basic question abt sowing cucs, etc....

[Hyacinth]

seeds....pointy-ends up or flat on their sides?

think I ask this ev'ry year :-[

[Hyacinth]

[DenBee]

Edge up, isn't it?

I'm assuming that's to stop water pooling on the flat sides of the seeds and making them rot.  But you know what they say about people who assume.   ;)

[Hyacinth]

ahh, that's the answer and reason I was waiting for. I remember now....

til next year, that is ;D

thanks a lot!

[Baccy Man]

Pointy end up works for me. Can't see it making much difference though as all seeds want to grow & will try their best whatever mistakes you make. As long as you don't overwater the compost they shouldn't rot.

[compo49]

as denbee says on their edge. i have sown some in my green house and they have taken OK . must be so they can open when they germinate. its my first time trying to grow cucumbers so hope i am successful  8)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I just drop them in and cover them. They don't mind.

[kt.]

I just drop them in and cover them. They don't mind.

Thats all I have done. My first year with cucumbers too.  Didn't know there was a special way... Oh no... Ziena F1 & Carmen both sown last week, just popped in and covered. At over £1 per seed - will they both be ok? :-\ :-\ :-\

[tricia]

I'm delighted with my Zeina and Pepita cukes..............I germinated the seeds on damp kitchen roll paper on top of my bookcase in 2 days, transferred the sprouted seeds to 3" pots and two days later was very happy to see strong seedlings appear. I now have three of the precious freebie Carmen seeds from T & M hopefully enjoying the warmth on the bookcase, then I will have enough seedlings to put out in the GH tightly covered to keep the b....slugs out.

Tricia

[Robert_Brenchley]

They'll be fine as long as you look after them once they've germinated. this idea that seeds have to be put in on edge makes no sense to me; how often will a seed fall naturally and end up on edge?

[tim]

Just HOPE that the early birds have a warm place to grow them on - they do NOT like below 50F - & it's going to be -5F tonight!!

[saddad]

Surely not Tim... -5C I could accept!
;D

[Barnowl]

Three Carmen seeds in heated propagator - 100% germination (mind you, I got them as the "free packet" ). Now on the windowsill.

Only thing is, not having grown cukes before, are they too straggly?  They're the ones at the back right

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[djbrenton]

They did an experiment on Gardeners World and found no difference when cuke seeds are placed flat.

[davyw1]

At £1 a seed i am not prepared to take the chance so they get planted  their side at about 70 degrees. As soon as they are big enough to handle they get potted on so they don,t get drawn. When i pot them on i shape the compost into a pyramid so it stays dry round the stem to avoid stem rot, also if i do need to top water ( which i try to avoid ) i can water round the edges keeping the damp away from the stem. When i see the roots at the bottom of the pot they are again potted on.

My first were planted at the beginning of January

[tim]

Saddad - it was after a couple of Scotches!

Davy - fair 'mazing, so healthy! But I still don't sow mine for a cold greenhouse until the end of March - at the earliest. And still get 400 fruit.

[davyw1]

Saddad - it was after a couple of Scotches!

Davy - fair 'mazing, so healthy! But I still don't sow mine for a cold greenhouse until the end of March - at the earliest. And still get 400 fruit.

Under normal cercumstances i would be doing the same.  I have to have heat on beacause of my show leeks so i try not to waist space and get maximum benifit from it.
Also i set certain plants away in succession IE tomato,s Cucumbers, Cauliflowers at a bout a month apart to try and ensure the best possible results at the time for the Leek shows.

[kt.]

But I still don't sow mine for a cold greenhouse until the end of March - at the earliest. And still get 400 fruit.

How many Carmen plants is that?     From my 5 seeds, I am hoping to plant 2 this year and 3 next due to also trying Ziena F1 & Marketmore outdoor.

[pippy]

I am trying Marketmore for the forst time this year having never grown cu's before, but I don't have a propagator.  Will they be okay sown in pots on a sunny windowsill in late april or should I put them in damp kitchen paper in the airing cupboard?!

It was one of those winter "catagolue fondling" dreamy moments of purchase ..... :o ;D

[Hyacinth]

Pippy, although I asked the question, it was prompted  as I was dividing up pkts of Marketmore & Burpless to share. I've an unheated greenhouse & shan't be sowing mine til late March. I'll be starting them off in pots on top of the combi, bringing them into the light as soon as they've germinated and then moving them out to the 'house once true leaves have developed & they look sturdy enough.

I've never tried the damp kitchen roll trick, tho.

[kt.]

I am trying Marketmore for the forst time this year having never grown cu's before, but I don't have a propagator.  Will they be okay sown in pots on a sunny windowsill in late april or should I put them in damp kitchen paper in the airing cupboard?!

I have sown mine on March 7th. They are in an unheated propogator in my conservatory. Still not germinated though.