I started out with big plans: to repurpose the tomato-growing spaces based on the layout used by Rudy—who’s been tending his plot for at least 15 years in the community gardens. Rudy used landscape fabric with holes just barely large enough to squeeze in a plant. Over the winter, I widened those holes so my tomato cages could sit in 2-foot circles. Rudy had gone all-in on landscape fabric—I uncovered multiple layers as I widened the planting holes. It was like peeling back garden archaeology. I also expanded the trellis rows and the areas where he had peppers, squashes, and eggplants—making them 18 inches wide so I can run my little tiller through.
Despite the prep, the cucumbers weren’t thriving the way I’d hoped. I pulled them up and planted my last remaining tomato plants, which I finished on July 7—just in time for a hopeful fall harvest (assuming the 100°F heat index doesn’t fry them).
Meanwhile, I’ve restarted cucumbers in several areas: one in my raised pickle patch bed, and several back on Rudy’s trellises after clearing the sugar snap peas.
Just to note, three gardens—each 25 by 100 feet—have become quite the adventure, especially when “me, myself, and I” are the only crew. My gardening partners make the occasional appearance, but the day-to-day? That’s all me, which I can’t do it all and my garden got weedy and didn’t go as planned. Let’s just say: next year will definitely be different. I’m already deep in seed research and new techniques—naturally, I’ll share everything I learn.
And now… the cucumber soil recipe that’s carried me through this season’s trials and turns.
Equipment
I have basic equipment that I use for planting. You might come up with others.
- Shovel
- 5-gallon buckets for soil and additional buckets to measure out compost and the half strength Miracle-Gro water.
- Handheld hoe and cultivator to break up clay clumps.
- Several tablespoons—like those included with Miracle-Gro—work well in a pinch. I keep them just for this purpose since I tend to be a pack rat
- a quart container for watering
- Wheelbarrow for mixing
- A heavy duty metal fence post (this is what I had laying around my pickle patch) that I discovered makes a good straight line and dibbler/planting depth for planting.
- Hand tiller for row planting
- Regular small gas/electric tiller for rows
Planting Cucumbers
Soil Amendments per Planting Hole:
- 4 gallons of removed soil
- 1 gallon of leaf soil compost or if you have compost or Black Kow brand in a half-half ratio.
- 4 tablespoons of fine bone meal
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of Triple 13 fertilizer
- 2 tablespoon of lime pellets
- 4 cups of coarse sand for drainage
- Cucumber seeds — once the hole is filled and smoothed, gently poke seeds into the center to direct-sow
Nancy’s Note: These circular plantings were tucked between established tomato cages, making use of every inch. This method could also be implemented in any unused or awkward spaces throughout your garden—perfect for squeezing in bonus cucumbers where you might not normally plant. However, I learned that overcrowding in these compact spaces can lead to poor airflow and increase the risk of blight. Next time, I’ll thin to one strong seedling per hole to give the vines breathing room.
Row Planting Amendment Blend (for One 10-Foot Row at 5″ Width):
- 7.8 gallons or round up to 8 gallons leaf compost or soil blend
- ¾ cup bone meal
- ¾ cup Triple 13 fertilizer
- ½ cup lime pellets
Formula Breakdown for compost or soil blend 5″ × 10′ × 3″ Row
You’re calculating the volume of soil in a prepared zone so you know how much compost and other amendments to add.
Convert Inches to Feet (because cubic feet is standard)
- Width: 5″ ÷ 12 = 0.417 feet
- Length: 10 feet (already in feet)
- Depth: 3″ ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet
Multiply for Cubic Feet Volume
- Volume = Width × Length × Depth
- Volume = 0.417 × 10 × 0.25
- Volume = 1.042 cubic feet
Convert Cubic Feet to Gallons
- 1 cubic foot ≈ 7.5 gallons
- So: 1.042 cu ft × 7.5 = ~7.8 gallons
Nancy’s Note: I gave all the dimensions to Bluebee to calculate the amounts, but if you have any questions like I usually do, I bring it to Bluebee’s attention. I always want to know how he comes up with my answers—and a lot of the time I point out mistakes.
Use a wheelbarrow to mix the amendments, then evenly distribute the blend across the row. Lightly work it in using a hand tiller, claw tool, or even a garden rake—whatever fits the row width and soil texture best.
It's Pickling Time
It’s taken nearly a month to return and wrap up this cucumber soil entry, but the timing worked out perfectly: it’s pickling time. The cucumbers are coming in strong, and this year the plan is simple — pickle relish only. We’re already stocked on dill pickles and bread-and-butters, so the focus shifts to maximizing what we need.
Planting Lessons & Adjustments
Tomato bed holes didn’t work — likely due to overcrowding and poor airflow from tight seed spacing.
Switched to rows with 6-inch spacing and a trellis system. This change gave the vines room to breathe and climb.
First round didn’t succeed, but we didn’t give up — knowing Zone 8a’s long season, there was still time.
One last sowing may happen by August 8, targeting a harvest before the first frost in late October to early November.
What Worked
Trellised vines plus precise spacing improved airflow and fruit set.
Observing soil behavior and adjusting plant layout paid off.
Staying nimble with timing kept the growing window open.
If you have any questions, please contact me. I am happy to share what worked (and what didn’t) this season.
Happy Pickling!
Nancy Dru