Decided to have a go at growing cucumbers this year, and have bought a plant of a ridge type for outdoor growing (greenhouse too small for indoor types). I was planning to grow it with my courgettes and treat it in the same sort of way. Is this right? I would appreciate any tips on growing this type of cucumber please.
we train tem up frames made out of hazel branches, very easy once they're germinated ;)
Quote from: manicscousers on May 21, 2007, 20:32:33
we train tem up frames made out of hazel branches, very easy once they're germinated ;)
So i need something to grow them up if i have not got much space (i have not)? Would a simple wigwam of bean canes do?
Thanks
I am planning on growing mine up a single cane each, tied in as I do the tomatoes (in and out of the GH),and the indoor cues in the GH.
I think it's useful to have something to rest the fruits on if you are going to train it up and over something. I've seen a sort of 3 cane wigwam covered in netting to support the vine (does that make sense?)
i put up a six cane wigwam and alternate a cuke and a french bean (so threee of each). the cukes appreciate some string tied around the wigwam to curl onto. thats just the way i do it. i also dig some good muck under each cuke and sink a drink bottle next to each cuke to get water down to the roots.
I grew Marketmore last year, trained up a thick steel pipe. It had several fruits at a time at the peak and each fruit was quite big so I was glad I used a sturdy support for it.
I also grew a few different varieties of ridge cucs on mound. I let it sprawl on the ground, which is very easy to do, but they suffered from mildew and snails more.
not too different from Sarah ...
We use a 3 cane wigwam for 2 plants (they are fairly prolific most years and you can only eat so much cucumber!). Personally, never found it necessary to provide further support in the way of netting
preparation - take out a pocket of soil (one spade square), put some manure in, put soil back adding a dash of potash .. put a 5 or 6 inch pot next to where the plant is to go to facilitate watering.
planting - plant on a little mound (to avoid neck rot).
fyi - we grow burpless tasty green.
Tora, we are trying marketmore this year, can you tell me how high they are likely to grow please?
Sand
just planted mine amonst the sweetcorn if it climbes them it do ,if it don,t it don,t
marg
I've made a frame with canes and a piece of old tennis net.
Sand, my Marketmore grew as tall as me, about 160cm (5.3 ft). Also it branched around the base so ideally it should have had more than a cane as a support. I think a wigwam or a sturdy frame would be better for it. :)