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Plants

cucumber

Cucumis sativus L.

Family: Cucurbitaceae · Genus: Cucumis

Placenta I Ground cover No biomass production
Bff · CC BY-SA · iNaturalist

Annual climbing cucurbit. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3 (grows on the ground or on a trellis). Embrapa CT-16 cultivates it in the planting holes of forest and fruit species. 50–60 day cycle.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta I
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Ground cover
Strata
Ground cover
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
6–6.8
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
9–11
Frost tolerance
0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
0.2–0.4 m
Recommended spacing
0.3–1.5 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Very fast
Lifespan
≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest
2 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Cucumber takes the Ground cover stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium Low Ground cover · ≈0 m

🪴 Cultivation

Climbing annual that cannot grow in shade — needs full sun and rich, well-drained soil (sandy to clay loam with organic matter). Very frost-tender; soil should reach about 21 °C for germination. Harvest in 50–70 days; grows on the ground or trained on a trellis, reaching about 2 m.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of cucumber?

The first harvest of cucumber comes around 2 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for cucumber?

The recommended spacing for cucumber is 0.3–1.5 m.

How tall does cucumber grow?

At maturity, cucumber reaches 0.2–0.4 m tall.

What stage and stratum does cucumber occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, cucumber belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the ground cover stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC — Cucumber (ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, time_to_first_harvest_months, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
  3. Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Cucumis sativus (hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c, light_need, waterlogging_tolerance, cultivation_notes)
  4. Weaver & Bruner (1927), Root Development of Vegetable Crops — cucurbit root habit (root_system, root_depth)

External references

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