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In general, bush varieties are easier to grow in pots than vine varieties, which need a trellis to climb and spread out on. Picking a variety suited to a container will give you a higher chance of success. Varieties that are well-suited for container growing include the Salad Bush Hybrid, Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Hybrid Bush Crop, Baby Bush, Bush Pickle, and Potluck. Your pot should be at least this wide in diameter, as well as that deep, too. If you want to grow more than 1 plant in a single pot, try a container that is at least 20 inches (51 cm) in diameter and holds 5 gallons (19 L).  When using a container outdoors, go for a larger container if you can. It will retain moisture more effectively.  You can even use a rectangular planter box if you add a trellis for the cucumbers to grow on. While cucumbers love water, standing water can cause root damage. Look for a pot that already has drainage holes, if possible. Just flip it over to see if it has holes in the bottom.  If your pot doesn't have drainage holes, use a drill to make holes. Choose a masonry drill bit for soft, unfinished terra cotta or a tile and glass drill bit for glazed surfaces. Pick a 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in (6.4 to 12.7 mm) bit. Place painter's tape over the bottom of the pot where you want to drill holes. Painter's tape helps steady the bit. Press the bit lightly into the tape, and turn the drill on at a slow speed. Slowly and steadily apply light pressure to the taped area until the drill goes through the pot. Repeat for at least 1 other hole. If you press too hard or try to drill too fast, you may break the pot. Pots can contain bacteria that may cause your plant to rot. If you've used the pot for another plant, it may have hidden insect eggs that will hatch and attack your cucumbers. Scrub it down thoroughly with a rag or dish brush and soapy water. Rinse it out several times to make sure you get all the soap out. Vine cucumbers require a trellis or stake to grow. Even though bush cucumbers do not require staking, they do benefit from it. To make one yourself, start with 3 long stakes or bamboo poles. Gather them together at the top, and tie them together with a cord or even yarn. Spread the bottoms of the stakes out to create the teepee shape.  Consider a teepee-style metal staking system, available at most hardware and garden supply stores. A staking system encourages the cucumber to climb along it from the start. Place the stake in the pot with the stakes spread out on the inside. The legs of the stake should touch the bottom of the pot. The stake itself should stand straight without needing additional support. If it's wobbly, adjust the legs so that they're even. If you want to mix your own soil, try mixing 1 part sand with 1 part compost and 1 part peat moss or coco coir. Otherwise, you can choose a pre-mixed potting soil designed for growing vegetables.  Pack the mix into the pot, carefully patting it in around the stake. Do not make it too compact, however, since your cucumber plant's roots need loose soil to grow in. Leave approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of empty space between the surface of the soil and the rim of the pot. Check the stake. Try to wiggle it around in the pot. If it still moves around a lot, pack more potting mix in the pot to stabilize the stake. Find potting soil mixes and the ingredients for potting soil at your local garden store. Do not use garden soil, which may be contaminated by bacteria and pests. Use either a 5-10-5 fertilizer or a 14-14-14 slow release formula. Mix it into the soil in the proportions suggested on the label directions, as fertilizers vary widely by brand and type.  Alternatively, use a potting soil that already has fertilizer mixed in. The numbers on a bag of fertilizer indicate how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the fertilizer contains, respectively. Each element nourishes a different part of the plant. A 5-10-5 fertilizer gives your cucumbers a mild dose that focuses on improved vegetable yield. A 14-14-14 fertilizer, on the other hand, keeps the health of your plant balanced, making it safer to give your cucumbers the slightly higher concentration. Choose an organic fertilizer for an environmentally safe alternative.
Choose a bush variety of cucumber for containers. Select a pot that is 10 in (25 cm) wide for your cucumbers. Add holes if your container doesn't have them. Clean your pot thoroughly with hot water and soap. Prepare a stake. Fill the pot with a well-draining soil mix. Boost nutrition by mixing a good fertilizer into the soil.