Sprouts and mini cucumbers

[Wendie]

Having got itchy feet as I wanted to grow something for Winter,I've bought some brussel sprout plants from a local garden centre - don't know the variety but it said to put them in by end of July. Questions are:

Do they need a lot of room?
Can they be grown in tubs?
Do I need to put any special fertiliser with them?
They are about 6 inches now, will they last till end of July before planting them in their resting place, as I've got no room yet!

How long does it take before I can pick by Cucumbers? They are Superbel and the cucs are about 1 inch long - how quickly do they grow?

Phew!!! Think that's all for now!!!

Thanks

Wendy

[Two_Sheds]

Sprout plants are about a metre wide, each

They like very, very firm soil so aren't ideal for tubs, but you'll find people that do

[Wendie]

a metre wide blimey, didn't think they were that big! haven't got enough room for them then

[rustylady]

What are your gardening arrangements then Wendie? All containers, or any open ground?

[Germinater]

Iv had my sprout in small pots for about a month and they have been fine and patient waiting until they can go out into there final placing .iv found with my cucumber that they grow slowish until they get a few incus long and then they just seem to grow so fast you can almost watch them grow..

[sewer rat]

Your mini cucumbers will require the same amount of room as a normal cucumber plant. They can be trained up an 8ft cane and if you remove all the side shoots they take up very little room width wise. The only difference is that they will produce lots (and I mean lots) of small cukes as opposed to the twenty or so you can expect from a normal cuke.

[Florence Fennel]

Sprouts are very, very big plants Wendie. I've got some red sprouts waiting for some ground to be vacated. They do need really firm ground, so I doubt that you'd have much success with containers, but it might be worth a try. Can't help you with the cucumbers, this is only the second time I've grown them, the first was a complete disaster!

[Two_Sheds]

a metre wide blimey, didn't think they were that big!

Does your seed packet have planting distance printed on it? That'll give you an accurate indication of the size of the fully grown plant

[gillian62]

I have got my small spout seedlings in a nursery bed until I have more room in the main beds.

[Incy]

I grow my sprouts in raised beds about 45cm apart. As others have said they need really firm soil and I can't stress that enough having made the mistake of not having firm enough soil in the past. This year I carefully trod the whole area for the brassicas several times and I have to say they are all looking a lot better than they ever have before. It is possible although more difficult to grow sprouts in pots but it would have to be 1 plant to a really large pot and ideally you should stand in it to make sure the soil is as compacted as possible. I'd also recommend canes for support especially if grown in pots.
Good luck!

[Wendie]

What are your gardening arrangements then Wendie? All containers, or any open ground?

I have 2 very big tubs about 60 odd cm and also a raised bed 2m x 1m but at the mo, I have the climbing beans, carrots, radishes, beets and spring onions in them. It obviously means that I have made a very big boo boo.Will have to see if I can give them away and prepare more fastidiously next year!!!

Thank you for your replies