Hi Guys, we at Kresthill Farms Nigeria would like to share with you all our cucumber � farming experience. Though we are a bit far gone, we will still like to interact, learn and share details of what has happened in the past weeks. Stay tuned and also follow us on the following platforms to get more updates....

instagram: @kresthillfarmsnig
Twitter: @kresthillfarms
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1. CLEARING OF THE LAND & BED MAKING:

We decided to plant on about 5 plots of land, so after clearing and burning the bushes. We made about 40 long beds. I learnt that most vegetable farmers make ridges instead of beds but we use beds because they are flat which makes planting cucumbers easy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSlbAxRQMxc

2. STAKING:

This is the act of driving a stake or rod into the ground close to a plant to provide support for its stems.

The natural tendency of cucumbers is to climb, so placing a stake near the plant as it begins to grow allows the plant to wrap around the stake and grow up. We will be using bamboo sticks for staking on the beds we’ve made.

3. LAYING OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS:

Now, Irrigation is the application of controlled amounts of water to plants at needed intervals. It helps to grow crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall.

There are two types of irrigation in agriculture which are the traditional and the modern types. In the course of our journey, we used a modern type of irrigation called Drip System Irrigation..

4. PLANTING:

We tested the soil and the results came back great with the ph level of the soil being balanced. So we planted on the land without using manure since it was a virgin land.

We planted by pushing the seeds 1 inch into the soil, with a spacing of 45.72 cm apart. Normally it takes between 3 days to a week for the plants to germinate.

5. FERTILIZATION:

Cucumbers grow quickly and should never be allowed to suffer from lack of water or nutrients. Advanced cucumber cultivation must supply the crop with optimal rates of nutrients throughout the growth cycle in the most efficient manner possible, and without degrading soil and water resources.

So at day 14, we fertilized the plants through fertigation. (this is the application of fertilizer through the irrigation system).

Please where is your farm located

ogaademola:
Please where is your farm located

It’s off sagamu/Abeokuta expressway. Ogun state

6. TRELLISING:

This is a technique used in keeping crops off the ground. by using this method, the crops won't rot or sit on the soil. So because we planted vining varieties of cucumbers( which are the climbing types of cucumbers), We trellised vertically in order to give the plants some spacing, prevent diseases, give better airflow, protect from pests and make it easier to harvest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3smljySF-oY

Great thread. Please help with pictures

Updates:

The plants are 5 weeks now and have started fruiting..we are looking forward to harvesting next week before or after the Christmas celebrations.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1-OEmnB4a8

This is awesome and beautiful.

How many pieces are you looking at harvesting from this? If you wouldn't mind, can you share your financials as well.. How much you'v spent etc. Finally, how do you plan to market it?