"David W.E. Roberts" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I am planting my seeds very late (it has been an unusual year) but I am
trying to grow Burpless Tasty Green cucmbers and yellow courgettes.

A couple of weeks ago (I think) I planted seeds in pots and put them in an
outdoor mini-greenhouse; one of those fancy plastic bags over a vegetable
rack.

Both courgetttes have germinated and are aparently doing well.

None of the three cucumbers have shown any sign of germinating.

I have put another couple of pots in with cucumber seeds but I was
wondering
if it was too hot.

The courgette packet says approx. 20-25 C and the cucumber packet says
approx. 15-20 C.

I was wondering how critical this temperature was likely to be, and also
if
the watering regime was not favourable.

I have them in a plastic tray which I fill irregularly (i.e. when I get
the
opportunity - could be once a week).

This keeps them from moist to distinctly wet.

The courgettes seem to love it.

I am now wondering if I should plant some seeds in pots and just leave
them
outside, as we seem to be in 15-20C most of the time at the moment.

If they are just slow to germinate, of course, I may end up with far too
many cucumber plants :-)

So - too hot, too wet, or just too lazy to germinate?

Cheers

Dave R

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If you have trouble germinating any seed of reasonable size
- cukes are big enough to see what you're doing then try chitting
them between sheets of moist kitchen towel. I myself make
"slides" consisting of two margarine\spread tub lids, with the
folded kitchen towel in between, held together with elastic
bands. Check and remoisten with a mister daily if necessary.
As soon as the radicle root emerges, plant the seed root downwards
in a pot with the seed half buried. IIRR cukes have an emergent
cotyledon so the seed will split and be pushed upwards to form
the first pair of "leaves" - for photosynthesis purposes anyway.
Take care not to damage the root, so make a largish hole
place the seed against the side and firm the compost from the other
sides inwards.

michael adams

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