Cucumber (Hydro)
Cucumis sativus
Malay names: Timun
Fast, high-water crop for hydro; needs trellis and strong sun; choose parthenocarpic varieties for best set.
🌞 Light & Temperature
Light: Full sun (6–8 h)
Temperature: 22–34°C
🪴 Container & Medium
Container: Dutch buckets (perlite) or DWC 25–35 L per plant; vertical trellis.
Medium / Solution: Medium: perlite/clay pebbles; Solution: pH 5.8–6.2, EC 1.8–2.5 mS/cm
💧 Watering / Solution Maintenance
Schedule: Drip 4–8x/day (short pulses) or maintain DWC; change every 7–10 days
Top-up: High water use; ensure steady supply
pH 5.8–6.2; EC 1.8–2.5 mS/cm
🧪 Nutrients
Type: Fruiting nutrient, higher K and Mg
Frequency: Check EC 2–3x/week; change 7–10 days
Dosage/EC: EC 1.8–2.5 mS/cm; pH 5.8–6.2
🍓 Harvest
Start: 6–9 weeks from sowing
Seasonality: Best in drier months; shelter in monsoon
Duration: Harvest window 4–8 weeks
Harvest Indicators: Fruits full-sized and glossy; variety-specific color
Tips: Harvest frequently to maintain production; support fruits on trellis.
🌱 Propagation
Seeds; transplant at 3–4 true leaves.
🐛 Pests & Diseases
- Whiteflies/aphids: Sticky traps; neem 1%; remove heavily infested leaves.
- Powdery/downy mildew: Airflow, prune lower leaves, sulfur/potassium bicarb as needed.
🌦️ Seasonal Notes (Malaysia)
Trellis under shelter to reduce disease; ensure drainage if using buckets outdoors.
📝 System Notes
Use strong trellis; single plant per bucket.
💡 Extra Care Tips
- Train vines early
- Add Mg (Epsom salt) if interveinal chlorosis appears
Note
EC and pH are guidelines—adjust to plant response and your water source. In monsoon humidity, increase airflow and reduce overcrowding to limit disease.