A while back, I bought a Garden Cube and decided to test its capabilities by growing cucumbers. In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process from seed to harvest in as much detail as possible.
Setting Up Garden Cube
I began the project by preparing the water reservoir. First, I filled a container with 1.7 gallons of tap water and let it sit for 24 hours to off-gas. Next, I measured the initial pH level using my AquaMaster P50 and used pH-Down to adjust it to a stable 5.5.
The next step was to mix in Plagron nutrients. I added 6.5 milliliters each of components A and B (for a total of 13 milliliters), which brought the initial EC to 0.8 mS/cm.
For this grow, I chose the Iznik variety, purchasing high-quality seeds online from a trusted seller. I used standard hydroponic growing sponges as my medium, placing one seed into each of four pre-moistened sponges. I then inserted the sponges into the deck holes, spacing them as far apart as possible to give the future canopies room to spread.
At the start, I positioned the LED light panel at its lowest setting. As the cucumber plants grew, I gradually raised the hood, maintaining a consistent 2-inch gap between the top leaves and the LEDs.
On the second day, the seeds began to sprout. By the fourth day, the first seedling had already established its first two true leaves. At this point, I added another 13 milliliters of fertilizer to the reservoir, raising the EC to 1.2 mS/cm.
Managing Growth Phases
All four seeds germinated successfully, confirming their excellent quality. By day 19, the plants had surpassed 4 inches in height. To support their rapid vertical growth, I installed the trellis stakes that came included with the Garden Cube system.
At this stage, I added 26 milliliters of fertilizer, which bumped the EC up to 2.0 mS/cm. Fueled by the richer nutrient solution, the Iznik vines grew incredibly fast—their explosive vegetative growth rate actually reminded me of loose-leaf lettuce.
While some shoots climbed cleanly up the stakes, others began spreading aggressively across the growing deck. To keep the jungle contained, I pruned back the lateral shoots extending too far past the system’s boundaries. I also periodically removed larger fan leaves to prevent the dominant plants from heavily shading their neighbors.
Throughout the entire growth cycle, I only performed a complete reservoir change once (detailed below), instead relying on regular monitoring and fine-tuning of the pH and EC levels.
Flower to Fruit
Toward the end of the first month, the first bright yellow blossoms began to appear. By day 32, all four plants were heavily covered in flowers.
Because Iznik is a parthenocarpic, gynoecious variety, it produces exclusively female flowers that naturally set fruit without requiring any manual or insect pollination. As the flowers naturally faded, miniature cucumbers immediately formed at the base of each bloom and began expanding rapidly.
To support heavy fruit production at this stage, I added an extra 13 milliliters of fertilizer to bring the EC to its peak performance level of 2.4 mS/cm. Following this boost, fruit development accelerated noticeably.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
About halfway through the fruiting cycle, I hit a snag: one of the plants developed root rot. I noticed the leaves on one cucumber vine turning a pale yellow, which prompted me to check the reservoir. Sure enough, the root zone was showing early signs of rot.
To save the crop, I immediately pulled the plants from the system and treated the roots with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution. I then completely disassembled and deep-cleaned the entire Garden Cube housing, including the submersible pump.
After cleaning, I refilled the tank with a fresh nutrient solution. To prevent the issue from returning, I integrated HydroGuard into my regimen and installed an external air pump with an air stone directly in the reservoir to drastically improve dissolved oxygen levels.
Cucumbers feature massive fan leaves that transpire a significant amount of moisture. To maintain proper air movement, keep transpiration efficient, and prevent localized calcium deficiency (tip burn), I set up a fan to blow a gentle breeze over the cucumber canopy and a patch of basil growing nearby. The fan was automated via a timer to run for a short period every hour.
Later in the cycle, I noticed the vines suddenly stalled. After checking the reservoir with my meter, it became clear that the heavy-feeding plants had completely depleted the available nutrients. Once I supplemented the reservoir with a fresh dose of fertilizer, the plants perked right back up.
Harvesting for a Continuous Yield
On day 50, the first wave of cucumbers reached an ideal cocktail size of 4 inches, and I began the harvest. That first picking alone yielded 21 crisp cucumbers.
Over the subsequent 25 days, the prolific vines kept producing. I harvested several more times, bringing the project’s final tally to 62 cucumbers with a total combined weight of 8 pounds.
Costs vs. Results
|
Item |
Quantity |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Electricity |
41 kWh |
$6.90 |
|
Nutrients |
150 ml |
$1.05 |
|
Water & Additives |
Tap water, pH-Down, Sponges |
$1.00 |
|
Total Cost |
$8.95 |
In total, the entire 75-day grow cost just $8.95 in utility and material inputs. This means I produced premium, crisp, indoor-grown Iznik cucumbers for an incredibly economical $1.11 per pound.
Do you think it was worth the effort? Share your thoughts and your own indoor setup experiences in the comments below!
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