How easy is it to grow cucumbers and corgettes?

[briggsy2011]

Hi

How easy is it to grow cucumbers and corgettes? or is one easier than the other?

I got corgette seeds from the gyo magazine, and have never thought about growing them as i thought they were not the easiest veg to grow as you need space.

I was hoping to grow them in containers, as i only have 3 raised beds and a greehouse. Should be getting a polytunnel in the next couple of months if they like to grow in there.

any links, help and suggestions will be good

thanks lou x

[Two_Sheds]

courgettes are stupidly easy to grow, IF you apply some common sense and follow the packet instructions, ie don't sow them in Feb

[Jamesy_uk]

To quote many folk in here:

Courgettes are the devil and you always grow more plants than you need, regret it and then leave them on peoples doorsteps and run off.

Cucumber however have a suicidal streak only rivalled by Lemmings if you don't keep an eye on them.

Seems to have been my results thus far as well.

[di]

Yes, courgettes really are easy, like TS said though, don't be tempted to sow the early. They're very fast germinators. They don't need to be grown undercover but are fairly thirsty, I know lots on here grow in containers and will possibly disagree with me, but I'd suggest finding a spot in the ground for them.

Cucumbers...this year mine will be planted somewhere that I have to pass on a daily basis, never have much luck.

[hippychick253]

Courgettes are truly a doddle, I always dutifully plant more seeds than I need, and I find 3 plants provide more than enough for the 2 of us, and I always end up with loads of extra plants to give away as they always all grow :-). Best outside in the ground rather than a pot and locate as close to your water source as you can as they do need loads of watering.

Never had much luck with cucumbers, but then all tall plants that need support don't fair well in my garden as it's so darned windy :-(

Happy gardening!

[sowitgrowit]

Courgettes have been a success story for me previously (before I was even trying, just mucking about) - we got lots more than we would ever use; then went on holiday during the hottest week and they stuttered quite dramatically.

This year will be different, though, I'm toying with putting them in sub-irrigated pots so they can feed plenty and leave ground space cfor runners, onions, herbs etc.

[di]

hippychick, the ones I've had best luck with are Marketmore. I just let them trail on the ground, usually around my outdoor tomato plants to save on space.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Haven't tried cucumbers yet, will be this year.

Grew one last year, Claude the beauftiful monster. I had sown it early, this year I will wait another 6 weeks. Claude was an Astia F1 and gave us on average 4 fruit a week when in full flow. Was at home in a grow bag and watered daily. This year, I'm going to be use a 4x3 bed for curcurbits and as far as courgettes go: I have a choice from yellow, green, round ,straight and striped . Ma has requested two plants. I'm well advised of too many might not be a good thing. So we shall what happens!

[Dead Dogs]

I tried courgettes for the first time last year. Of the 3 that germinated, I lost the 2 outside to a stronge cold wind in May, but I grow in the poly fead us all summer and into autumn.

Cucumbers have been hit and miss. One year, when I lived in Reading, I got 2 or 3 a week from 1 plant. Last year, zero.

[Alison]

I find both pretty easy so long as you treat them as they need. Courgettes I sow in April and plant out after the frosts. They like a good rich soil full of nutirents and will go mad if given half the chance. I used to grow in pots and find I get about double the number of fruits now I grow them in the ground but I think that's as you don't have to be so careful about feeding / watering if they've got decent border soil round them. I have also grown an early one in the polytunnel and they really don't know when to stop growing / producing. Kept thinking it had finished and then found another marrow under a leaf that hadn't been there the day before. Also got too big and overtook some aubergines which was a shame.

Re courgettes, I don't grow them outside much as I find that you get tougher skins and the varieties I like best tend to be indoor ones. You do need to make sure you know what type you have as some need to have all the male flowers removed and some it's important to leave them on. Cucumbers are one of the things where I use F1 seeds, mainly Pasandra which are really very good and so long as you sow at the right time and don't rot when young they produce tonnes. One plant sees me giving them away to neighbours and pickling etc - by the way, don't bother with cucumber jam, just because you find a recipe doesn't mean it's nice..........

[Potstubsdustbins]

I agree with everything said above.

My advice with cumbers always plant more than you need, that way when some cut their own throats you will still have enough plants left for your needs. If all survive which does happen occasionally you will be able to give them away.

Colin

[RedThorn]

Cougettes. nuff said above ^

Cucumbers, I grew those in my greenhouse under my tomatoes

[chefgage]

The first time i tried growing courgettes I had 4 plants on the go, they started off ok and I thought I must be doing
Something right about a month later my beds looked like something out of the day of the triphids!!
So the year after I just had one plant which was just right for the space it was in. So my advice is seriously look
At your available space because they can take over

For the cucumbers I always grow two plants in a bit bucket in the green house. They seem easy to grow
In a bucket of compost. I find they need plenty of support as they grow quite quickly and as with courgettes
Need plenty of water.

[cyllo]

Haven't tried cucumbers yet, but courgettes as everybody says, are very easy to grow. I sowed them in late March/early April last year and have my first courgette in mid-June (in London).

I did find them easier to grow in growing bags than on the ground, they were eaten by slugs there.

[Alison]

My advice with cumbers always plant more than you need, that way when some cut their own throats you will still have enough plants left for your needs. If all survive which does happen occasionally you will be able to give them away.

Ah you see I'm too tight for that, I grow F1s so they're more expensive and you only get 4 in the packet I buy so if I want 1 plant, I'll plant 2 and have enough for next year but with less plants I've more time to take care of them