Cucumber Masterpiece, bad germination.

[Nick Blair]

I have sowed Marketmoore Cucumbers and an Italian variety, and others, all had good germination rate, I sowed some Masterpiece Cumbers outdoors under plastic, only one of eight managed to germinate.

Is it because Masterpiece Cucumbers need more heat? Or is it a bad variety? Or have the seed company done something wrong?

I am thinking of sowing more but this time indoors, but is it too late now? as we are near the end of may.

[WendyC]

Cucumber seeds are best planted on their edges so they don't rot before germinating but as you got others to germinate you probably did this. Sorry can't think of anything else. I don't think it is too late to try again, but I would probably try indoors as I find it easier to keep an eye on things. Good luck!

[King Carrot]

I sprout or chit my cu seed in a plastic tub on a bit of damp kitchen paper, then pit the tub in the airing cub or somewhere warmish, check regularly put in a pot when it sprouts!

[Florence Fennel]

Mine are only at the seedlng stage Nick, so not too late to start some more off. Mine are in the top of my little greenhouse and the snails/slugs are still managing to nibble at them!

[rustylady]

Like what King Carrot said

[Newton]

How do you prevent stem rot?

[chris]

Try not to water too much around the stem (I water from underneath) will help.. That said I compared two plants, watering from above - one splashing the stem, one avoiding it - both grew on fine (these were indoor mind).

[Nick Blair]

Mine are only at the seedlng stage Nick, so not too late to start some more off. Mine are in the top of my little greenhouse and the snails/slugs are still managing to nibble at them!

I see, but they are still alright? I think I am going to lose at least two courgette plants that were quite large, because the slugs or snails destoyed the main part of the plants rather eat the leaves, and so the plants look as though they have dehydrated.

I have pepper seedlings, and alicante tomatoes which are somewhat larger than seedlings but are small, are they still worth growing now? The alicante tomatoes seem to grow faster than other varities I have grown.

[Nick Blair]

I sprout or chit my cu seed in a plastic tub on a bit of damp kitchen paper, then pit the tub in the airing cub or somewhere warmish, check regularly put in a pot when it sprouts!

I did not know you could chit them, but I will try, thanks.

[rustylady]

I did not know you could chit them, but I will try, thanks.

You can chit almost any seed. Specially useful if you have packets of saved seed and want to check if still viable.

[King Carrot]

Off the top of my head the only things I haven't chitted this way so far this year, are carrots, leeks ,onions lettuce and salad leaves.

[Nick Blair]

I have sowed some more, and indoors this time, hopefully I'll get better results this time.

[Nick Blair]

There was a very high rate of germination, by indoor sowing, but its described as an outdoor cucumber.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Nick,

Cumbers need constant warmth to germinate, but later in the season as outdoor temperatures rise some varieties can go outside

Colin