Is it possible to plant cucumber plants deeper when transplanting them?

[Leeds_lad]

some of the seedlings have become a bit leggy, will they survive being planted deeper when i transplant them in a couple of weeks, or is this a no no?

[smc999]

I've planted courgettes deeper if my early sowings have gone leggy and they have always been fine. Cucumbers are from the same family so I don't see why not, anyone agree/disagree?

[chris]

I do as well.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I start my cumbers in the bottom of a tall pot and then gradually fill with compost as the plant grows, like toms this will give extra roots so in actual fact your doing good.

Colin

[Leeds_lad]

thank you everyone =D

[Two_Sheds]

some of the seedlings have become a bit leggy

For future reference, you can avoid this by sowing towards the end of March, when the days are longer

Are they indoor or outdoor cukes?

[Leeds_lad]

For future reference, you can avoid this by sowing towards the end of March, when the days are longer

Are they indoor or outdoor cukes?

indoor ones. some gherkin variety, Boston pickling.

another thing, how long after them germinating is it acceptable to transplant them into bigger pots? I had a bad year last year with cucumbers, want to get it all right this year

[Two_Sheds]

indoor ones.

So you have a heated greenhouse to put them in next? It's not going to be that warm until late April/May, so they've got to spend at least a month now on your windowsills

I pot on (anything) when the roots show through the bottom of the pot

[Leeds_lad]

So you have a heated greenhouse to put them in next? It's not going to be that warm until late April/May, so they've got to spend at least a month now on your windowsills

I pot on (anything) when the roots show through the bottom of the pot

yes i do =) and ok thanks

[Kristen]

I take the view that, in principle, you can prick out anything up to the seed leaves.

However, cucumbers hate getting their stems wet, so I'm more careful with them. I have successfully planted them "deep" like Potstubsdustbins, but I now try to avoid that and pot them on slightly "high" so that the water runs away from the stems.

Either way, Cucumbers are very fickle and will just curl up their toes. Grown more plants than you need because in some years you'll lose some / many before you get the chance to plant them out in April/May.

[Leeds_lad]

I take the view that, in principle, you can prick out anything up to the seed leaves.

However, cucumbers hate getting their stems wet, so I'm more careful with them. I have successfully planted them "deep" like Potstubsdustbins, but I now try to avoid that and pot them on slightly "high" so that the water runs away from the stems.

Either way, Cucumbers are very fickle and will just curl up their toes. Grown more plants than you need because in some years you'll lose some / many before you get the chance to plant them out in April/May.

ah, thrown me off a bit now. thats 2 different answers XD

[chris]

It's essentially the same thing - when you plant them slightly deeper, make a mount that runs away from the stem - the idea being is that water will run off if watered from above (I don't water from above anyway).

Either way, if they die, you still have plenty of time to sow some more to get a crop in.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Leeds Lad like others have pointed out correct drainage is vital to growing cumbers.

When I do set seed in a couple of weeks time the compost will be moist and the pots will be stood in saucers all watering will be done from the bottom by filling the saucers. As the plants grow I top up with compost but make sure its not wet, finally the go into Morrison type black buckets and this year they will be watered and fed by a drip system to avoid getting the growing stem wet.

Two good plants will be plenty for me but I still use all the seed in the packet for on a bad year I can lose/kill 50% of the plants and on a good year I can always give my mates any spare plants.

Colin

[Kristen]

Two good plants will be plenty for me but I still use all the seed in the packet for on a bad year I can lose/kill 50% of the plants and on a good year I can always give my mates any spare plants.

What he said

[sewer rat]

I have grown lots (up to 50 plants per year) of cucumbers in the past in my tunnel in the soil and the way I avoid getting the stems wet is to bury the 3" pot that I am transplanting them from, alongside the stem and water/ feed through this. I have never had a bad year with cukes and have only ever lost two plants (both to RSM ). The same method is applied to my toms and aubergines.
I don't plant them much deeper but will on accassion earth up a mound of soil round a specific plant if it liiks a bit poorly.