Health
What you need to know about growing cucumber

If you’re growing cucumbers, you may notice that they can be tricky to grow well. I find that it is easier to grow these amazing plants when you understand their basic needs.
So, in this article, I’ll share some of the fundamental growing conditions for cucumber plants. You’ll learn tips for cucumber planting depth, spacing, watering, lighting, and more. Let’s get into it.
How deep to plant cucumber plants?
When transplanting cucumber plants into the garden, you can plant at the same depth the plant was in its original container. In other words, there is no need to bury the main stem like you would a tomato plant.
If planting from seed, plant cucumber seeds about 1/2″ deep for germination. The larger seed size means the seedlings can push through more soil to emerge. Avoid planting any deeper than 1″, as the seeds may struggle to sprout.
How much space do cucumbers need to grow?
Ideally, cucumbers should be grown vertically. This allows for closer plant spacing, and reduces disease from soil-borne pathogens.
If you are growing cucumbers up a trellis, you can space the plants 18-24″ apart, stem to stem. This much space gives the foliage room to breathe as the plants grow larger.
If growing without a trellis, cucumber plants will sprawl and can take up large sections of the garden. I don’t recommend it, but when growing without a support, space cucumbers with at least 24-36″ between plants.
Feeding cucumber plants
When it comes to nutrients, cucumbers can be hungry! They grow best in highly fertile soil. If you are growing in the ground, I recommend amending with compost in the early spring.
If the plants start showing, you may need to side-dress with a nitrogen rich fertiliser in mid-season. For container plants, more frequent fertilising is required, as the nutrients are used up throughout the season. Find a fertiliser with an NPK ratio roughly around.
How often to water cucumber plants?
Cucumber plants need consistent watering for optimal productivity. In other words, keep your garden soil evenly moist throughout the season.
However, the soil should drain well, as cucumbers don’t do well with overly soggy soil. Drip irrigation can be helpful in sandy soils or in hot, dry climates.
Consistent watering is especially important during the fruiting stage. Without enough water, some of the fruits may abort, leading to lower yields or shriveled cucumbers.
Cucumbers thrive in full-sun conditions.
Keep in mind that cucumbers can grow fairly tall, so it is best to plant them on the North side of the garden (if growing in the Northern hemisphere). This will prevent your cucumbers from shading out smaller crops that are planted nearby.
Cucumbers ready to transplant
Avoid transplanting cucumbers before the soil is warm, ideally around 70°F or warmer. Wait for the soil to warm up to around 70°F, and for overnight temperatures to stay above 65°F. Seeds may also fail to sprout in colder soil, so the same applies when planting from seed.
How tall do cucumber plants grow?
The height of a cucumber plant depends largely on the duration of your growing season. The longer a plant lives in a warm climate, the taller it will grow. For example, cucumbers that are grown in greenhouses are trained to grow vertically on a single main stem. Plants can easily surpass 12 feet in height. However, in the home garden, cucumbers typically grow 6-8 feet tall at maturity. If you want shorter plants, you can prune the main stem (central leader) once it reaches the desired height, thereby stopping any further vertical growth.
Another growing method is known as the “umbrella” training technique. The main stem is grown to a certain height, and is then trained to turn around and grow downwards as it continues to grow.
Pruning cucumber plants
Pruning techniques can be used to improve yields, airflow, and to grow larger cucumbers. In general, most cucumbers benefit from regular pruning.
I recommend removing most or all of the sucker shoots that form on your cucumber vines. These are the side-shoots that form at nodes on the main stem. If you have grown tomatoes, you’ll be familiar with suckers.
Cucumber growing on vine
Sucker shoots will grow off of the main stem, taking energy from it to grow more leaves, flowers and fruits. Suckers will also expand the plant laterally, making for a much larger, wider plant.
By removing suckers, you’ll keep the energy of each plant focused on the main stem and its fruits. This leads to larger fruits and tall, slender plants that are not crowding one another.
Health
3 deaths recorded as Benue govt confirm 5 cases of Lassa Fever outbreak

The Benue State Government has officially declared a Lassa fever outbreak after confirming three deaths from five confirmed cases, amidst 40 suspected cases.
The announcement, made by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese, at a press conference in Makurdi, underscores the severity of the situation and the urgent need for decisive action.
Dr. Ortese disclosed that the three fatalities, representing a 60% Case Fatality Rate (CFR), prompted a comprehensive risk assessment that led to the formal declaration of the outbreak.
“This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 60%, and in light of these alarming figures, a comprehensive risk analysis was conducted, and today (Monday), we officially declare a Lassa fever outbreak in Benue State,” he stated.
The commissioner emphasized that the declaration serves as a critical call to action, demanding immediate, coordinated, and collaborative efforts to protect communities and effectively manage the outbreak.
He urged residents to adhere to preventive measures and seek prompt medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever.
The state government is mobilizing resources and coordinating with relevant health agencies to contain the spread of the disease and provide necessary support to affected individuals and communities.
Health
Lassa Outbreak: NCDC deploy essential resources to combat issue in Bauchi State

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a significant rise in Lassa fever cases, with 80 deaths and 413 confirmed cases across 11 states during Epidemiological Week 6 (February 3–9, 2025). Bauchi State has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing outbreak, with a large number of cases reported, leading to heightened concerns about the virus’s spread.
According to the NCDC, the case fatality rate (CFR) has increased to 19.4%, compared to 17.5% during the same period last year. Bauchi, along with Ondo and Edo states, accounts for the majority of confirmed cases, contributing to 73% of the total reported infections. This surge in cases has raised alarms as the state grapples with the challenges of containing the virus and preventing further fatalities.
While the number of new cases has decreased from 68 in Week 5 to 54 in Week 6, the high fatality rate remains a significant concern. The NCDC reports that the majority of affected individuals are between the ages of 21 and 30, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:0.8. Bauchi has been identified as one of the high-risk areas, with increased efforts being made to improve surveillance, contact tracing, and healthcare worker training in the region.
The NCDC has deployed National Rapid Response Teams (NRRT) to Bauchi and neighboring states to enhance Lassa fever case management. These teams are working to provide essential medical supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPEs), Ribavirin, and thermometers, along with strengthening the response capabilities of local healthcare facilities.
Bauchi’s experience highlights some of the ongoing challenges in managing Lassa fever outbreaks, including delayed case presentations and poor health-seeking behavior in rural communities. Limited awareness and high treatment costs have also been identified as major barriers to effective control. As a result, the NCDC is focusing on community sensitization and raising awareness about early symptoms and the importance of seeking prompt medical care.
The NCDC has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall outbreak response in Bauchi and other affected states.
To further curb the spread of the virus, the NCDC has announced a nationwide rodent control and awareness campaign, in collaboration with Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N). The campaign aims to educate communities on the risks of rodent exposure and the importance of proper food storage and hygiene practices.
The NCDC urges residents of Bauchi and other affected states to take preventive measures, including maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding contact with rodents, and seeking medical attention early if symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or unexplained bleeding occur. The public is also advised to stay informed by visiting the NCDC website or calling the toll-free line: 6232.
Health
FG to employ 28,000 health workers affected by USAID freeze

The Federal Government has announced plans to retain 28,000 health workers whose salaries were previously covered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), whose activities have been halted by US President Donald Trump.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, while speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme, on Friday, announced that the government is working to absorb the health workers into the country’s healthcare system and reduce reliance on foreign aid.
Mr Pate acknowledged the significant contribution of the US government to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in the areas of HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
He, however, emphasised that Nigeria is determined to take ownership of its healthcare sector and reduce its dependence on external aid.
“There are health workers, 28,000 of them, who were being paid through US government support. While it has been appreciated, those health workers are Nigerians. We have to find ways to transit them,” he said.
Apart from suspending the USAID which supports healthcare and other development activities across the world, President Trump has also halted the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Following his inauguration on 20 January, President Trump signed multiple executive orders affecting global health funding and significantly impacting developing countries like Nigeria that rely on US assistance for health financing.
Mr Trump signed an order to halt the disbursement of foreign aid to any country for three months. The implementation of this order halted the US global health efforts, including PEPFAR, in low and middle-income countries around the world.
Although PEPFAR was issued a limited waiver a week later, allowing it to restart some services, the situation has remained fluid. PEPFAR is a major programme through which HIV interventions in Nigeria are funded.
The situation was also worsened by the US government’s decision to suspend USAID’s activities. The agency implements many US health programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries.
All USAID interventions in Nigeria and across the world have been suspended with the American president’s team, led by billionaire Elon Musk, saying they are auditing the agency to check waste and corruption in the system.
To mitigate the impact of the US policy shift, the Nigerian Senate recently allocated an additional N300 billion to the health sector in the 2025 budget. This additional budgetary allocation is expected to take care of the 28,000 health workers, among other issues in the sector.
According to Mr Pate, about 70 per cent of the country’s total health expenditure comes from private sources, including out-of-pocket payments by citizens, while only 30 per cent is publicly financed.
“Our total health spends in Nigeria, the total health expenditure: 30 per cent is public, 70 per cent is private,” he said, emphasising the financial burden on individuals seeking medical care.
While external assistance has played a role in supporting healthcare programmes, the minister noted that it is not the primary source of Nigeria’s health funding.
“The component of overseas development assistance for health is not the largest chunk of our health expenditure,” he stated.
However, the reliance on foreign aid for critical services such as HIV, TB, and malaria has made the country vulnerable to shifts in donor policies, as seen with the recent changes in US government funding.
Mr Pate stressed the need for increased domestic investment in healthcare, citing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development and increased healthcare funding.
He highlighted the government’s recent approval of nearly $1 billion to improve health service delivery across the country.
“We’ve seen deliberate efforts to mobilise resources to invest in health. Just last week, the Federal Executive Council approved almost a billion dollars in terms of financing for the programme. That is a significant resource that states will implement. It’s a programme for results that will deliver better, but it will take time,” he said.
Mr Pate further highlighted that the government is working to address Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports for its pharmaceutical needs, noting that the country imports the vast majority of its medical supplies.
“Can you believe that more than 70 per cent of our drugs, we import with foreign exchange that we didn’t have? So, if we can flip it over time. 99 per cent of our medical devices, we import them,” he said.
He acknowledged that reversing this trend will not happen overnight but emphasised that the government is committed to changing the trajectory.
He pointed to efforts aimed at increasing local production of essential medical commodities, including antibiotics, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Now, if we flip that over time, that is not going to take place overnight, but we have to be on that path,” he added.
“Healthcare is not cheap. Quality healthcare is not cheap. You have to invest in it. We as a country had not invested in it, and yet we had been asking for the highest quality health.”
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