Can cucumbers grow successfully in shaded areas?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Cucumbers are more tolerant of shaded locations than many gardeners know. Though they grow best in full sun, careful adjustments allow you to grow them in partial shade with about 4-6 hours of filtered light. You can grow a compact bush variety and employ light-reflective techniques to make up for shorter to half days of direct sunlight.
Light Optimization
- Install aluminum foil reflectors around plant bases
- Rotate containers 90° daily for even light exposure
- Use 30% shade cloth during midday heat peaks
Soil Requirements
- Maintain pH 6.0-6.5 with monthly soil tests
- Mix 3 inches of compost for moisture retention
- Apply balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer every 3 weeks
Pest Management
- Spray neem oil weekly to deter aphids
- Interplant with nasturtiums as trap crops
- Use copper tape to repel slugs
Cucumber plants that were watered, by drip irrigation, at soil level. Watering in the morning prevents fungal growth in the soil and keeps soil moisture at 80%. Check the leaves for yellowing during the week, as that indicates cutting back on watering frequency by 25% in lower light conditions.
Vertical training using "A" frame trellises helps capture scattered light. Improved air circulation from the training decreases powdery mildew risks by about 40%. When fruits reach about three inches, place them in a sling made from a soft cloth to support the weight of the fruit and avoid fruit stem damage.
Fruits should be harvested 50-60 days after planting when they reach approximately 6-8 inches in length. Cucumber varieties that are grown in shade usually have thinner skins than sun-grown cucumbers so they should be refrigerated promptly after harvest. Generally, shade-grown cucumber yields will be about 20% below sun-grown bed yields, but the flavor is much more complex.
Grow cucumbers with leaf lettuce in shaded beds to get a benefit. Lettuce will serve as a living mulch and help keep soil temperature down by 5-7°F. Lettuce and cucumber will also increase the harvesting window to about two weeks in the summer heat.
Read the full article: 10 Shade Tolerant Vegetables for Your Garden
