Cucumbers - Potted on & dying

[Jimmy]

This works for me
1) Use shop bought compost.
2) Sow a number in each pot
3) Thin to strongest, which avoids root disturbance.
4) Don't sow too/to/two (select appropriate) early.
Some I transplant an have no problems, apart from to many plants.
This week is greenhouse emptying day. I always do far too many, mainly toms. Some are for my sister and some I get rid of round our neighbours.
Whats left the brother in law takes to the local pub.
Not sure if any beery remuneration is involved, but I never see any ?

Jimmy

[Jimmy]

^^^ i don't pot on as much as I should but I've often found that if I go to big too soon it goes a bit pear shaped - think Vin Diesel in a GH without some sort of miraculous dénouement

dénouement , I had to look that up !!!
Jimmy

[WalterWhite]

I wouldn't use home made compost for anything but 'final' potting mixes, and even then I would mix it with commercial stuff. The home made stuff contains all sorts of non sterile matter that could disagree with tender seedlings, i generally use it for bulking out stuff like potato bags, and spreading over beds as a mulch.
I would try Potty's method on that last one, it looks doomed, so there's nothing to lose... I tried it one year and it worked a treat!

Absolutely agree! The nutrients in 'home-made are not consistent throughout and are certainly risky to use for such young plants. In future i would recommend using a commercial multi-purpose and blend in EcoThrive Charge that contains chitin & bacteria to benefit soil/plant. Once the plant has settled in with visible growth and healthy foliage then apply a fertiliser specific to the veg/fruit growing. With cucumber this would be 2+ weeks.

Furthermore,,,, There are many benefits adding a silica additive. I use it on numerous crops including tomato & cucumbers. 'Google' it and maybe give it a shot.

[Jonny.D]

4 have survived

Re potting on into big pots.
I did this as I've had no problems with other seedlings done this way.

I've sowed some more and will try the various methods suggested and update the thread later on.

[bario1]

4 have survived

Great news! Why would you want more than 4 cucumber plants anyway? I've only sown 2!

[gringo]

Great news! Why would you want more than 4 cucumber plants anyway? I've only sown 2!

For smashing, of course!

https://www.waitrose.com/content/wai...chillioil.html

[muck lover]

I think bought compost is the very best for seeds and young plants. What’s more, all bought composts are not equal. Unfortunately you tend to get what you pay for. I have tried compensating for a cheap compost by adding better fertiliser but I think the difference is more than that and additional feeding doesn’t make up for it. I think the better composts are lighter yet drain better and still hold moisture in a way the plants like. It’s probably related to the organic matter content.
I think using cheap compost can be a false economy. What a pity!

[nickdub]

I buy the humongous B&Q bags of MPC - forget the price off-hand, but not really dear - I reckon it compares favorably with many other brands, albeit I've never bought really expensive stuff, so may be that is better.

[1Bee]

In the second batch of photos, there's one where the stem very clearly appears pinched... isn't that a sign of a fungal problem? Is it damping off? Since this is a soil borne fungal problem, that, too, indicates the compost may be the problem.

Hope the survivors thrive!

[muck lover]

I buy the humongous B&Q bags of MPC - forget the price off-hand, but not really dear - I reckon it compares favorably with many other brands, albeit I've never bought really expensive stuff, so may be that is better.

Some year I’m going to do a comparison of cheap composts versus an expensive one. I use the giant bags of verve too on raised beds and plants that aren’t going to be in a pot for too long. But I’ve seen comparison tests on YouTube (sorry don’t know how to put a link) and the better composts were ....... better!
Ive got some Marshalls vegetable compost I’m trying this year.
I used home made compost and leafmould for spuds in pots. I couldn’t justify the price of bought compost.
It does all add up.

[Jonny.D]

Ones that survived are doing OK