How to Protect Cucumber Plants From Excessive Heat

Cucumbers thrive during the hot days of summer, growing best when temperatures are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants also require bright, all-day sunlight, which can cause the soil around the plants to heat up on warm days. Cucumbers rarely suffer directly from heat; instead, they suffer from drought stress brought on by warm temperatures and too little water. Irrigating the plants properly during hot conditions allows them to remain healthy and productive all summer. The plants may temporarily stop fruiting during extremely hot weather, but they resume production once temperatures cool if the foliage is kept healthy.

Straw mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch over the soil in the cucumber bed. Use straw or bark mulch, as it insulates the soil and prevents overheating. The mulch also prevents water from evaporating too quickly from the soil.
- 2
  Water the cucumbers in the morning or late afternoon so the water has time to penetrate the soil before heat causes it to evaporate. Irrigate at the base of the plants instead of using overhead watering. Less water is lost to evaporation if you avoid overhead irrigation.
- 3
  Check soil moisture daily during hot weather and water when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil begin to dry but before this dries out completely. Cucumbers typically require 1 to 2 inches of water weekly, but they may need more if the soil dries more quickly during hot weather.
- 4
  Inspect the plants daily for wilted foliage. Some afternoon wilt is common during high temperatures, but foliage that remains wilted during the cooler morning hours indicates drought stress. Water our plants if wilt persists overnight and into the morning.

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