On Sun, 29 May 2005 20:08:34 GMT, "Jim Carlock"
wrote:

I've found the following to be true about cucumbers and zucchini:

1) They don't like heat.

They get a lot here. My 2nd year they did really well (as only
zucchini can - my friends were starting to lock the doors and draw the
curtains when I came up the walk toting a bag). Not much I can do
about the heat.

2) They like multiple waterings every day.

Really? I thought my problem might be *over* watering.

3) They like a rich soil which holds the water content pretty well
(might mean putting some small wood chips into the soil).
Composted soil seems to work very well. You probably can mix
your clay with soil and let it compost, maybe 2 parts soil to 1 part
clay. I'm not familiar with growing things in clay so you'll just have
to make a best guess at it unless someone else comes along and
suggests something else.

Clay is really awful stuff. One problem I have is that my gentleman
friend is a farmer (cotton and wheat). He just doesn't take my
gardening very seriously ("It's not like your livelihood depends on
this little garden.") and doesn't understand why I get so stressed
when things go wrong. I keep wanting to put more "good stuff" in and
he compares it to his farm and how little he (and all the farmers) has
to add. For one thing his soil is better out in the country.

4) The hotter it is, the more water they need.
5) They grow well in 90% shade here in Florida where they only
get some direct sunshine in the morning (about 1 to 1.5 hours
worth at most, the rest of the shade comes from an avacado tree).

I've never monitored how much sun they're getting. Certainly more
than 10%. I'm going to try the increase in the water - just went out
and turned it on.


Hope that helps.

Thanks for your advice!!
Sue