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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Doris_Pinks on June 10, 2013, 12:40:35

Title: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 10, 2013, 12:40:35
I fancy giving these a go, hubby can't eat cucumber, so thought this might be an alternative, plus I like growing "odd" things!
Anyone know if I am too late for this year, I haven't even bought the seeds yet, and can't find any plants to buy out there, would be buying the seeds online, so have to add another week to allow for delivery.
I am in the chilly south east :toothy10:

Thanks

DP
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: BarriedaleNick on June 10, 2013, 13:08:11
I'm not sure to be honest but mine are doing terribly - I got given some seeds so Iperhaps I am doing it wrong.  I guess you could still get a crop as there is plenty of time left - I have only just sowed my out door cucs..

Please please use Nicky's Nursery - they have been selling the seeds for years unlike Suttons and Mr Wong - http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/garden-shop/seeds/baby-vegetables/melothria-scabra-cucamelon-mexican-sour-gherkin-20-seeds
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 10, 2013, 13:15:28
Nick,

Having read up on them, I was going to use Nicky's, Don't like the commercialism that seems to go with the other 2!

DP
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Chrispy on June 10, 2013, 13:43:07
Mine are terrible, Out of 10 seeds I have only 1 plant and it is growing incredibly slowly.

I am thinking they need more heat, so next year I will start them off the same as I start my peppers.

Don't think it would be worth starting any now.
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: BarriedaleNick on June 10, 2013, 14:27:49
Chrispy - Mine are in my poly and I was thinking that perhaps they didn't like the heat (they look a little brown round the edges).. they are so slow - maybe low night time temps??
Not sure what to think now - anyone got any decent ones??  Is there a secret to growing them?
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Chrispy on June 10, 2013, 14:39:52
A fellow plot holder has a good batch of a decent size. The look rather leggy to me, but I don't know what they are meant to look like.

His were grown in his greenhouse, but his greenhouse very well insulated, feels like a sauna if you go in it.
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: galina on June 10, 2013, 16:28:04
Sorry not much help here - mine were eaten by slugs last week!!!  From memory, they are fairly slow initially, but produced well at around September/October time in the greenhouse.  No particular difficulties, but slow early on.  They were not big plants.

My resown ones have just germinated and I hope we will be in time - should be ok fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 10, 2013, 22:15:40
Thanks all,

Have just ordered from Nicky's seeds, will chuck a couple in and see how they do, not holding out a lot of hope, but with the weather being so rubbish, it may just improve and we get more heat, and crops later on :-)
Here is hoping  :icon_cheers:

DP
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: sparrow on June 11, 2013, 16:08:20
Mine are still tiny but hanging on. I need to get my plastic greenhouse up to see whether that will help more than being in my dingy flat.
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: *Joanne* on June 11, 2013, 16:18:36
Mine ar really small still after 6 weeks going to try them in the greenhouse in the day see if I can get them to grow more
Title: Re: Cucamelon Help
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 12, 2013, 12:48:34
Well, my seeds arrived today  :icon_cheers: Am going to give a few a go as the weather is so nasty and it feels like March here, thought it was worth a go! (Will have to pull out the propagator again) Interested to hear how all yours get on.

DP