitive to frost and cold. The soil must be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Don’t plant outside too early!
2. To get a head start, plant cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you plan to plant them in the ground. They like a lower temperature of around 21 ° C (70 ° F). If you don’t have a heating mat, place the seeds flat on top of the refrigerator or place a few on the water heater.
HOW TO GROW CUCUMBERS IN GHANA
Before you start growing cucumbers in Ghana, there are a few steps you need to take to ensure your success. Some of these measures include budgeting, pest and disease control, and marketing. For that said, find below the step-by-step guide on how to get started in growing cucumbers in Ghana.
STEP 1: CHOOSE A GOOD LOCATION
Although cucumbers can be grown anywhere, it is best to explore a good location that increases your profitability. Cucumbers are best grown in clay or loamy soils with access to water.
Cucumbers grow best in nearly neutral soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It tolerates a slightly more acidic or slightly more alkaline soil, provided the soil has adequate fertility and the drains are good.
RECOMMEND READING:
- CAMELLIA JAPONICA GUIDE: HOW TO GROW, PLANT & CARE FOR JAPANESE CAMELLIA
- HOW TO GROW FALL-BLOOMING JAPANESE ANEMONE FLOWERS ANEMONE HUPEHENSIS
- THE SECRET WHY YOUR POTHOS LEAVES TURNING YELLOW : HOW TO FIX POTHOS YELLOW LEAVES
In addition, the area must be exposed to sufficient sunlight as light is very necessary not only for the growth of cucumbers but also for the growth of plants.
The larger your farmland, the higher your revenue. Also, when choosing your location, keep in mind how close your farm is to the potential market.
STAGE 2 – PREPARATION YOUR SOIL
Once you have good soil, you will need to prepare it before you start planting your cucumber seeds.
Land preparation is the most important step in growing cucumbers in Ghana and it is important to pay special attention to this. Clean the soil you want to use for planting.
Working and creating ledges or flowerbeds will loosen the soil for effective growth and weed control. Treat the soil with an insecticide and cover the bed with organic compost such as a cow or poultry manure.
Apply NPK 15 15 15 if using inorganic fertilizer. Plant the cucumber seeds two days after applying the compost. They can be directly in the soil or in the nursery. Use a plastic incubation tray.
Make sure to plant the cucumber seeds after they appear from the third leaf. The distance between the grooves should be 70 cm from each other. Plant 2 cm in the ground, 1 to 2 seeds per hole, 50 cm if they are stacked, 100 cm if not folded
STEP 3: SELECT YOUR SEED
At this step of Selecting seed is a very essential step in growing cucumbers in Ghana. The quality of the cucumber seeds determines the yield. Most people prefer hybrid seeds because they have already been processed.
The state (that is whether the soil is good or bad) of the seeds have an effect in the growing pattern of cucumbers growing in Ghana. In relation to the germination/harvest periods.
Cucumbers begin to sprout 4-5 days after planting. Make sure to grow the varieties that are acceptable in your area if they are for commercial purposes. Some of the recommended types are; Thai, Murano Seeds, Tokyo F1, etc.
STEP 4: MULCHING / WEEDING THE CUCUMBER FARM
Mulch helps control wear and retain moisture. Use cushioning films, but if you can’t get it, use black fabrics or nylon sheeting. Marijuana is not good for any crop to grow because it competes for nutrients and sunlight.
You can use the traditional method of weeding which is using a shovel or using herbicide/pesticide, but be careful not to spray the body of plants in others so as not to reduce the maximum productivity, although this method is less expensive. Easier than the traditional method with associated costs.
STEP 4: APPLY FERTILIZER
After applying the first fertilizer before sowing, reapply it during the vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages. Cucumber plants eat a lot so your manure/fertilizer should be increased with each application, this is a kind of practice that is done in growing cucumbers in Ghana.
This will lead to healthy germination and greater fruits.
Do not let the fertilizer touch the leaves of the cucumber plant as it may cause the plant to stop.
Fresh cow dung is rich in ammonia (nitrogen) and when it hits the plant and burns it, it also carries vectors that stick to the vegetables and cause harmful diseases to humans when they are eaten.
Treat compost 1 to 3 months before use.
You can mix one litre of fresh blood in four litres of water and apply it as a soil bath, if your plant is bearing fruit, use liquid fertilizer.
When a lot of water is used on the cucumber farm, fungal diseases appear due to moisture. To solve it, mix four tablespoons of baking soda in four litres of water and use it as a spray. Foliar.
STEP 5: STARKING YOUR CUCUMBER FARM
It is a good idea to place stakes in cucumber plants, as they allow ease of movement around the farm, and they also help monitor growth, productivity and good use of the space available for cucumbers.
Bamboo can be used to caress with a rope to pull the seedlings. Use the jatropha plant as a perimeter fence, as it repels livestock and other predators and also adds economic value to the soil.
STEP 6: HARVESTING CUCUMBER FARM
Cucumbers are harvested when they are unripe and green in color. Cucumbers take 40 to 45 days to mature. However, the time taken to ripen depends on the variety of cucumber seeds planted.
Harvesting cucumber is normally done manually and cucumbers should be taking very good of in terms of handing with care to avoid bruising. In addition, the damage from falling cucumbers can cause internal swelling. That is why you should
avoid dropping cucumbers during harvest or transportation.
After harvesting the cucumbers, quickly wash them in a bowl filled with water and carefully place them in a retail bag. Cucumbers should be kept in a cool place with 95% relative humidity. However, cucumbers should not be stored for a long time.
STEP 7: MAKING PEOPLE KNOW
There is a well-established market for cucumbers in Ghana. After the fruits are collected, you need to take them to the market. This step should be performed during research before starting the activity. An easily available market combined with
a bumper harvest is an ideal recipe for successful cucumber cultivation.
CUCUMBER PESTS / DISEASES
Little fruit or lack thereof:
• If plants were option you do not produce fruit, this is not generally a disease. There may be a problem in the pollination. The first flowers all males. You must bloom male flowers and female at the same time.
This may not happen early in the plant age, so be patient. (Female flowers are those that contain a small bulging option at the base will become the fruit).
• It can be a fruit shortage also because of poor pollination by bees, especially because of the rain or cold or pesticides. For peace of mind, you can still vaccinate hand. (Dip a cotton swab in the pollen of male and female flower move it to the centre).
RECOMMEND READING:
- THE SECRET BEHIND WHY YOUR SUCCULENT IS DYING
- SECRET BEHINED HOW TO WATER SUCCULENT PLANTS
- ECHINOCEREUS TRIGLOCHIDIATUS GUIDE: HOW TO GROW, PLANT& CARE FOR “CLARET CUP CACTUS”
• Remember that hybrid plants require female companions of pollinators.
• You can attack insects squash seedlings.
• Insects are considered manna always a nuisance for any vegetarian plant, but it is easy to manage.
• It can be a problem of powdery mildew if the leaves wet (water at ground level). Place fungicides at the first sign of his presence.
• You can attack the beetle’s chrome option and cause disease
IS CUCUMBER CULTIVATION PROFITABLE?
Of all the agribusiness ideas, the growing option is among the most used and the most profitable. Cucumbers are rich in fibre, essential micro-nutrients, and vitamins sodium, potassium and manganese.