Cucumbers
There are basically two kinds of Cucumber, the greenhouse or frame kinds with long fruits that need some protection and the Ridge Cucumbers that can be grown outdoors or under cloches.
The Ridge Cucumbers are grown in exactly the same way, as Marrows but the flowers need pollinating.
The greenhouse varieties must not be allowed to pollinate or the fruits become bitter. For this reason the male flowers are removed to avoid the pollination of the female flowers. Some of the newer F1 varieties only produce female flowers and therefore remove the need to remove the male flowers and make maintenance a little easier.
They all need a sunny, sheltered position, as none of them are hardy. The soil should be well drained and extremely rich in humus with a pH of around 6.0.
Sow the seed in late April or early May, in pots of compost. Sow 2 seeds on their sides ½" deep in a 3" pot. Keep in a propagator or warm windowsill at 60F until germinated and then remove the weaker seedling. Plant out 2' apart in the final growing position when all danger of frost has passed.
Keep the plants free of weeds and well watered.
The most space saving way of growing Cucumbers is to train them up a frame. A wigwam of garden canes can be used for this. Use 4 8' spaced 2' apart in a square and tie the tops to form wigwam shape. Plant a Cucumber at each cane and tie the plant into the cane as it grows. This method also keeps the fruits away from the ground and prevents damage by slugs and being splashed by soil.
As the plants grow, keep the side shoots cut back to 2 leaves to encourage compact bushy growth. Feed the plants with a liquid fertiliser at weekly intervals once the fruits start to form.
Cut the fruits while still young. Regular cutting will encourage the plants to produce more fruits.
Pests and Diseases
Cucumbers can be affected by slugs, Aphids, Mildew and Cucumber Mosaic virus. (See relative Pests and Diseases section)
© copyright 1999, P. A. Owen
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