ceresone
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Joined: June 2017
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Post by ceresone on Mar 29, 2019 15:46:36 GMT -5
Anyone start cucumbers inside before planting them outside? I have seen it suggested, but never tried. Though it might help germination
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Post by paulf on Mar 29, 2019 15:53:46 GMT -5
I have started cucumbers inside but have not done it for many years. Did a test of pre-started and direct seeded for several years and the direct seeded did better, less disease and better and earlier production. Direct seeded does better for me in my location; your experience may vary.
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 29, 2019 18:35:30 GMT -5
I am going to start some cucumbers indoors this year for the first time to try to get an earlier crop. I am going to plant them in peat pellets so that I don't disturb the roots When I transplant them.
I don't have any problems with germination outdoors. I would just like to get them started earlier and our last average frost is May 15th and I usually don't get the seeds in the ground until closer to the end of May.
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Post by paquebot on Mar 29, 2019 19:46:27 GMT -5
Cucumber plants are usually available from garden centers. That means that it can be done. BUT, they are usually not happy and take forever to recover when transplanted. Reason for that is due to normal initial deep rooting and that isn't possible in 2"-deep cells. For that reason, I will start them in 4" or deeper pots rather than cell packs. They don't even realize that they've been transplanted.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
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Post by octave1 on Mar 29, 2019 20:19:54 GMT -5
I always start my cucumbers from seeds. I don't treat them any differently than I do other plants. When they seem large enough and sufficiently acclimatized, I transplant them in the garden. I don't repot them, and I never had a problem. PS I also start zucchini and watermelon indoor.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 29, 2019 20:28:51 GMT -5
I always start cucumbers and other cucurbits, as well as okra, in jiffy pellets. I start them about 3 weeks before putting them out; some take longer, but cucumbers and squash are usually ready in 3 weeks. After getting the second set of true leaves, most are starting to grow roots out of the pellets, and I plant them.
I forgot to mention that with cucumbers, since several plants at a time produce WAY more than I can use, I succession plant them, 3 weeks apart. I am also doing this with bitter melons and bottle gourds - two other cucurbits that produce excess amounts, but then, stop. So those I will do maybe 4 weeks apart this time.
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Post by september on Mar 29, 2019 22:08:04 GMT -5
I start some early that I plan to grow in large pots along my fence, but also sow directly into the garden if I think I need more cucumbers. Sometimes I have extra plants that didn't make it into pots, and they are rootbound by the time I find a leftover spot in the garden for them. With lots of water and some extra fertilizer, they go on to do fine.
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Post by spike on Mar 29, 2019 22:55:27 GMT -5
I always start my cucumbers from seeds. I don't treat them any differently than I do other plants. When they seem large enough and sufficiently acclimatized, I transplant them in the garden. I don't repot them, and I never had a problem. PS I also start zucchini and watermelon indoor. Ditto!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 30, 2019 8:25:51 GMT -5
I have started cucumbers indoors, but don't really see a benefit.
In my climate (alternating warm and cold in winter rather than consistent cold weather, stronger winter sunlight due to lower latitude) the ground doesn't get very cold even in winter. I have had okra volunteers pop up in January if we have a two week warm spell. So the soil is plenty warm by the time all danger of frost has passed, and cucumbers start off fast outdoors. Ditto for melons.
Summer squash or zucchini would be worth starting indoors only because every single day counts - it's a race between getting a harvest and the first generation of squash vine borers - those are just awful here. But anymore I just buy zucchini and squash.
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Post by carolyn on Mar 31, 2019 14:42:28 GMT -5
I do. I start them because I know the mice voles rodents birds etc won't eat my seeds. BUT I plant them at the ONE leaf stage. I don't want vines to start with. this makes sure my plants are spaced evenly and without waste. so, about a week before I plan to plant them in my garden I start them.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 31, 2019 21:17:25 GMT -5
I direct seed almost everything except tomatoes, peppers and such.
UNLESS....I'm experimenting. Never hurts to experiment. You don't know what will or won't work unless YOU experiment. My environment is different from yours and vice versa. Most of the fun comes from trying.
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