Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: kt. on January 13, 2008, 00:19:32
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Last year I grew burpless tasty outdoors and it was a poor crop. I want to try a cucumber variety under glass this year. My wife buys loads of cucumbers to feed our guinea pigs (costing me a small fortune), To that end I am after a very heavy cropper of medium ish, sized cucumbers.
Suggestions please....
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In my opinion and with no shadow of a doubt..Carmen. It was in my greenhouse that flooded with several others types, all got mildew but the Carmen stayed strong and healthy and lived surrounded by struggling mildewed ones , Carmen itself didn't get a trace. I have always liked it but last year it went the extra mile and then some. Expensive seed though. XX Jeannine
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we grow burpless in the poly, very prolific :)
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Landora. We only grow a couple of plants, but we had dozens & dozens of them!
(Never tried Carmen, but it sounds good.)
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I like `Birgit` but I can no longer get them wholesale so have switched to `Pepinex 69`.
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In my opinion and with no shadow of a doubt..Carmen. It was in my greenhouse that flooded with several others types, all got mildew but the Carmen stayed strong and healthy and lived surrounded by struggling mildewed ones , Carmen itself didn't get a trace. I have always liked it but last year it went the extra mile and then some. Expensive seed though. XX Jeannine
Sounds like an excellent cuke to grow. The write up on the Thompson and Morgan website is impressive:
A unique variety with resistance to all known strains of powdery mildew, scab and leaf-spot. Fruits are bitter free and produced in abundance - 50-100 per plant. Ideal for organic gardeners. Easy to train and day length sensitive. For maximum yield plant after 1st March. Excellent for exhibition.
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Carmen, yes.
But with any, I believe that the 100 figure is only likely to be hit with early warmth?
We can't plant until late May & only expect 50 each.
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Carmen, yes.
But with any, I believe that the 100 figure is only likely to be hit with early warmth?
We can't plant until late May & only expect 50 each.
That is still far more than I would ever expect. I have only grown ridge cucumbers and only got 2 to 3 fruit from each vine. Anything more than that is a huge bonus to me.
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I do not believe T&M on this point, Tim is more accurate, I like them more because they grow so well. If you buy from T&M, and they offer a free seed packet ...PICK THIS ONE..or buy them when on sale only. I bought several packets half price at the end of last season. XX Jeannine
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If both Tim & Jeannine recommend it, Carmen's got to be worth growing.
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So far we havent done very well with cucumbers at all and get really confused with the removal of male flowers. My father in law has recommended Femspot so this is not necessary. Carmen sounds fantastic we have been lucky to get 3 from a plant last year! is Carmen all female?
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Yes it is. 3 fruit is a bit mean-report says could do better. 8?-10?.12?-after that it`s a gold star-but can be done
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Just a very small tuppence worth from me - I grow outdoor cucumber 'Salad Bush' in black buckets and I've never known anything so prolific.
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Just been checking the Carmen seeds at £7.99 for 5 they must be good. Is it possible to save seed from them for subsequent years? dont think my budget can stretch to them unless i can convince myself we can save the seeds for future sowings!
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It's an F1 hybrid, so I don't think so. On the other hand, five seeds might do you for two years or even five!
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I said earlier and it is worth a second mention. T&M usually give you a free packet of your choice with an order, go for the Carmen!! Watch at the end of the season and grab what you can for half price. I have never paid full price for Carmen, it is just too expensive. XX Jeannine
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Most Expensive
Single Packet of Seed Free
When You Spend £10.00 or More
When you spend £10 or more on seeds in this online catalogue the most expensive single packet will be made completely free of charge. All single packets of seed (excluding collections containing more than one foil) qualify for this amazing offer
Tenner's worth of T&M anyone? Do you suppose the £10 includes the most expensive?
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The answer is yes - I've just ordered a tenner's worth of seeds, and got the Carmen free, so with shipping got three packets including one of Carmen for a fiver. How do they afford it? ??? ;D
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Of course, I don't actually have a greenhouse, so if anyone would like some seeds? :D
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Oooh yes please! Will pm you
Weed-Digga
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Told you so!! They are far too expensive to buy any other way XX Jeannine
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You can get carmen cheaper particularly if several people are willing to buy a bulk pack & divide it between themselves.
Moles (http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/acatalog/Products_F1_Carmen_4037.html) is probably the cheapest option if buying in bulk. 25 seeds for £10.45 (£2.09 for 5 seeds if split between 5 people) or £37.30 for 100 seeds (£1.87 for 5 seeds if split between 20 people) etc....
Jungle seeds (http://www.jungleseeds.com/SeedShop/Vegetables2.htm) charge £5.49 for 5 seeds.
Select seeds (http://www.selectseeds.co.uk/catalogue/productlist.asp) charge £4.10 for 5 seeds.
Seeds by size (http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/cucumber98.html) 5 seeds cost £4.00 10 seeds cost £8.00 25 seeds cost £16.00
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Yes plse bupster if still available will pm.
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Weeddigga and Susiebelle, have pm'd you and will send out a couple of seeds each as soon as they arrive. I'll try the last on a windowsill and see what happens...
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Just been checking the Carmen seeds at £7.99 for 5 they must be good. Is it possible to save seed from them for subsequent years? dont think my budget can stretch to them unless
The price of cucumber seeds retail is ridiculous. I`m all for growing it yourself but on cus I do think it is worth checking out local suppliers.
Ok I`m plugging but I sell my cus(Pepinex 69 this year) for £1.15p for a well established plant in a 5inch pot.
The seeds from an F1 hybrid cu may well not come true.
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Well Jeannine I have ordered mine today so I am hoping for good things next year.
www.citychickens.co.uk
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Hey, worldor, that's a gorgeous picture of the bridge on your blog. Where is it?
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I have been growing Carman for a few years now and apart from being a great cropper they are a great choice for showing. Last year 1st, 2nd, 3rd, year before 1st and 2nd. I cant recomend them high enough. Only problem is germination, you need 70 deg.
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Oh eck, having started all this Carmen talk I hope they turn out to be all that you want..perhaps we should start a Carmen posting for progress, like they do with the pumpkins LOL
XX
Jeannine
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I blame you all!!!!!!!!! I have now bought some too (along with some gypsy pepper seeds)
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Just emailed this company for prices on the Carmen seeds. They are selling for £4.50 including p+p, but the seed quantity is not listed. Will tell you once I get a reply.
http://www.exhibition-seeds.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Cucumbers_26.html
Fingers crossed. ::)
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Last years Carman tubed for show bench
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture037.jpg)
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Ok-next season I`ll offer `Carmen`-the cost per 100 is not much more than
pepinex.
And if my customers this year ask for Carmen I know who to blame ;D
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Ktlawson does it have to be Cucumber for your Guinea pigs, have you tried Gherkins, you will get shed loads off one plant....just a thought.
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and who would that be Cleo?? XX Jeannine
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and who would that be Cleo?? XX Jeannine
no names no packdrill. I often have to advise customers not to buy so many plants. They have bought from GCs without advice on how to grow them. So they think 3/4 fruit is good.
I promise nothing but do give some basic advice and reckon they should get between 6-8 decent fruit-more as they learn.
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If you are growing cucumbers for the GP's how about MarketMore? Not as tasty as BTG, which I grew for the first time last and got a very poor crop...but then, weird year?
I have at least 3 packets of MarketMore - if you want some, just PM me.
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If you are growing cucumbers for the GP's how about MarketMore? Not as tasty as BTG, which I grew for the first time last and got a very poor crop...but then, weird year?
Had no reply to the email reference the cost of Carmen from the website I posted earlier in the post. How did you fair with Marketmore
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I grew them for the first time in 2006 and once they established (4 plants) I was bringing home a carrier bag full every week - people started to avoid me :-[ ;D
Didn't grow it last year as I heard that BTG was a better tasting outdoor cuc. It did eventually pick up when the rain stopped but I only had 6 or 7 fruits from two plants. :'(
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I like Wautoma from Real Seeds. I've never counted but I must get around half a dozen per plant, the only problem being the plants I lose to slugs.
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Just wanted to put a good word in for Burpless. We have grown them outside for the last three years and have always had a good crop.
Mind you, they have grown into some interesting shapes. I don't think they would many prizes on the show bench, not unless there was a special prize for curliest cucumber...
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Er, that should of course be "would not win many prizes..."
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Just been checking the Carmen seeds at £7.99 for 5 they must be good. Is it possible to save seed from them for subsequent years? dont think my budget can stretch to them unless i can convince myself we can save the seeds for future sowings!
Just been emailed back reference the Carmen seeds. Only £4.50 for 5 seeds as opposed to everyone elses £7.99 for 5. Includes free P+P. Only 5 miles from my house.
http://www.exhibition-seeds.co.uk/index.htm
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If anyone could let me have one or two Carmen seeds, I have Zeina, Konsa, Bieta Alpha, and or Sweet Crunch I would gladly swap.
Tricia
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If you want to grow Cukes for your GP's try this lady on EBay. I have bought from her before. Quick and reliable.
200 Marketmore seeds = £1.49 + £0.75 p+p
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marketmore-Cucumber-200-Seeds-Allotment-Vegetables_W0QQitemZ140198748354QQihZ004QQcategoryZ1512QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Last year I tried an F1 hybrid for the first time. It was the best crop, maybe double other years and one of the vines I just planted at the base of fencing protecting a sml cherry tree from deer. That vine produced so well even nibbled by deer and never watered. So I'm about convinced that the F1 seed is worth the money, especially since one packet will last me a couple years if stored well.
However it was a really good growing season last year so I'll hold final judgement til this Fall.
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Has everyone received their cucumber seeds Carmen from Thompson and Morgan? Mine still haven't arrived. Or am I just too eager?
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Thompson and Morgan are notorious for long delays in posting
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Thanks Jeannine. I will try to be patient.
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I had mine quite quickly (sorry, Tricia, given them all away but one!)
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I have just got a greenhouse this year and am going to be growing 4 different types of cucumbers which is the best way to do it. Someone said to tie string from teh top of the greenhouse and do it that way , or to put a trellis in and they climb up, please help.
thank you
Linda
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I emailed exhibition seeds as I have not received the Carmen seeds as yet. They said they were sent but will put more in the post. Hopefully arrive over this next week.
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One of my seedlings has three leaves on now but the second one has keeled over and died. Getting them to germinate seems the easy bit. Its growing them on to a sturdy plant I have trouble with
Chris
www.citychickens.co.uk
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I have just got a greenhouse this year and am going to be growing 4 different types of cucumbers which is the best way to do it. Someone said to tie string from teh top of the greenhouse and do it that way , or to put a trellis in and they climb up, please help.
thank you
Linda
hiya, casey..we do the string method, tie it to a peg next to the cuc, wind the plant round it as it grows, being very careful not to pull the plant up, I speak from experience ;D
we did do a trellis once, just too much like a mess :)
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Have you tried growing them horizontally manics about 18 inches above the ground. Just train the plants along horizontal sticks. Its a lot tidier and the cucumbers hang down from the horizontal sticks to the ground.
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I tried to grow them outside in pots last year but no luck. Do you mean plant them in the greenhouse and then put cnes behind them and train them up there. I have seen something called vegetable netting which I have heard you can use, would that be any good.
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I use my empty (by May) 3 tier seed tray frame as a support for my cucumbers, and just wind the stems around it as they grow...I would have a problem fixing netting to my greenhouse frame, I think the thinner netting probably wouldn't support heavy cuckes as well.
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If you are replying to me casey then I run the supports horizontally about 18 inches above the ground in the greenhouse or outside it does not matter. If they are in a pots then just train the plants horizontally along the sticks so that all of their growth is 18 inches above the ground. The cucumbers hang down from 18 inches above the ground. Does that make sense?
Outdoors I would not grow anything other than Burpless they do really well even in poor summers.
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Worldor - unless you have heat in the 'house, are you not about 2 months too early??
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Tim - I did start them both in the house on top of the computer box for a little bottom heat then moved them to the window ledge when they had germinated. Would you suggest starting a new plant off then and when is best?
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Have you tried growing them horizontally manics about 18 inches above the ground. Just train the plants along horizontal sticks. Its a lot tidier and the cucumbers hang down from the horizontal sticks to the ground.
wouldn't have the room, morton, it'd get in the way of the tomatoes, sounds good though ;D