Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jilly on June 12, 2005, 12:23:31

Title: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Jilly on June 12, 2005, 12:23:31
My cucumbers are starting to grow and I want to pot them on.  Do they need a frame to climb up or do they just grow along the ground in which case should I use a lower edged pot for them?
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: tim on June 12, 2005, 12:26:19
Assuming that they are 'outdoor', No. No!
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Svea on June 12, 2005, 13:48:12
they may not need it but i am growing cucumbers up a trellis. they are stretching out their little tendrils willing to cling to something. anything.

they are burpless tasty whih is an outdoor variety, afask

svea
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Anne Robertson on June 12, 2005, 17:03:37
If only I could get mine to the stage of sending out little tendreils.

They keep keeling over before they get to that point despite lots of TLC and following advice given on here :'(
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Jilly on June 12, 2005, 17:10:58
I think mine are supposed to be indoor but our greenhouse is roasting and scorches the plants, even with shade netting so I am going to take a chance with putting them against a south facing wall in a pot.  A bit of an experiment this year.  :-\ 

My tomatoes survive much better outside than in the hot greenhouse.
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 12, 2005, 17:16:08
You don't have to grow them up supports but if you do it keeps them away from Slugs & keeps them off the dirt, plus it takes up far less room, a Wigwam of 6 canes with a plant on each keeps us in Cucumbers & Gherkins all summer
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Aussie Chick on June 12, 2005, 17:22:46
I have shade cloth up the greenhouse and was thinking of growing the cucs up this. Would it work? would it be too heavy for the cloth? Its south facing. they are burpless tasty.
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 12, 2005, 18:58:50
How strong is it & how well is it fixed? BTG can get pretty large and heavy
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: spacehopper on June 12, 2005, 19:40:05
Quote from: Merry Tiller on June 12, 2005, 17:16:08
You don't have to grow them up supports but if you do it keeps them away from Slugs & keeps them off the dirt, plus it takes up far less room, a Wigwam of 6 canes with a plant on each keeps us in Cucumbers & Gherkins all summer

I like the idea of a wig wam...I'm going to try that.
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Lady of the Land on June 12, 2005, 19:45:35
I have just planted burpless, 4 up a wigwam of 4 canes. This is my first year of growing these and am trying to avoid them taking up too much space as per usual  running out of space despite taking on another allotment.
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Anne Robertson on June 12, 2005, 19:48:00
Last year I grew them along the ground on top of weed surpressant and although they were clean the shape wasn't as good as when I'd grown them up supports the previous year, they tended to curl as opposed to being elongated
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on June 12, 2005, 20:13:35
Do they climb up canes OK?

Or do they need string as well? i've just planted 2 cuces and a squash up a wigwam of 6 canes. Do I need to string it too?
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on June 13, 2005, 18:21:22
Anyone?
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: spacehopper on June 14, 2005, 08:28:29
Not sure, but I'd probably use string just in case!
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Aussie Chick on June 14, 2005, 08:36:31
Quote from: Merry Tiller on June 12, 2005, 18:58:50
How strong is it & how well is it fixed? BTG can get pretty large and heavy

Its blue builders mesh. its really stong but I have only attached it to the greenhouse using the glazing clips. Might have to make it more supported!
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Lady of the Land on June 14, 2005, 18:58:28
Robinofthehood

I have used string to tie cuecumber plant to canes in wigwam. Its my first year growing so am not an expert.
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 14, 2005, 20:16:31
You will need to tie them in with a bit of string, they grow tendrils but they don't really cling strongly enough to support the weight of the fruit on their own
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on June 15, 2005, 11:03:16
Thanks. Will do that later.  :)
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: tim on June 29, 2005, 08:23:32
I asked a while ago about what to do, indoors, when they hit the roof. Options are to pinch out & grow on 2 side-shoots: or train along wires.

No advice, so this year I'm doing both. We'll see!! But it takes ages to create the side-shoots, once the top is pinched out. The growth here is since that time, & only 2" of side-shoot so far. Maybe this is a good way to achieve continuity??
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: philcooper on June 29, 2005, 13:11:45
Tim,

The method I read, suggested up an over (and then down th far side) as you have done

As usual, your plant looks in rude health

Phil
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: tim on June 30, 2005, 09:14:22
Just wait till the red spider sees it!!
Title: Re: Do cucumbers need support
Post by: steves.no1 on June 30, 2005, 15:02:19
i have just been down the allotment and every one has supported theres so i guess thats the way to go ??
i have some outside and some in the greenhouse all are supported with canes the ones in the greenhouse are in growbags, i have 15 plants in all ( too Manny i think?) mind you all the family like them so maybe not?  :-\


Steve