Skinny Cucumbers, unhappy tumbler toms and poorly courgettes questions.

[gardening_gal]

My cucumbers seem to be quite skinny and at first I thought they just needed longer to grow and fatten up but the first one to grow (therefore the biggest) started turning yellow so now I'm not sure if that was a one off or if they should just be picked at this size to avoid the rest turning yellow? They are maybe only half the width of your average shop bought cuc.

I can't remember what they were, there were two varieties. One gherkin size variety which is only getting going now and this one with the normal size cucs. I really must make more of an effort to label.



Also, I'm a bit concerned about my tumbler toms that are hanging up in B&Q 99p buckets. They seemed fine and have quite a number of (healthy) toms on them but the leaves have never been particularly plentiful or in great condition.

I've been snipping off the worst damaged ones but the plants seem quite sparse now and they need their leaves for photosynthesis don't they? Is there anything I should be doing to help them along? I'm concerned the toms wont continue to grow or ripen. I feed them with Tomorite and I've sprayed them with epsom salts but the leaves never seem to get any better. The leaf below is an example of how it starts, that will get worse. If I keep cutting them off there will be no plant left.

[gardening_gal]

Lastly, these courgettes were as happy as heck in the polytunnel. They are in a growbag on a tray. They were getting too big so I carried the tray outside. Within days, this started happening to the leaves. Ideas?

[Kirk]

Are you feeding the tomato's, usually whatever is in the compost gets drained/washed out pretty quick. The "compost" is more a medium for the roots to grow through and to offer some support for the plant. Nutrients are simply added so that they grow. At least at first.

The courgette leaves will have been in a diffuse light and the more direct sunlight usually causes leaves to react, usually badly and most often the bigger ones, had it enough times I sort of expect it. Again however the nutrients in the grow bag will have been used so the same question are you feeing the plants in them.

Not a clue about the cucumbers but they are composed mainly of water so are they well watered (and fed).

[kathyd]

I wouldn't worry too much about your tomato leaves as long as the plants seem overall reasonably happy and healthy - my tomato leaves always go manky, usually from the bottom up, and I just pull them off like you've done. I know someone who always removes almost all her tomato leaves every year, leaving just a few fluffy ones at the top, and her plants are producing a huge number of tomatoes at the moment, and looking perfectly healthy if a little bald.

Not sure what to say about the cucumbers - my courgettes started off by doing that a bit, growing very small then turning yellow and eventually dropping off, but then the weather improved slightly and I've had a few normal ones (although I'm picking small to make sure I get some, just in case!). I did wonder with my courgies whether they were sulking after being transplanted and taking a bit of time to settle down again. Are they indoors or outdoors? Have they had enough water? The leaves on my courgettes also drooped a bit after planting out and went patchy, but the new leaves appear to be fine so far - how are your new leaves looking on your plants?

[Fleurisa]

Your cucumber looks perfectly fine to me, you shouldn't expect them to be identical to shop bought ones. If you leave them on the plant too long they ripen and go yellow. Cucumbers should be picked before they fully ripen unless you intend to harvest their seeds. A cucumber can be picked from any size, it doesn't have to get to full size and will taste better when picked earlier.

[Barking Postlethwaite]

I totally agree with Fleurisa; I wish my cucumbers looked as good as the one in that first photo.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Looking at the skin I would hazard a guess that that cucumber is a gherkin.

As to feeding your tumblers you are growing in a container so you will have to feed more often than is instructed on the bottle. Every time you water the container you are diluting/washing out the feed. To counteract this I feed at every alternative watering.

[teakdesk]

The cuc could also be an un-fertilised or poorly fertilised fruit. Scale of photo is a bit hard to judge.

Just keep removing and eating them and as the season progresses they will get better.

[gardening_gal]

Thanks everyone, for putting my mind at rest and advising me.

After reading the replies I've just gone out and picked a couple of the cucs and they are perfectly formed inside and taste fine so I suppose small is the way to go in this case. I expect I just had unrealistic expectations as to what constituted 'normal'.

Good point about the diffuse light in the tunnel for the courgettes, they are in direct sun now. Hopefully they will pick up and new leaves will form ok. They were only put out a few days ago so there's not been much of a chance for new growth yet.

Re: watering, I think I've been watering the right amount (I've read loads of tips here about judging) but I'm no expert so who knows. I have been feeding toms, cucs and courgettes with Tomorite but perhaps not often enough, I will try alternative waterings as suggested.

[Two_Sheds]

I think I've been watering the right amount ...

Ensure you have saucers under your containers, and try to use water-retaining granules in your hanging baskets.

Saucers: pour the water into the saucer, not onto the compost or the leaves. When the saucer is dry, water some more. When water remains in the saucer, that's enough, stop watering

Baskets: feel the weight ~ if it feels light for the size of it, it needs water. If it feels heavy, it doesn't need water

[Bill HH]

I have grown tumblers for the first time this year, they have loads of tomatoes on them but the foliage does look rather disgusting, nothing like the cordon toms I have. I think it id a feature of the model.

[Potstubsdustbins]

At the moment I am watering my tumbler baskets once a day, if I leave it a day and a half they show signs of wilting. However they are on a south facing wall so get full sun from sunrise to about 2 o/clock in the afternoon and of course the wind does not help.

[bario1]

I'm pulling all the manky leaves off my tumblers too, for fear of mildew setting in - tons of fruit has set though!

[Penellype]

I have grown tumblers for the first time this year, they have loads of tomatoes on them but the foliage does look rather disgusting, nothing like the cordon toms I have. I think it id a feature of the model.

Same here.

[Bill HH]

Same here.

Picked my first this morning, they taste luvly