cucumbers flopped over

[samseed]

I transplanted my cucumbers after germination to fibre pots and put them on my window cill-now after a week they have gone all floppy as if the stalk isnt strong enough-they were fine 2 days ago,please help,also my tomatoes (gardeners delight) have been done the same way and stood up to attention like i would expect although still tiny-any help on raising salad seedlings would be very helpful-thank you.







If it isn`t broken-fix it until it is!!

[zazen999]

You are a good few weeks early, which is why the packet probably said 'sow April-May'.

Anyway - it sounds like damping off.

[Kristen]

Cucumbers are very prone to stem rot (well, they are prone to wanting to die, whilst young plants, full stop)

Water only from the bottom, use tap water not rain water, make sure they don't get cold, if they are warm make sure they have enough light to match (e.g. sow later, rather than earlier), and (in my case!) raise at least twice as many plants as you will eventually need

[Piggle]

Mine did that last year and I put it down to planting too early and stem rot.

After that I planted some more and only ever watered them from the bottom..... in fact I was known to run down the gerden shouting "only at the bottom" at my husband when he was watering ........ lord knows what the neighbours thought.

[Alison]

Bit early for cucumbers yet, some packets do say to sow now but I find a mid April sowing the best for guaranteed healthy plants.

[samseed]

Thanks you lot-appreciate the advice

[rustylady]

Way too early for cucumbers, and I find that fibre and peat pots are the kiss of death to most seedlings.

[samseed]

why do you say that rustylady? ive just bought a 96 pack on the strength of other threads swearing by them.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sam, where you live I would advise planting cumbers much later, as zazan says if it says April/May on the packet then unless you have the correct set up May should be your date.

Colin

[Dane End Dolly]

If you are growing cucumbers indoors for a heated greenhouse, you may get away with sowing but the light levels are not too good, my hubbie has purchased one of those daylight lights from hobbycraft and has his precious plants under that and they seem to be thriving much more than those plants that are on tables and windowcills

[Flummery]

I don't like peat pots either. Apart from my dislike of using peat, I find they can draw the water away from the seedling. It's a fine balance adding enough water to keep the peat pot moist (so the roots can grow through them as intended) and drowining the seed or seedling - especially something like a cuke which has a tendency to stem rot anyway. I'm in Yorks and I don't sow cucurbits until April - well on in April too!

[Wendie]

I planted my cucumbers -CUCINO F1 HYBRID - in pots in my spare room, they germinated after 7 days and are now about an inch high with two big leaves at top. The packet says feb-may, so I thought March would be OK. Is it too early? Is there anything I can do to stop them from bolting or flopping - it's a pain when you're new to this lark and don't know enough ----

[Kristen]

I planted my cucumbers -CUCINO F1 HYBRID - in pots in my spare room, they germinated after 7 days and are now about an inch high with two big leaves at top. The packet says feb-may, so I thought March would be OK. Is it too early? Is there anything I can do to stop them from bolting or flopping - it's a pain when you're new to this lark and don't know enough ----

What facilities have you got to look ater them?

Windowsill? conservatory? heated / unheated? Greenhouse?

Cucino are probably best grown indoors (i.e. in a greenhouse) but will also grow outside.

[samseed]

hi Kristen i have windowcills and i have a greenhouse,i am growing telegraph and bush cucumbers for pickling,seriously thinking about composting the ones i have and starting again later as advised by other posts,i feel like im commiting murder tho- they`re my babies lol

[Kristen]

Cucumber needs 10C minimum - an unheated greenhouse won't be warm enough (but on a Sunny day you could put them in the greenhouse from mid morning and bring them in for the night - they will get better light in the greenhouse)

But when its less than 10C they are going to need to be on windowsills, and they will struggle from lack of light.

The later you sow the stronger the light, the warmer the greenhouse, and the easier the whole thing becomes