Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi again everyone, hows things growing for you all, everything on our lottie is doing fabulous, but I have a question.

Only I like courgettes, I have one super plant on the go and would like advice as to whether it can be grown vertically in a large container and how best to support it.

The container is one of the large green re-cycling tubs (for glass/plastic and cans)
How better to re-cycle than to use the tubs to grow your own

How big should the plant be before it is repotted, mine has 4 big leaves and 3 smaller ones, there are flower buds at the base of the leaves already.

Your suggestions would be very helpful, thankyou.

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Vron, Tara & Harley. (The black beastie)

"The more people I meet, the more I like my Dogs"

Hello Vron. Courgettes don't get tall or climb so they can't really be grown vertically. They are a bit floppy and don't stand up straight. You can grow one in a 12" pot and if you are the only person who likes them that will be enough. Enjoy your courgettes.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Hi Alice, thankyou for your reply.

On re-reading my post I realised that I had put courgette instead of cucumber.

The courgette is in the re-cycle box as stated, the cucumber is in a large plant tub aprox 18" across with a cane wigwam for support. We have used water retaining gel crystals in both the courgette and cucumber pot/box.

As regards the gel crystals, follow the stated amount per pot size etc.

I used more than the recommended amount in my lillie tubs, (as when dry it doesn't look like enough) I ended up removing some once wet as it forms huge wobbly jelly lumps, just like giant frogs spawn.

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Vron, Tara & Harley. (The black beastie)

"The more people I meet, the more I like my Dogs"

I grow some outdoor cucumbers in a large tub and use a framework of bamboo canes. The plants can't hold on strongly enough on their own, so I tie the stems onto the canes. The fruits can be heavy, so make a kind of ladder - uprights and crosspieces. You can always lean the framework backwards onto a fence, too.

Hi Cutecucumber thanks for the info, this is the first cuc plant we have grown, so any advice is sooo welcome. I like the idea of the 'ladders'. How tall can they get.

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Vron, Tara & Harley. (The black beastie)

"The more people I meet, the more I like my Dogs"

Well, they bend fairly easily so you can zig-zag them on the frame, tying them in now and again. As for height, therefore, you decide, and make the plant do what is best for you.