Sowing all things Cucurbit - 2019

[annie8]

It’s my first time with Ronde. Will see how I get on. Planted already. Do you think it would be ok overnight in the gh or do I need to keep bringing in at night?

[Printemps]

Gherkins/Pickled Cucumbers

Can anyone recommend a variety of cucumber that I can pickle either as baby gherkins or 'Wally' sized ones?

[Selymbria]

Can anyone recommend a variety of cucumber that I can pickle either as baby gherkins or 'Wally' sized ones?

Beth alpha can be picked baby size and very tasty

[Vegi potager]

an over enthusiastic list!

In the propagator are:
Courgette/summer squash
Trombos (de albeg.)
Black beauty
1 Ball (yellow tastier version of 8 ball)
Griller
Shooting star
Chiarro di N??

Winter squash
Jack be little
Uchiki Kuri
Autumn Crown

Cucs
Burpless Tasty green
Spring burpless
Beth Alpha


Courgettes are turned into many things, my favourite being a spicy chutney for curries. Sadly I am on my last jar... so 3 batches required this year or stop giving out as Christmas presents. (Trombos are great for this as they don't get mushy.)

Even sadder, I ran out of my homemade sweet pickle last month which is why I have 3 types of cucs...

VC

[Printemps]

Thank you Selymbria for the recommendation!

[Printemps]

Beth alpha can be picked baby size and very tasty

Thank you Selymbria, am on a mission to locate the variety!

[Marmande]

I sowed my curcurbits this weekend!

Courgettes

• Tondo Chiaro do Nizza (the same as Ronde de Nice)
• Clarion (pale-skinned Lebanese type)
• Patio Star
• Zephyr (yellow with green tips)
• Black Forest (climbers, supposedly...)

Cucumbers

• La Diva
• Burpless Tasty Green

I have a tiny garden, so the cucumbers and some of the courgettes are going to have to go in pots (hence Patio Star and Black Forest). Also hoping that I've read the catalogues right and that these varieties of courgette make compact bushes, not great sprawly things...

I grew Tondo Di Nizza last year and they were great - got about 6 per plant, which isn't bad for a container. And they were very tasty, even when quite big - I ate some at about 12cm in diameter and they were fine.

The most productive thing last year was the yellow patty pan, which grew into an ENORMOUS bush and produced thousands of fruits! But I don't think I can spare that amount of raised bed space this year - too many other things to grow!

[veggiechicken]

Its raining so I sowed melons - mostly old seeds - but even old seeds deserve a chance!!

Minnesota Midget
Striped Tigger
Plum Granny
Alvaro F1
Charentais
Cantalun (HSL)
Arancino
Sweetheart
Rugoso di Cosenza giallo
Arava F1
Emir F1
Boule d'Or
Crimson Sweet Watermelon

Kiwano - African Horned melon

Still pondering on whether to sow Shark's Fin Melons.

[Trouvere]

Still pondering on whether to sow Shark's Fin Melons.

I can't get mine (a gift from a neighbour) to germinate so far. The packet of backup Cucurbita ficifolia seeds I also have that are apparently meant for grafting other cucurbits onto - well, those seeds are small and white and cucumberish, not large and black and squashy, so I don't know what's up with them.

[Small pumpkin]

My babies are doing well. Still a few more to come up hopefully.

[Mark_Riga]

The Arava F1 I grew last year were absolutely delicious VC. Growing again this year. With a honeydew from last year that isn't long and yellow but was a late variety and trying Kasakh from real seeds.

[ameno]

My third sowing of cucumbers (La Diva) are coming along nicely. First lot got eaten by scarid fly larvae, and the second batch just didn't germinate.
My courgettes (Tusacany) and squashes (Marina di Chioggia) are just coming up, and my mini watermelons (Kaho, a yellow-fleshed Japanese variety) shouldn't be far behind. I need to sow some more squash to plant in my new allotment, too. Can't have too many squashes.
I've also ordered some horned melon seeds, which I'm going to attempt this year.

[Jay-ell]

OK, my cucumbers, dwarf pumpkins etc etc etc are doing OK BUT the self saved seeds that I whipped out of my last stored pumpkin because they were growing are going extremely slow. I'm hoping that they will pick up because they are going to be my best bet at a giant pumpkin this year.

[Bren In Pots]

My Beth Alpha cucs sown on 25th March are doing well and have been potted on twice but the Tasty green sown at the same time haven't got their true leaves yet.
Odd

[1Bee]

I've had germination from Rouge vif d'Etampes, trom, Crown Prince, Rocket, uchiki kuri. Looking good, if a little leggy, which is always the case given what I have to work with. They'll do fine.