Cucumber Seed Sowing Time?

[rhyswales]

When do you start sowing your cucumber seeds? Last few years I've been either early ( plants get too big in house) or late ( don't get cukes until late summer) can never seem to get the timing right.

Will be going under lights inside.

[SusieG]

Started mine rhyswales in Feb - in doors kitchen windowsill. 3 out of 6 have germinated. ( more than enough for my family /friends!!!)?
I have 3 healthy looking specimens approx 2" high now. Ready for potting on to bigger pots soon.

[Thelma Sanders]

As cucumbers seem to commit Hari kiri at the slightest cold or draught, and I don't have a heated greenhouse - I don't sow mine, indoors, until late April for planting out in the cold greenhouse at the end of May or beginning of June in a cold Spring.

[roitelet]

I would hang on a bit it can still be very cold.

[Jungle Jane]

I sowed 4 varieties on the 27th April last year,started under lights,they grow so fast,so tall & can't go out til the weather improves - May

[vixylix]

I sowed mine quite late last year (I can't remember exactly when) and they were still massive by the time they went outside.

Yet stupidly - because the packet told me to - I sowed my burpless at the start of Feb - so they will be HUGE by the time they go outside! My other two don't say to sow until April so I'm putting them off (sensibly )

[Lumpy]

I am leaving my Bushmaster, Crystal Lemon and Crystal Apple until the end of April. They will have to cope on a window ledge which is over a radiator.

I suppose 'when' is a difficult question as it can depend on variety, germinating and baby plant enviroment and of course our brilliantly chaotic weather.

[jacob]

I've dabbled for the first time with sowing some early -- about 10 days ago. I'll do some more in two or three weeks.

[Bren In Pots]

As cucumbers seem to commit Hari kiri at the slightest cold or draught, and I don't have a heated greenhouse - I don't sow mine, indoors, until late April for planting out in the cold greenhouse at the end of May or beginning of June in a cold Spring.

I do the same as Thelma I only sown them once earlier than that and they plans were huge by the time I planted them in the GH.

[maverick451]

Cucumbers really hate the cold,

I am going to sow mine in aprill at the earliest, probably late April.

[Alison]

Mid April for sowing at the earliest. Any earlier is a lot of effort and unnecessary as they catch up. By then you don't need grow lights or heat either so two extra bonuses

[arch01]

I started mine 15 April last year. A bit too early for me as average last date of frost is 15 May here (so I don't usually plant til 1 June). This year I will start a week later. For plants that are especially sensitive to the cold, there doesn't seem to me much point in getting them in the ground a week or two early (at least in my experience). If there is a frost (our allotment is in a bit of a frost pocket), they are toast. They also don't seem to grow much if the weather is rather cool, which is often the case here. Quite a few plots lost their sweet corn last year due to a late frost (end of May). My french beans that I got in a bit early just sat about for weeks until the temps got higher.

[arch01]

Forgot to mention, there is this website: Create your own fruit and vegetable growing calendar

It can be customized for your postal code. Dates seem right for my area.

[Thelma Sanders]

Of course it will depend on whether they are going in a greenhouse, or out onto the plot........

[bramble]

Sowed 4 seeds of Marketmore 76 some time last week. They have all germinated.They are out in the conservatory in the day time and indoors at night. So far, so good.