Is there such a thing as an idiots guide to growing cucumbers and pumpkins?

[lucysmam]

Specifically those for next year (strawberries and toms in hanging baskets were successful this year), and the girls have requested we try cucumber and pumpkin as well next year.

I'm sort of learning what works and doesn't as I go, and discovered the joy that is a garden centre cafe 🤣. I'm just not sure what to do when 🤔.

Thanks!

Have a look at the 'Expert' series of books by DG Hessayon, I'm sure there's one on growing fruit and veg which would be helpful. You can often find second-hand copies of the series in charity shops or on Ebay quite cheaply.

I've actually lost count now of the number of times I've recommended these books on here!!

@Yamadori many thanks, I'll check ebay this evening 🙂.

I grow cucumbers outside in pots - pick a reliable variety (eg marketmore), don’t start off or plant out too early (may/june), fill big plastic pots with multipurpose compost, place in semi sun, support plants by twisting them around a length of twine hanging down from a wigwam of three long bamboo sticks, water regularly and feed once a week with tomato feed, underpant with nasturtiums or marigold, pick regularly 💚

I grow marketmore (it’s the name of the variety). I plant 2 seeds in each pot and when they get the second leaves I put them in the ground around a trellis /arch thingy I bought from Lidl for a 5-er. They need something to climb on, so I use twine to guide them upwards and keep them on the trellis.

With pumpkins, get one at Halloween, keep a few seeds, pot them initially in the spring, and again, second row of leaves they go in the ground around I grow mine on top on the compost heap and these days I don’t bother with sowing the seeds, literally chuck a handful of seeds on top of the compost pile.

I grow pumpkins! The trick is to know when the flowers are going to open so you can hand pollinate as each flower only opens on one day then that’s it. The female is the one with the fruit behind the flower. The male is just the flower. When they’re both open, take the petals off the male and ahem place the male inside the fem… you know(!!) and make sure to get all the pollen off. Then close the female’s petals and clip with a peg to avoid cross pollination by an insect. If pollination was successful, then the fruit will begin to grow bigger by the day!

@emmadoher I genuinely did not know about there being male/female pumpkin flowers! That's really interesting.

I have some trellis to use for cucumbers, it just needs a small repair and maybe paint job. Should I use twine as well as having the trellis for them to climb? Any recommendations where to buy seeds? I was going to try some teaspoon tomatoes too - I saw them on tiktok of all places.

@Yamadori there are pre-loved copies of the books you recommended, on ebay, so I've got the vegetable one on the way (not sure if it's the right one but for just over £2 I'll have a read anyway - maybe it'll inspire something else!).