Planting out cucumers

[anemone]

Do you plant out cucumbers so that their stems are a little buried up to the next leaves (like toms)? Or do they go at the same soil level to avoid stem rot?

also what size would you wait to until planting them out?

[anemone]

[Digeroo]

Sorry no one responding.  I think everyone is out in their allotments!!  Was out early but now it is too hot for me.

Courgettes and Squashes are quite happy to produce roots out of their stems.  Cucumbers do this as well, so plant them up to the leaves.  They can be a little delicate between the stem and the roots so earthing them up prevents the wind rocking them. 

Watch out for the slugs though they love a nice juice fresh cucumber plant.

[davyw1]

Do you plant out cucumbers so that their stems are a little buried up to the next leaves (like toms)? Or do they go at the same soil level to avoid stem rot?

also what size would you wait to until planting them out?

You don,t plant cucumbers in the ground you plant them just above ground level to avoid stem rot

[attachment=1]

[sarah]

i am about to plant mine out aswell and was wondering the same thing. i was thinking of cutting a grow bag in half and standing them on their ends and planting a cucumber in each; like some people do with tomatoes.  i am hoping it will work. i have had mixed success with outdoor cucmbers grown directly i the ground, some years good - most years bad.  this year aswell as the grow bag idea i will be tying them into the trellis of a fence. good luck with yours.  :)

[Digeroo]

I think that outside they are more prone to being blown about in the wind than stem rot.

[anemone]

Thank you, after waiting a while I figured everyone was already at their allotment in the sun and I'd better get out there too:)

So I took a guess at how to plant them, and they did go direct into the ground. Maybe I can earth them up around their stems later.

I have a couple of bamboo pyramid things from wilkinsons that I'm hoping will work well for them to climb.

[tim]

Each to their own - I just stuff 'em in!

Remember to pinch out the first  couple of sets.

[simmo116]

Each to their own - I just stuff 'em in!

Remember to pinch out the first  couple of sets.

canyou explain please(sorry to sound like a thicko...lol

[cacran]

What Simmo said 'ditto'! ???

[tim]

Sorry - meant first 2 lots of flowers or embryo cus.

[sarah]

what is the reason for that Tim?

[pigeonseed]

I think that outside they are more prone to being blown about in the wind than stem rot.

Yes it's windy here in Hastings - I never knew you could plant tomatoes or cucumbers further up the stem!

And in the South East it can be so dry that I have always made a ring of soil around the outside of the cucumber and squash plants. This helps stop water running off before it can penetrate the dry soil.

So the opposite of the advice I've always read in books about a mound to help water run off!

I saw people doing this when I was on holiday in Cyprus and it's very useful. i do it for tomatoes as well.

[amphibian]

And in the South East it can be so dry that I have always made a ring of soil around the outside of the cucumber and squash plants. This helps stop water running off before it can penetrate the dry soil.

So the opposite of the advice I've always read in books about a mound to help water run off!

I do exactly the same, I plant my squash, tomatoes, aubergines, maize, courgettes, cucumbers*, melons* and beans in craters, the soil stays moist and watering is more efficient.

A trick traditionally used by native americans in drier areas, that has proven very useful in the dry deserts of Kent and Sussex. 

*in the case of melons and cucumbers the root ball is positioned slightly above the floor of the crater but still higher than the surrounding ground.

[tim]

To give the poor thing a spell of freedom, Sarah, before having babies!

[Tee Gee]

As one who has lost plants to neck rot in the past, I have been trying this method for the last couple of years and have not lost a plant as yet!

I call it my 'gator' and it means I can water quite freely around the plant and the bottom 3"-4" of stem (the vulnerable bit) never gets wet!

[tim]

Reminds me of the song - and her swimming suit never got wet!!