June 19, 2025, 5:07 am | Read time: 2 minutes
What Works for One Plant Might Not Harm Another, Right? Saltwater is a top fertilizer for tomatoes, but can the trick also be applied to cucumbers? myHOMEBOOK gardening expert Franka Kruse-Gering explains what happens when you water cucumbers with saltwater.
Some home remedies can wonderfully serve as fertilizer for plants. Salt is one such example. Tomatoes thrive after being watered with saltwater and, according to a study, even have a more intense flavor. But what happens if you want to apply this technique to cucumbers—watering them with saltwater?
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Should You Water Cucumbers with Saltwater?
Anyone involved in vegetable gardening will sooner or later come across the tip that you can occasionally water tomatoes with light saltwater or diluted seawater solution. The reason is that tomatoes originally come from drier, salt-tolerant regions. They can handle low salt concentrations in the soil surprisingly well—some studies even show improved flavor through this practice.
But not with cucumbers. Just because a trick works with certain plants doesn’t mean it can automatically be applied to others.
Cucumbers are much more sensitive. They belong to the gourd family and have entirely different soil and nutrient requirements. Salt in the soil means stress for them—it disrupts water absorption and can literally “burn” the roots. Even small amounts can lead to growth disturbances, leaf discoloration, and a significantly reduced harvest.
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These Home Remedies Can Be Used as Fertilizer for Cucumbers
Cucumbers are heavy feeders and require optimal nutrient supply. Home remedies can certainly be used, but they only help to a limited extent and should not be used as the sole fertilizer.
To support your cucumber plants, you can rely on various home remedies. I recommend nettle manure. It’s natural, and nettles are always accessible. I also like to use coffee grounds. They are always leftover and perfectly complement my cucumber care.