Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Why Do My Cucumbers Grow in a Ball?
Why Do My Cucumbers Grow in a Ball?. Cucumbers are often grown by home gardeners in the summer months. Cucumbers come in many varieties, some of which produce small or rounded cucumbers. Growing conditions may also affect the end product, producing a round or stunted cucumber rather than the traditional elongated shape.
Cucumbers are often grown by home gardeners in the summer months. Cucumbers come in many varieties, some of which produce small or rounded cucumbers. Growing conditions may also affect the end product, producing a round or stunted cucumber rather than the traditional elongated shape.
Soil Nutrition
Poor soil nutrition can result in stunted cucumbers from regular or standard cucumber plants. If you have been guaranteed "safe" seeds and your plant produces small or round cucumbers, then soil nutrition may be the problem. Purchase and use a soil test from a gardening center to see if your soil requires added nutrients.
Irrigation
Poor or inconsistent irrigation can cause cucumber plants to stunt their growth, producing rounded or ball-shaped cucumbers instead of the oblong shape of traditional cucumbers. Having a regular watering schedule that is not subject to gross fluctuations or changes is key to producing healthy cucumbers. Watering early in the day is best for the health of a cucumber plant.
Dwarf Cucumber Plant
A dwarf cucumber plant will produce rounded or ball-like cucumbers rather than elongated cucumbers. These cucumbers are bred especially for producing smaller and rounder cucumbers. They are excellent for pickling whole and depending on the variety, can also be sliced and eaten raw. Dwarf cucumber plants are specialty varieties that can be purchased as seedlings or as seeds in a local garden center.
Cross Breeding
If you save your own seeds rather than purchasing seeds from a garden supply center, it is possible that you have a cross-breed seed. A cross-breed seed occurs when hand pollination takes place, or different varieties of cucumbers are grown close together. Cucumber seeds that are the result of cross breeding will produce rounded and ball-like cucumbers, with characteristics from both varieties of cucumbers.
