Cucumbers

[Rox]

I have 5 female hybrid cucumbers in my conservatory. Apart from some scortched leaves, they seem to be doing ok for my first crack at this. The fruit has started to swell, and I've pinched out the growing tips to encourage this further - they are so tall I can't even reach them anymore without a stool!  Question is that while the cucumbers on the top part of the plant seem to be doing fine, the ones on the lower 2-3 feet all seem to have gone bad - they have shrivelled, turning brownish/yellow near the flower tip. I've removed them all, but I would like to learn what I'm doing wrong, if anything. Does anyone know whether this could be a function of something the plant naturally does i.e., channeling all its energies to the top part of the plants where the fruit is swelling, and hence not enough energy left to produce a good crop near the bottom half, or is this likely from watering too much? (I've tried not too, but given the cucs are in pots I've been very dligent about not letting them dry out! many thanks in advance!! 

[tim]

It's fairly normal to lose a few - anywhere on the stem - if the plant thinks it's done enough for the moment. Annoying!

Are you pinching out all the side shoots at 2 leaves beyond the first fruit??

[Rox]

No Tim - I didn't know I should be doing this -  although upon reflection, I must say that there doesn't seem to be too much side-shoot activity happening at all... the  fruit is cropping along the main stem, and then there are the leaves. Where there should be side-shoots there are just small cucumbers forming - is this what you mean should be removed?

[tim]

Noooooo!!

The thing on the right is a side-shoot.

[Rox]

holy cow Tim - my plants have none of those - at least none so far! Am I going blind or is that a seriously substantial side shoot that actually looks just like the main stem itself?

[Svea]

sorry which bit exactly is the side shoot there? i cant see the wood for the trees, i think...

[tim]

And the one on the left!!

See above.

[tim]

By the way - do you all :

1. Stop your cus at roof height - finis?

2. Stop & let 2 laterals grow down?

3. Train the main stem along the roof?

[Svea]

thanks tim for the annotated piccie. just to recollect

Are you pinching out all the side shoots at 2 leaves beyond the first fruit??

so i pinch out all side shoots starting two leaves above the first sets of fruit that form. does that mean that there are side shoots between the fruit and the pinching that can side-shoot if they want? and does this encourage a bushy habit, or a trailing habit, or is it equivalent to pinching out tomatoes so they concentrate their energy?

sorry but i dont know anything (yet) about cucumber 'training'

cheers
svea

[tim]

Svea - don't do a thing until I've tried to explain better!

[tim]

Right - try again - at the expense of a very good cu.  But I love it!!

1. Is the side-shoot.

2. Is the point, 2 leaves beyond the first fruit, at which 'you should stop it'.

I quote. And I do!!

[Charlotte Sometimes]

That's lovely and clear thanks Tim. 

I had been wondering about this very subject, this post has come at a very convenient time. 

[ina]

Ahhhhhhhh, like you do with melons. Now I just have to wait for side shoots, none to be seen so far. Just some cukes along the main stem, harvested the first one that was about 20 cm long, just couldn't wait.

[Svea]

ok, so there are cucumbers growing on the main stem. and there are cucumbers growing on side shoots which should be stopped two leaves after the fruit as tim describes?

have i got it?

[tim]

By jove, she's got it!!

[Mothy]

Thank you Tim!!
I was wondering all of this myself!!

[derbex]

FWIW -I train mine along the roof. Doing much better this year, they're in 1/2 growbags (B&Q organic topped up with worm compost), normally they struggle but we've had 3 or 4 already with more on the way. I'm only aiming at enough -from 2 plants- to keep us going throughout the season.

There's 1 more outside -which will hopefully follow on. All Telegraph Improved.

Can you root the pinched out shoot as a cutting -I lost a plant and would like a spare so I'll give it a try. Works with tomatos -which means nothing much.

Jeremy

[tim]

As you say.....!

[derbex]

Just stuck a couple in modukes. I'll let you know.

Jeremy

[Icyberjunkie]

So what was all that about side shoots.....  lol      Glad you put all that in for ine are just about getting to fruiting stage outside so now I know.

Out of interest do you have do a similar thing with courgette?