Oh dear.....cucmber lesson learnt!!

[selfraising]

Well I've learnt my lesson.....not to sow cucumbers too early I sowed my cucumber seed last month in my excitement to get sowing and now have a cucumber plant, that with its pot is nearly 2ft tall! It looks very healthy but I'm worried because if it continues to grow as it is, its going to outgrow the windowsill space and I have no room in my mini gh at the moment. Any suggestions?

[shirlthegirl43]

Do you have french/patio doors? I grew a cucumber in the house (with a string tied to the curtain pole above the patio doors) one year

[selfraising]

Hi shirlthegirl, no I'm afraid I don't have any patio doors but thanks for the suggestion

[zazen999]

Have you got any large clear plastic containers? Pop it in the ground, put the plastic container over the top and sow another one in a week or 2. Add some bubblewrap around the sides for good measure....it might survive it might not...

[selfraising]

Thanks Zazen
Haven't got a large plastic container but think I've got a largish bubblewrap sack thingy, do you think that would do it? Guess its a chance I've got to take, hate wrecking a perfectly healthy plant and am cross with myself for not hanging on with the sowing.

[zazen999]

Well, it is worth a try....can you get hold of one of those polystyrene boxes from nurseries, you could put a large pot into it to insulate the bottom and use the bubblewrap sack to insulate the top?

[selfraising]

I think I've got one of those polystyrene boxes! Will give that a go, thanks for your help!
.....goes to rummage in bits and bobs section of shed

[Alice]

You could put your cucumber outside during the day Selfraising. If it's very soft or the weather is cold put some fleece over it, and just lift it in onto the floor at night.

[21again]

I know you probably don't want to spend a lot but B&Q sell heavy duty polythene sheeting.

Perhaps you could cut some and staple the edges together to form a big tube, pin the edges of the bottom down or just staple the bottom together and tie up the top (so it's like a big cracker) and put some canes inside to keep the plastic upright (it is really strong stuff, I bought some to line the roof of our leaking plastic greenhouse).

NDC Heavy Duty Repair Sheet Clear 3m x 4m, 5035276100197

[Fluorescent green]

I am very short on space too, so I let my inlaws help.
He is retired and does not want to do too much work; but is happy to bring on a few plants untill they can go outside.

FG

[SarzWix]

Put it into a slightly bigger pot, with 2 canes in it. Train it up on cane, and back down the other, then pinch the end off. It should be safe enough to carry in and out of doors like that too, without breaking stems.
If you're going to sow some more, then this one doesn't need to turn into a monster You can be ruthless with the pinching out, because all you want from it is a few early cuc's not a highly yielding mega plant... I had too many last year, and one stayed in a 3 inch pot in the porch it's whole life! It still managed to produce 2 mini cucs, bless it.

[divvy]

I too planted mine too early , I got 3 little plants from seed and thought the cold weather was over when we had those few sunny days . I put them out in the trough in the greenhouse and then we had cold weather again and they all died . So now I have more started on the kitchen windowsill , only one has come up so far .

[gojiberry]

It may be difficult to grow a cucumber in a mini greenhouse as yours is already 2ft tall and it is only a baby yet. Put it in a large pot up against a south facing wall. Put a frame around it and cover with fleece. When all risk of frost has passed I would still keep fleece on the sides and have an open front and it will grow well in that situation.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

I would move it away from the windowsill, to try and slow it down a bit.
Do you have another place that is light but not so warm? An East facing room perhaps, or maybe North facing?

[selfraising]

Cucumber has grown anothe 6 inches since i posted this. I fear it is going to take over Mini cucs on it now!