I like to grow all cucumbers off the ground on trellis netting. Keeps the bugs and slugs off and the cukes are easier to find and pick.

I wonder why support makes them grow straight?

Deeby said:I wonder why support makes them grow straight?

Well, because they can hang straight instead of leaning on the ground and growing crooked.

So it's due to gravity pulling on them? I know I'm sounding as though I'm not the sharpest tool in the garden shed...

I think cause they are not impede by anything. It's not gravity otherwise tomatoes would be long and straight.

Good point!

Good thing I had sown multiple cucumber seeds, because the grasshoppers chew two of my young seedlings. I'm on the hunt now.

I have 3 types of cukes that popped up from seed during our 2" rain yesterday: Munchers, Sumter, and a trial packet var Double Yield. Will let ya know if I can keep the worms, moths and other hordes including deer away from them, chuckl

First blooms on Homemade cucumbers. I really liked them last year and I've started a second batch of seedlings to keep continuous production.

My young cucumber seedlings are doing very well, the weather has been warming up, new truly young leave are sprouting. So excited.

Very disappointed my seedlings just gave up and died after being planted outside despite fairly nice weather... I guess I won't transplant them until June next time. They must really hate rain, even more than tomatoes because the tomato seedlings are doing fine.

repentantslide said:Very disappointed my seedlings just gave up and died after being planted outside despite fairly nice weather... I guess I won't transplant them until June next time. They must really hate rain, even more than tomatoes because the tomato seedlings are doing fine.

Its not that the cucumber seedlings hate rain. But they do hate the cold. And they hate to be transplanted.

I have transplanted many times and they always have a set back and some simply die. If I plant seeds in place they do much better quicker.

@Newyorkrita, that's my observation of cucumbers too.

SoCalGardenNut said:@Newyorkrita, that's my observation of cucumbers too.

Agree on direct seed. I've done both and direct seed does better every time. I also resist the temptation to plant too early. Spring comes early to central Texas, but some plants need the consistent warm weather to thrive. We actually had a light freeze on April 1st ( I think that is the right date -crazy regardless) I just this week started planting squash and cucumbers and will start okra soon.

I always transplant and am looking at the first small cucumber of the season today.








I think the main issue is as Rita said cold/wet with soil temperature being the primary factor.

I have tiny young female cucumbers but no male ones, not even an aging male. So unfortunately I will not have any cucumber for a while, but the plant looks healthy.

Picture of my young cucumber seedlings, this batch is from my own sowing, I hope there is an Amernian cucumber in there, I like them. They are very easy to grow and pretty productive. We just need a crunch for salad, not picky here.

I found male cucumber flowers today. I will perform the act tomorrow, the female flower is not quite open yet.

Picture of my newly emerged cucumber, there's a baby one next to it.

How cute!