The Cukes Are Going Crazy!! (pics)

[rnewste]

This year, I planted Diva, County Fair, and Sweet Success cukes in the EarthTainers. The only available space I had was on a partially sunny deck covered with lattice. While the plants only got about 50% of full Sun, they've done remarkably well:



The Sweet Success are about 3-times as plentiful as compared to the Diva and County Fair EarthTainers:



And they are growing to be in the 16 inch range typically:



The County Fair have been a little less prolific:



While the Divas were off to a slower start than the Sweet Success, they are now kicking it:



Something I am amazed about is how quickly cucumber vines grow. Here were Diva on the left, and Sweet Success on the right on July 9:



And now today, 32 days later - through the rafters:



They've grown more than 75 inches in the past 32 days. For these two EarthTainers, I added some Humic Acid, as well as Epsom Salts into the Grow Media. Not sure if either one is helping, but I won't argue with the results:



Happy Camper today!!

Raybo

[earthbutterfly]

What lovely healthy looking cucumbers! Theres nothing like a bite of cucumber to suggest Summer has arrived, IMHO. I havent got cucumbers on my list for this season, maybe I need to revise Thanks for sharing your photos!

[rnewste]

If you only have room for a few plants, I would recommend Sweet Success then Diva, in that order. These both have very thin skins where you can simply wash them and slice, as is.

The County Fair must be peeled as their skin is too thick, in my opinion, for fresh eating. I understand however, they do great for pickling.

Raybo

[kpatrick925]

Hey Raybo, do you think its too late to start a second set of cucumbers? My first earthtainer full is ending its reign.... I am not ready to stop eating fresh cucumbers so just wondered whether to get some seeds in or not. Your cucumbers look great by the way!!

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by kpatrick925

Hey Raybo, do you think its too late to start a second set of cucumbers? My first earthtainer full is ending its reign.... I am not ready to stop eating fresh cucumbers so just wondered whether to get some seeds in or not. Your cucumbers look great by the way!!

Yes, you have plenty of time here in the Bay Area for a Fall crop.

Let me know if you need some Sweet Success as they will produce sooner, and I can get a few in the mail to you tomorrow.

Raybo

[kpatrick925]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Yes, you have plenty of time here in the Bay Area for a Fall crop.

Let me know if you need some Sweet Success as they will produce sooner, and I can get a few in the mail to you tomorrow.

Raybo

Thanks Raybo!! Seeds are on the heat mat!!

[Mark0820]

I agree with feldon30. I think the shade is a big part of your success. I started planting my cucumbers under the outer edges of a large maple tree so they would get partial sun and partial shade. Everytime I have planted cucumbers in full sun, they wilt just like feldon30 said (doesn't matter how much water they get). We have hot and humid weather here in July / Aug. (but not quite as hot as Texas).

[rnewste]

Well, the ones growing in the direct sunlight on top of the lattice seem to be doing fine, but I now need a ladder to get to them:



I'm going to have to make a tool to reach them and snap them off while standing on the deck:



It seems to be getting "darker" now when I am sitting out there - - "Attack of the Killer Cucumbers" was once a B Movie, right??

Raybo

[kpatrick925]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Yes, you have plenty of time here in the Bay Area for a Fall crop.

Let me know if you need some Sweet Success as they will produce sooner, and I can get a few in the mail to you tomorrow.

Raybo

Raybo, I would love some seeds. Not sure how to PM my address.

[rnewste]

Just click on my screen name to send me a PM with your mailing address.

Raybo

[rnewste]

Seeds were sent out this morning. As you are only a few Zipcodes away, you may get them tomorrow, or by Monday at the latest.

I looked at my planting log, and I started the Sweet Success seeds on June 8, transplanting them into the EarthTainers on June 28. So they've gone from "zero" to 96 inches in the span of 64 days. At this time of year, I recommend you direct sow, rather than transplant seedlings from starter cups. I would also shade them a bit from our intense sunlight this time of year, until they get a good start.

As the next 3 months in Northern California are typically our warmest period, you should be picking your first crop by mid-October. Depending on our first freeze date typically in early January, I am hoping to still be getting cucumbers off the vine for the Christmas dinner table.

Raybo

[Worth1]

That does it I think I'm going to plant cucumbers like in tomorrow.

Worth

[earthbutterfly]

Im going to have a look & see what varieties are available here. Over here in NZ we get them in the Supermarket with the hard skins that need to be peeled...yuk. But Im a great believer in eating the goodness from the outside in, so that includes skins where applicable, we have a fabulous market held in a nearby suburb every Sunday that excells in Homegrown produce Thanks again, Vienna

[Errol]

Great looking cuke crop!! I love cucumbers to, especially sliced and mixed with chopped onion in vinager

[Skaggydog]

cucumbers sliced and mixed with chopped onion in vinager with tomatos