Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair... reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also, would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6 foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

Phew, thought that was another porn mail.


[ sorry, couldnt resist ]

--
Tumbleweed

Remove theobvious before replying (but no email reply necessary to
newsgroups)


"anne" wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6 foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

Tumbleweed wrote in message
. ..
Phew, thought that was another porn mail.


[ sorry, couldnt resist ]

Hehe, sorry to disappoint you :-)

Wonder if anyone will help. I'm sceptical - perhaps I should have make it
more argumentative. Anyway, if anyone can advise that would be very nice,
thanks. (Original post below for those who are easily confused).



--
Tumbleweed

Remove theobvious before replying (but no email reply necessary to
newsgroups)


"anne" wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max).
Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6
foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

Phew, thought that was another porn mail.


[ sorry, couldnt resist ]

--
Tumbleweed

Remove theobvious before replying (but no email reply necessary to
newsgroups)


"anne" wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6 foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

Tumbleweed wrote in message
. ..
Phew, thought that was another porn mail.


[ sorry, couldnt resist ]

Hehe, sorry to disappoint you :-)

Wonder if anyone will help. I'm sceptical - perhaps I should have make it
more argumentative. Anyway, if anyone can advise that would be very nice,
thanks. (Original post below for those who are easily confused).



--
Tumbleweed

Remove theobvious before replying (but no email reply necessary to
newsgroups)


"anne" wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max).
Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6
foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

anne wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6 foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.


Come on guys, I'm 81 next birthday.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

anne wrote in message
...
It's the first time I've grown cucumbers this year and I decided to grow
an
outdoor variety under a small (8x6x6 foot) pollytunnel type affair...
reason
being I'm in the north. Anyway, in my "veg expert" book it tells me to
pinch
out any shoots not bearing flowers at the 7th leaf, but the problem is,
every stem has flowers on it (and now tiny cucumbers) and the plant is
absolutely huge! I can hardly get in there anymore.

Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it? Also,
would
this help to get the fruit to reach a decent size? It's now approx 6 foot
high and at least 4 foot wide. I did pinch out the growing tip ages ago
when
it had developed 6 leaves as advised in the book.


Come on guys, I'm 81 next birthday.

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 00:21:00 +0100, "anne"
wrote:



Come on guys, I'm 81 next birthday.

Is that an invitation :-)

HBTY in advance and a traditional kiss on the nose.
--
Martin

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

"martin" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 00:21:00 +0100, "anne"
wrote:



Come on guys, I'm 81 next birthday.

Is that an invitation :-)

HBTY in advance and a traditional kiss on the nose.

From me too:))

Ophelia

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

"anne" wrote in message
...

snip
Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max). Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it?

snip

I've found the tiny cucumbers wither sometimes too. I think it might be
because there are too many. I usually thin them out, definitely no more than
one per leaf axil, and maybe take them out from every other one. This gives
the rest more chance to grow.
If it's getting so big then you could pinch out the growing tips anyway,
fruit or no fruit, but new shoots will grow from each leaf axil. I wouldn't
know about drastically cutting it back, I've never tried it (mine have never
done quite so well). I shouldn't think it would kill it, but can't be sure.
One of mine just withered and died within 2 days, never did find the reason.

Ann

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

Ann wrote in message
...

"anne" wrote in message
...

snip
Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max).
Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it?

snip

I've found the tiny cucumbers wither sometimes too. I think it might be
because there are too many. I usually thin them out, definitely no more
than
one per leaf axil, and maybe take them out from every other one. This
gives
the rest more chance to grow.
If it's getting so big then you could pinch out the growing tips anyway,
fruit or no fruit, but new shoots will grow from each leaf axil. I
wouldn't
know about drastically cutting it back, I've never tried it (mine have
never
done quite so well). I shouldn't think it would kill it, but can't be
sure.
One of mine just withered and died within 2 days, never did find the
reason.

Ann


Thanks. There must be at least 20 cucumbers on there, all very tiny as I
said and they are "supposed" to be ready for picking this month - so my book
says. The book didn't mention thinning out, but something's got to be done.
I think I'll combine pinching out with taking off some fruit, aswell as
cutting back some of the stems. I may aswell, because it's very unlikely the
fruit will have enough time to grow to full size this time of year. Next
year I'll grow one outside!

Help! What do I do with this cucumber?
 

In article , says...


Ann wrote in message
...

"anne" wrote in message
...

snip
Some of the tiny cucumbers have withered away - there doesn't seem to be
any
disease or anything. The rest of them are still tiny (3 inches max).
Would
it be OK to hack a lot of the plant down or would this kill it?

snip

I've found the tiny cucumbers wither sometimes too. I think it might be
because there are too many. I usually thin them out, definitely no more
than
one per leaf axil, and maybe take them out from every other one. This
gives
the rest more chance to grow.
If it's getting so big then you could pinch out the growing tips anyway,
fruit or no fruit, but new shoots will grow from each leaf axil. I
wouldn't
know about drastically cutting it back, I've never tried it (mine have
never
done quite so well). I shouldn't think it would kill it, but can't be
sure.
One of mine just withered and died within 2 days, never did find the
reason.

Ann


Thanks. There must be at least 20 cucumbers on there, all very tiny as I
said and they are "supposed" to be ready for picking this month - so my book
says. The book didn't mention thinning out, but something's got to be done.
I think I'll combine pinching out with taking off some fruit, aswell as
cutting back some of the stems. I may aswell, because it's very unlikely the
fruit will have enough time to grow to full size this time of year. Next
year I'll grow one outside!




They do need lots of water.
--
Jonathan Ward
Remove the 'X' when replying