Should I buy my cucumber plants.

[Jimmy]

Probably only need 2 plants for in GH, rest will be outdoors.
So I bought a pack of Mini Munch for £4.00, only 5 seeds.
I planted one early in my heated propogator.
It came up but didn't look very good, bit of a runt.
So I might buy in future.
What do people think.
Jimmy

[Jungle Jane]

I grow mini munch they’re a good mini cucumber,try sowing a couple now it’s warmer,expensive seeds for nothing otherwise? Or buy plants but then that’s even more money,they’re my thoughts

[Thelma Sanders]

My MiniMunch are still in their packet, so I'd say have another go before you give up and buy plants

[ameno]

I recommend pre-germinating. I do it will all cucurbits I grow. Sandwich the seeds between two sheets of damp kitchen roll, put that in some sort of tub, and put that in the heated propagator (make sure you raise it off the base by about an inch, or the seeds will get too hot and cook). They will sprout within 5 days if the seeds are any good, and then you can pot them on once sprouted.
This method gives me much better success rates than sowing them normally did.

[Chippy Minton]

Strikes me as a great twist on the perennial question of seeds vs. plants. Normally I'd say seeds as it still often works out cheaper even if you use a fraction of a packet, and mostly they last a few years. However, I have this thought every year with cukes. They're expensive for very few seeds and they're notorious for dying on a whim. I spend silly amounts for 4 or 5 seeds and then feel I have to sow them all to get at least the couple I want into production size. I'm certain I could get a couple of plants for less.

Having said that I still buy seeds so I get the variety I want and because I like growing from seed and because I'm stupid

[annie8]

Seems a shame not to use the rest of the seeds since you have them already before looking to buy plants. I usually just plant the seed in a pot with mpc, put a plastic bag over and put in a warm place.

[Baldy]

Cukes are easy!

(says he with a 10% successrate with latest batch)

[Jay-ell]

HNothing wrong with buying plants - i got 2 plants last year (Crystal Lemon and a regular green one) and grew them sprawelled over a bed - got 30 cucs off each one.

[SarrissUK]

I used to have real issues with getting cucumbers to germinate. I reckon I might have over-watered them in my eagerness. These days I treat everything a little rougher, although protecting everything from cold more than I used to... I have at least 50% germination rates with my Lidl cuke seeds.

[greenishfing]

I have never had a problem germination cucumbers. It's usually a week or two later that they wipe the smile off my face by committing suicide. I don't know what I do wrong but I try every year with varying success rates. If I fail completely some other allotment holder usually gives me a couple of theirs or does a swap for something. I usually buy my seeds in the 50p sale at a local garden centre and live in hope every year. For some unknown reason I just have to keep on trying. If you have got seeds plant them and have a go. You have nothing to lose.

[Gillykat]

Still loads of time to sow seeds - I only sowed mine last week in a basic Wilko propagator. Chucked it in the warm airing cupboard for three days until the seeds started to germinate then moved the whole set up to my south-facing living room window. So far they're growing well *touch wood* but staying in the house were I can pamper them and keep an eye on them until it's warm enough to go up to the allotment greenhouse. This year I've sown La Diva and Lemon - 3 of each.

The first year I grew them I killed my first seedling by watering it wrong and the stem rotted away but since then I've been a bit more careful.