Sowing all things Cucurbit - 2020

[Bonjour]

Now down to 2 Telegraph Improved, the third having damped off, despite having exactly the same treatment as the others. A second one has mysteriously stopped growing for nearly a fortnight. The third, which earlier was covered in male flowers only, now has several fruits developing nicely, two of which will be pickers in a few days.

Courgettes and Crown Princes went out a week or so ago and have stood up to some sustained windy weather.

Watermelon Crimson Sweet are now planted out in the hotbed that is more of a like-warm bed but are growing steadily in the warmer weather.

Gherkin cucumbers are doing the greenhouse hokey-cokey to harden off. I'll keep an eye on the weather but they should be out some time this week.

[annie8]

Planted my black beauty courgettes out in the raised bed yesterday. Looking ok so far.

[Peanut]

Sowed my Squashes at the weekend. Autumn Crown, Sweet Dumpling and my favourite Potimarron. Potted on some Beth Alpha Q's, still have Diva Q's and my Emir Melon to pot on. Still waiting for my Cucamelons to appear.

[ameno]

All my cucurbits (apart from my two cucumbers) are now on my patio hardening off.
4 "Collective farm woman" melons
4 Banana melons
2 Watermelon "Kaho" (a small, yellow-fleshed Japanese variety)
3 Courgette "Defender"
6 Squash "Marina di Chioggia"
6 Squash "Pink Banana"
3 Squash "Galeaux d'essynes"

The melons, especially, were getting far too large. They're trailing to 2 feet or more and some have (male) flowers open already.

I should be able to plant them all out in about a week's time, I think.

[Peanut]

My 1st Cucamelon is up! I can't tell you how happy this has made me!

[B Porcupine]

This year I have:
2 x courgette Midnight (a nice tidy plant)
2 x courgette Romanesco (a thug but so tasty)
8 x squash Uchiki Kuri
4 x cucumber Partner

The Romanesco I am going to try to get growing up a leaning trellis, so it does not take over (yeah, right)
The squash I will grow my usual way up two giant tripods (made from 7' tree stakes)
The cukes I am going to try to grow outdoors (!) as I am giving up on red spider mite decimating them in the greenhouse (tried everything, now throwing in the towel)

All have been repotted and are in the greenhouse as they were annoying me in the house. Too windy here until June for planting out. Going out for hardening off whenever the wind dies down.

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

I have only sown 4 courgettes this year

2x Black Beauty
1x Yellow
1x zephyr (bought from National Trust due to childish sense of humour in their appearance)

They spent their first night out last night in their “pots” - old oat milk containers debating whether it’s too cold in the ground yet to plant them in the border?

need to get my squashes down, going for uchiki Kurd and Baby Boo this year (we used to call our son baby boo before he was born and he’s about to start weaning, so thought it apt)

[bramble]

This year I am growing four cucs..meant to be two but I hadn't the heart to destroy the other two.
Also, first time growing Uchi Kuri squash.
All in the greenhouse but will be outdoors by the end of the month,

[Mark Rand]

Got a number of 'long' cucumbers fruiting, although none are harvestable yet. I realised that I only had one Beth Alpha and one Passandra 'short' ones on the go. So I stuck a couple of passandra seeds in yesterday.

[annie8]

I hadn’t planned to grow cucumbers this year but my son has been asking. Could I still put a seed in then? I have a gh so could grow in there if needed although it’s pretty rammed in there. I think the seeds I have are for pretty small sized cucumbers so could grow fairly quickly.

[Peanut]

I hadn’t planned to grow cucumbers this year but my son has been asking. Could I still put a seed in then? I have a gh so could grow in there if needed although it’s pretty rammed in there. I think the seeds I have are for pretty small sized cucumbers so could grow fairly quickly.

I'd pop a couple in, what have you got to lose and mini q's are just delicious!

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

Potted one of my courgettes into the ground today (Zephyr) and it looks a lot more tender than it did in its pot. I think I must have potted it on a little later last year.

has anyone got any tips for keeping it safe over the next couple of weeks from slugs until it hopefully gets some good growth?

[ameno]

I hadn’t planned to grow cucumbers this year but my son has been asking. Could I still put a seed in then? I have a gh so could grow in there if needed although it’s pretty rammed in there. I think the seeds I have are for pretty small sized cucumbers so could grow fairly quickly.

You've got plenty of time, especially if you raise the young plants in the greenhouse first. I didn't sow mine till about this time last year (as the first two lots died), and I was cropping by early July.

Potted one of my courgettes into the ground today (Zephyr) and it looks a lot more tender than it did in its pot. I think I must have potted it on a little later last year.

has anyone got any tips for keeping it safe over the next couple of weeks from slugs until it hopefully gets some good growth?

Other than pellets?
A physical barrier like sharp sand or crushed eggshell may work. They're useless in damp weather, but they are somewhat effective as long as you can keep them dry. Just make sure no leaves are touching the ground outside the barrier, as the slugs will use them as a bridge.

[Peanut]

Does anyone cut off cucumber/melon/squash leaves? I really need to cut a few off as I can barely get to the plants for all their leaves!

[ameno]

Does anyone cut off cucumber/melon/squash leaves? I really need to cut a few off as I can barely get to the plants for all their leaves!

I've been cutting several off every time I visit lately. They've been shading the sweet potatoes and the carrots, so had to come off. I also removed a few that where blocking my path.