Flowering Cucumber plant

[Samwise]

Hi, I sowed my picolino cucumber in January (too early I know but I've been growing it inside) and it's already flowering! I was under the impression that flowering wouldn't occur until the summer when there's more light! Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks

Sam

P.S the plant is about 20-30cm tall

[shirlthegirl43]

You can't stop nature doing its thing

[GardeningMike]

That's great Sam - do let me know if it produces fruit indoors. Is the one you've get an all female flowered type? I assume you have it on a sunny south-facing window for that all important heat and light.

[womble]

I would think about putting it in a big pot and taking it outside when the weather is good and bringing it in again at night, in a frost free place.

[shirlthegirl43]

The first year I grew anything, I purchased a cucumber plant and grew it in a large pot beside our patio doors - It was supported by a string tied to the curtain pole The boys were fascinated watching the fruits grow.

[Samwise]

thanks for all your advice! i was thinking about putting it outside during the day but am worried about the seagulls and the rather inquisitive cats next door who've already had a go at my bulbs! Yes it is an all female flowering plant, i'm worried that because the plant isn't very tall yet it won't be able to support the cucumber when it grows :S

Sam

[Two_Sheds]

I may be wrong, and I certainly don't want to rain on your parade, but .... it sounds as if you're plant thinks it's dying (it's very small) and therefore is trying to reproduce before it pops its clogs.

[selfraising]

Picolino is a miniature cucumber variety, I think, so hang on in there, you never know you might get a very early crop!

[gojiberry]

Your cucumber will need supporting no matter what. I would be very careful about putting it outside as the temp is not good enough even though we are having a good spell. Cucumbers are very susceptable to rotting off at the base of the stem if they get a bit cold and ideally like to be kept above 18/20 degrees. good luck with keeping it alive.

Ian

[SarzWix]

What size pot is it in? Some plants are prompted to flower early if they're a bit cramped in their pot. If it's still in a small pot, I would very carefully pot it up into a pot about 2 sizes bigger than the one it's in, and make sure to put some support in (a flower stick will do if the plant is still small), and get it tied in with some soft twine. Then if it does produce a fruit it will already be supported. Plus the extra fresh compost will help it to grow and feed the fruit a bit.
If it's already in a big pot then just wait to see if the fruit 'sets' (ie starts to grow after the flower drops off) and if it does, feed it with a bit of tomato food.

Good luck with it

PS, if the worst happens and you lose your plant, it isn't too late to sow another, and don't feel too bad as cucumbers can be a bit fickle

[Samwise]

Thanks i repotted it into a larger pot last week before i realised the flower was a flower lol i've put a stake in the pot and tied the plant to it and rather optimistically i have noticed more leaves and what look like small flower buds developing further up the plant.
Nothings wilting yet but i'll watch it like a hawk!

[bramble]

Samwise, sounds like its really doing well but, if it were mine I would'nt dream of putting it out yet. Cucs are very susuptible to cold and theres still a nip in the air.
Let us know how you get on with it and best of luck.

[faerieprincess]

My picolino seed packet says they have to be kept above 15 degrees, so definitely don't put it outside! I'm trying to work out where I can put my seedlings at the moment. All 4 of them have now germinated so I'm trying to work out which windows they'd like to live in, as I don't have a greenhouse.

[Samwise]

Just thought i'd update on my cuc status; the flower was male so i pinched it off BUT there are now 4/5 female buds with tiny cucs behind them and 1 looks like it'll flower soon!

[shirlthegirl43]

BRILLIANT!! Thanks for the update