Cucumbers (Cucumbers)

Member Name: January

Product:	Cucumbers
Date:	30/01/07 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty and refreshing

Disadvantages: none

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a half hardy annual trailing plant, which are best grown in the greenhouse for a good crop of deliciously tasting salad vegetables. The cucumbers can be grown from six to 12 inches long depending on soil condition and the climate they are grown under.
They love temperatures of around 21 centigrade which can be kept constant in a greenhouse with the right equipment however they can also be grown with good results under a cold frame in the garden.

The smaller types of cucumbers are called gherkins and are not as large as the popular salad veg, these can also be grown outside and can be pickled when ready to store over winter and used as a compliment to cold meals and snacks.
I find that you can buy the packs of seeds in all garden centres and D I Y stores, the price will vary from different types of cucumbers to others, but the best places to buy is boot sales and garden centres which have already started them off for you in pots. I find it much easier and quicker to get a plant which is already a good size from the pot and re-plant in the green house instead of messing around with the seeds, as cultivation can take a while before they get to the right size for re-planting.

If you prefer to use seeds then now is the right time to sow them, in pots of seed compost, which can also be bought at the garden centres. They usually germinate after four or five days, then once they are at a suitable height you can re-plant them in the position in your greenhouse and feed them and watch them grow. This is usually done when they have about three or four leaves on the small plant. They like soil which has been treated well with manure, this also gives a good crop.

You have to remember that they love water and removing the male flowers will help you get a good sized cucumber when harvesting your crop. Be careful if your growing outside under a cold frame as the spider mite and the woodlice loves cucumbers too. These can be kept at bay with sprays from the garden centres.

On the whole they are quite easy to grow and every year you will get a better crop as you get used to the conditions they need to grow.

Summary: delicious to eat