Thread: Gherkins
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Old 05-08-2003, 12:32 PM
Mike Le Pelley
 
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Default Gherkins


Thanks very much for this info. I realize I've probably overdone it with 3
per pot, but thought I might get away with it. When you say it's "way too
much" is that because the roots will interfere with one another, or because
the plants will shade each other (the post above favours this second idea)?
They don't really seem to be competing for sunlight too much at the moment,
and they've started flowering, so I was wondering if it might be OK to leave
them.

The thing I was really after advice on was pruning. Given that they've
started flowering, should I be cutting the growing tips off each plant? And
when people say "pinching out" do they mean "cutting off"?

Thanks again for your help,

Mike


"V_coerulea" wrote in message
...
3 gherkins in a 10" pot is way too much! One in a 10" pot is pushing the
limit. Gherkins produce many small fruit (larger if you forget to pick)

but
the plants are not small. More appropriate would be a 5 gal tub/plant.

With
proper fertilization and watering, they will grow big and strong and
productive.
Gary

"Mike Le Pelley" wrote in message
...
I'm a newcomer to this food-growing lark, so please forgive any inane
questions. I'm trying to grow gherkin plants in a very limited amount of
space - I've got 3 plants per 25-cm diameter pot, and they seem to be

doing
OK, despite warnings on the seed packet that they need 10 square feet

per
plant. Does anyone else have any experience with growing gherkins in

pots,
and if so do they have any useful advice? Also, they've been growing for
about a month and a half now, and I was wondering if I should be

pruning.
I
found a website saying I should just cut off the very tip of the growing
plant - is this sensible advice? Or should I just leave them to grow?

Any help would be gratefully received - I've become obsessively attached

to
my little gherkins and want to see them grow big and strong.

Best wishes,

Mike