Tips for Growing Cucumbers from Seed

Fluffysheep38

Afternoon!

I want to grow some cucumber plants this year and have some shop brought seeds. I do not have a greenhouse or a propagator, but am hoping I can grow on a surface near a window, which does get a lot of sunlight/heat through it.

Does anyone have any tips for successful growing? I think I might have read somewhere about putting cling film over the top, but I can't be sure! :rotfl:

Thank you

flea72

Fluffysheep38 wrote: »

Afternoon!

I want to grow some cucumber plants this year and have some shop brought seeds. I do not have a greenhouse or a propagator, but am hoping I can grow on a surface near a window, which does get a lot of sunlight/heat through it.

Does anyone have any tips for successful growing? I think I might have read somewhere about putting cling film over the top, but I can't be sure! :rotfl:

Thank you

unless you have a very sunny, well drained plot for the plants to go out into, then you might not have much success

i take it you have bought cucumber seeds suitable for growing outdoors? if so, then the packet should list all the growing techniques

i would leave it a few weeks before sewing outdoor varieties. the cling film is just a basic way of creating a propagator, although i find a plastic sandwich bag works well, as it tents easily. just watch for condensation once the plants start to grow, as you dont want them to rot away

F

soupdragon10

I always plant the seeds on their side i.e. thin side to the compost rather than flat. I'm not sure if it's true but someone told me they are less likely to rot (think it's because water doesn't collect on the seed).

I'm trying these for the first time this year so will be interested to hear how you get on. Best of luck.

yumyums

I've planted some cucumber seeds. They just started germinating today so took 5 days. Planted the seeds on their sides because I read this somewhere - also confirmed by soupdragon above! I did do them in a propagator on the windowsill (just a cheap one) but I also germinated some other seeds - thyme & chives in pots covered with clingfilm and they too started coming up today. This is my first time growing anything from seed so I'm very excited, sorry!

Anyway, the cucumbers I sowed are Beth Alpha from Johnsons seeds and the seed packet led me to believe that they would be ok outdoors... however, I've been reading that they're better suited to a greenhouse. I do have a very sunny, warm spot that I can put them in once it's warm enough but I've also probably started germinating these too early. Will they be far too big by the time they can go outside?
Would I be better off scrapping these or finding someone to give them to and finding a variety better suited to outdoor growing?

~~Diane~~

I grow Marketmore last year, I started the seeds on my windowsill, then when the seedlings were big enough after the frosts potted them into old compost bags and stood against the wall. I think from 4 plants I had about 10/11 cucumbers.

I also do not have a greenhouse so shows you can still grow then ok.

Fluffysheep38

Thank you for your replies.

These cucumbers are called Telegraph Improved (Suttons) and can be grown outside or in a cold greenhouse.

I've planted them now on the side by the window and planted the seeds on their sides.

I had 8 seeds so I put one in each tiny pot. I was hoping to put out in a growbag later on in the year.

The instructions say I have to remove the male flowers to avoid the bitter fruits.

Anyway, fingers crossed!

Farway

Quite frankly you have sown too early & got the wrong variety as you need to remove male flowers to avoid bitterness, one early bee will negate your efforts

Go and buy some ridge cucumber seeds [ for outdoors, such as Marketmore or Burpless], or an F1 hybrid, such as Tasty King

flea72

Fluffysheep38 wrote: »

These cucumbers are called Telegraph Improved (Suttons) and can be grown outside or in a cold greenhouse.

I've planted them now on the side by the window and planted the seeds on their sides.

I had 8 seeds so I put one in each tiny pot. I was hoping to put out in a growbag later on in the year.

The instructions say I have to remove the male flowers to avoid the bitter fruits

with most modern outdoor varieties there is no need to remove the males, so based on that you should assume they dont cross-pollinate and cause bitterness - just checked 'telegraph improved' its an indoor variety, might get away with a coldframe if you are quite far south tho

one seed in a tiny pot, isnt right either. you need two seeds in a standard 3" pot - once they are a few cms tall, just remove the weaker looking plant, and let the strong one continue to grow in the pot

tbh, i would give up on these ones and buy the correct type of seed - as already suggested you cant go wrong with burpless

F

Sambucus_Nigra

Fluffysheep38 wrote: »

Afternoon!

I want to grow some cucumber plants this year and have some shop brought seeds. I do not have a greenhouse or a propagator, but am hoping I can grow on a surface near a window, which does get a lot of sunlight/heat through it.

Does anyone have any tips for successful growing? I think I might have read somewhere about putting cling film over the top, but I can't be sure! :rotfl:

Thank you

Top tip - put the packet in a drawer for another 2 months.

It's February! The plant will get leggy and either rot off or just die of the cold.

April is the time for sowing cukes.

Lotus-eater

Waaaaay too early. I commend you for your eagerness though!

I agree with Farway, Marketmore or burpless would do you better.

cavework

Started mine off in a green house in April. As they were an outdoor variety I moved the grow bags onto the patio against the wall of the house when ready.
The wall had the tumble dryer vent in it but me being a really new gardner never gave it a second thought.
We had the biggest and best crop imaginable!
Do the same thing every year now.