Cucumbers

[tweetymandy]

Hi - In my excitement to get the greenhouse up and running I have planted many things. I have read some books and done some research, however, I have just read in one book that if cucumber seeds dont germinate within 2-3 days from planting then get rid. Not sure how long my took. Should I get rid of them and start again? Mandy:

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by tweetymandy

Hi - In my excitement to get the greenhouse up and running I have planted many things. I have read some books and done some research, however, I have just read in one book that if cucumber seeds dont germinate within 2-3 days from planting then get rid. Not sure how long my took. Should I get rid of them and start again? Mandy:

I have noticed that cukes like a lot of heat to germinate. I put three to a pot and place them in a hot part of the greenhouse, and they always germinate. It is is too cold they will be slow. My experience.

[paul]

Hi,

Sounds a stupid question, but can I put a couple of cucumber plants in the airing cupboard ?? It is warm, but has no light whatsoever. Will the seeds start to germinate effectively.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by paul

Hi,

Sounds a stupid question, but can I put a couple of cucumber plants in the airing cupboard ?? It is warm, but has no light whatsoever. Will the seeds start to germinate effectively.

Yes, but as soon as they sprout get them in the light. They germinate rather quckly under the right conditions, certainly less than a week.

[vegmandan]

I would invest in a small heated propogator.

£20 and the best thing I've ever bought.

I now seem to get almost 100% germination within a week for stuff like cucs,squash,courgettes,beans etc.

Airing cupboard's fine but I agree as to what has been said, If you forget to have a look for even just 12 hrs after they germinate they can get incrediblly leggy in such a short space of time in the warm and out of daylight.

Get yerself a propogator !!

[Spuds Up]

I agree with buying a propogator.

Last couple of years I have bought small cucumber plants to grow.

This year I thought I would try from seed.

Popped two seeds per pot and put them in a propogator and they are doing just fine.

Cheers

[Durgan]

I have five pots and three to five seeds in each. They took about 14 days to burst throught the soil. I was even digging down in one pot to see if they were sprouting, and couldn't even find the seed. I left them for a few more days and suddenly one day all were up. They are very healthy and about three inches tall. Sometimes I think they burst like a bomb and don't edge up like other plants. The growing environment for germination was the greenhouse which gets to about 90F in full sun during the day, and probably 45F at night.

My variety is Cross-country, which I grew last year and found it to be extremely prolific. I also grew one called National Pickling which was OK, but I got more fruit marginally from the Cross-country.

I like to eat them skin and all when about three inches long and an inch or so in diameter. The seeds used were last year's so for awhile I was as bit concerned about the seed not being viable.


http://xiekeri.notlong.com This is information about the variery, Cross-country.

Pictures of the 2007 effort.
http://teeyu.notlong.com 11 July 2007 Prolific producers. The Country Cross is producing slightly more than the National Picking at this time.

http://engae.notlong.com 26 July 2007 Cucumbers are still producing.

[Primrose]

Someone gave me two cu plants last year and they turned out to be the ridge cues, horribly bitter and in the end I threw the whole lot away.
How can you tell the difference when given plants - the person who gave them to me said his were fine.

[malcolmx]

bitter plants are where male plants fertilize the female

use f1 all female plants expensive though

cucs need to be on end for best germination and do need some light but it is nighttime drop of temp that stops germination needs to be at least 17c at night propergators are a good help to this end

watch watering as they can rot at base of stem so water at edge pf pot or from below

hope this helps

[Primrose]

I have again been given a couple of cu plants. Last year they were planted in the ground in the greenhouse but I have since moved the greenhouse and decided not to have open ground in there (it's only 6 x 6) but I am wondering if they can be grown in gro-bags like tomatoes and be given the same treatment.
If I get given any more toms I won't be able to get in the greenhouse myself so some will have to go outside

[malcolmx]

best to grow cu in pots as more water is concentrated near the roots