My venture into this trial farm was inspired by posts from several Nairalanders in the Agric forum, like those from the Cucumber King, Jasper; Jethro2, the Master 'Trainess'; Pavore9, the Agro Sage; Kalusam, the irrigation Prince; Soloxam and SeedWorld the seed bullion vans.

I researched a bit about the various varieties of Cucumber seeds available and finally settled for Murano2 F1. F1 is the tag assigned to seed or hybrids derived from carefully crossing 2 or more plants of same specie to harness the qualities of the various parent plants.

That said, I was able to get the Technisem Murano2 F1 (an improvement from Murano F1) from SeedWorld... It was somewhat scarce and pricier than the others. I got consent from my friend to use the piece of land besides my Friend’s house. The land had plantains already on it but they hadn't canopied.

RIDGE MAKING :
I cleared the patch roughly measuring 20mx45m, then my problems started. The hands I got did not know what the heck a bed/ridge was and least of all how to make one. Even after showing them repeatedly I ended up getting escavation heaps. All hope was not lost, as the deep trench/trough btwn the ridges served a useful purpose.

MANURING:
I applied surface dressing with poultry waste on the bed and worked it into the soil to a depth of about 15cm. I then irrigated and left it for about 1wk. This was relatively fresh waste. I didn't have the time to compost.

IRRIGATION :
Not wanting to bank only on rain fall, I rigged water via pvc pipes from the house to the patch and used hose to spray. Optimally, drip irrigation either using drip tapes or pvc pipes with ¹/16 inch holes drilled at specified planting intervals is best. But my 'pipo', I was cutting On cost.

PLANTING.:
I wanted to maximise space so I planted 2 rows per bed at 30cm interval at 2-4inch depth... Length of finger up to 2 joint. I thoroughly watered the beds a day before planting half of the patch. They sprouted on day 4. Here are the pix at day 9.

IRRIGATION CONTINUED:
The deep furrows my inglorious workers escavated came to good use. I channeled the waste water from my friend's fish pond into a long trench escavated at the head of the line of Ridges so the waste water empties into the furrows as it flows by. So water get to the beds vía capilary action for update by the plant roots... No dehydration for the cukes.

Now, I encountered issue No 2. My cukes had elongated Stems. There was risk of stem break. I read up the likely causes. 2 culprits stood out... Over manuring and lack of sun light. I also saw that the young plants all tended to lean in one directión.

Cucumbers love sun a lot. I noticed that on one side of the patch, there were tall trees that tended to shade the plants. I now have to employ 2 remedies... Trim down the offending branches and transplant/replant the Seedlings. So I am now carefully uprooting and replanting the cukes, burying the seedlings up to just below the first leaves. Painstaking work.

WOW

I am glad to finally see someone frm my area experimenting also.since you are in uyo,can i visit your farm sir? currently trying out tomato in a small garden along abak rd

how many grams did u plant and d dimension

keep up the great work and keep us updated(as time permits you) on your cucumbers!

Following:
I am glad to finally see someone frm my area experimenting also.since you are in uyo,can i visit your farm sir? currently trying out tomato in a small garden along abak rd

Great guys of the future..would love to have a look too. cheers!

Oh sure. Will be very much available on Saturday.

Following:
I am glad to finally see someone frm my area experimenting also.since you are in uyo,can i visit your farm sir? currently trying out tomato in a small garden along abak rd

Rough dimension of the patch is about 20mx45m. I have planted about half so far. I got 3nos 50g Tin of Murano2 F1. ¾ of 1 TIN planted so far. A 50g Tin is estimated to contain about 1,000 seeds. I never got around to counting.

shadowid:
how many grams did u plant and d dimension

That analysis of seed used and land area is very helpful,..pls where in uyo z ur farm

I will boss. Thanks. I still have my eyes on procuring the drip kit from you soon. I will call once am ready.

Kalusam:
keep up the great work and keep us updated(as time permits you) on your cucumbers!

Gric:

Great guys of the future..would love to have a look too. cheers!

If u r in uyo,its behind d ikot okubo sec skl,am always in the farm.

Following:
If u r in uyo,its behind d ikot okubo sec skl,am always in the farm.

Ok, nyadi o..sosongo bro

Gric:
Ok, nyadi o..sosongo bro

na atem ndidia asok mmon utom o utu di

have harvested mind BT I used cu999

have harvested mind BT I used cu999. how much is d cost of 1 tin

Following:
na atem ndidia asok mmon utom o utu di

Abasi mmi ke enyong! Nke ka nyem ibo yak atem afere tomatoe anim anno...kuyak mboko mfehe o.

Gric:

Abasi mmi ke enyong! Nke ka nyem ibo yak atem afere tomatoe anim anno...kuyak mboko mfehe o.

tomato mi edibike iwod dion,abudia ayendo ke ufa isua

shadowid:
have harvested mind BT I used cu999

hw much z the cu999,which shop did u get it in uyo and what was the yield like

Down Nwaniba, Close to Le Méridian

Following:
That analysis of seed used and land area is very helpful,..pls where in uyo z ur farm

On Day 14, I applied organic pesticide using Neem oil (oil extracted from the seed of Neem tree locally known as Dogonyaro. Using a ratio of 4 table spoons of Neem oil to 1table soon of local/black soap to 1 liters of water. The black soap acts as an emulsifier else it wouldn't mix with water. I drenched the plants using a knapsack sprayer. You may ask why!
... I had noticed that something was chewing up the tender leaves of the cukes. I strongly suspect snails, catapillar or beetle/bug. I will spray repeatedly every 5 to 7 days.

I have also commenced trellising, though this may be considered quite early but all the same, it has to be done. Better now than later.

how z the cukes ministry so far? u v forgotten ur thread

Following:
I am glad to finally see someone frm my area experimenting also.since you are in uyo,can i visit your farm sir? currently trying out tomato in a small garden along abak rd

am also interested in cucumber farming. trying to secure a land in Nsit ibom or it environs. please u guys should link me up with any seller from that axis. will be grateful. mbok esin unwam eno.

nsydear:



am also interested in cucumber farming. trying to secure a land in Nsit ibom or it environs. please u guys should link me up with any seller from that axis. will be grateful. mbok esin unwam eno.

mkpo isong ase kpon mkpo o! i am from uyo,even tho mum z frm d said nsit, land scarce for dt side o cos of lack of agents

OP, how did it go? By now you must had harvested (and maybe planted again).... what was it like?

AmazingSolutnz:
OP, how did it go? By now you must had harvested (and maybe planted again).... what was it like?

I have been so caught up in farming activities that I hadn't visited the thread in awhile now. The cucs came out wonderfully well. I even had some measuring almost 30cm in length.

OP, tnx for this wonderful piece and info. It has helped alot especially to peeps like me who see agriculture as the future in Naija.

Pls wanna know hw long it took to harvest the cucumber. Thanks

Pls how can I get this seed here in uyo