Help,my cucumbers have hardly any roots!

[skell43]

Just potted on my cucumber plants as they have 4 leaves on now and were looking a bit leggy in their little pots. Carefully potted on but most of the root system came away and only a little left. Really sad as i got 10 seeds (Tamra) and only 5 seeds germinated, plants still looking ok and have left outdoors for the day hoping they will be alright after the shock.Any tips?

[zazen999]

If you have just potted them on, I'd leave them in the shade for a day....

[skell43]

Have put in the shade , they are really looking sorry for themselves now.

[vicky]

For the future I find it easier to pot on when the pots have dried up a little - if they are soaking wet the weight of the compost can rip the roots off.
Yours should regrow just may be a week later

[skell43]

Thanks vicky and zazen , think they may have been too wet , will cross my fingers and hope they perk up!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Cumbers don't like their feet to wet so be careful with the water and of course they have a suicidal tendency.

Colin

[skell43]

Its a week on now and all 5 cucumber plants have recovered,they just don't seem to be growing very quickly.They have been hardened off by putting outside most days , would it be foolish to plant out 3 of the plants now and keep an eye on them? Can cover with cloches?

[zazen999]

Are you growing them all outside for the summer? Have you not got a greenhouse to keep at least one in?

I'd probably not put them out yet - it's turned much cooler and we are expecting a frost tomorrow apparently.

But yes, cloches would be good - I'd wait until the roots were showing personally.

[skell43]

No, don't have a greenhouse , grew outside last year from plants from a nursery and they did ok , so that's why I tried growing my own from seed this year. Will keep inside at night for a bit longer and until they are a bit bigger maybe? Have got my beans in pots outside also,would you recommend bringing them in again too?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi Skell, your forecast for the next 5 nights is 7` 8` 8` 11` & 8` so if your beans have been hardened off they should be OK.

As to your cumbers mine arn't making much progress at the moment. They put a spurt on with the fine weather we had but I think they are now waiting for the sun to put his hat on and it is only 10 days since you had the root problem with yours. I would give them a little longer to recover.

Colin

[skell43]

Thanks for the advice , can't believe how much attention I am giving these 5 little pots! Some things like beans,courgettes etc you just sow and everything comes up no problem!! Still ,if i get to taste the cucumbers eventually it will be worth the fussing.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Skell, if you get all 5 to maturity you would count yourself very lucky. I wasn't joking when I said they have a suicidal tendency. I lose 1 or 2 plants most years so always plant more than I need. This year I planted seven, six left at this time still I only need four so should get there.

Good luck Colin

[skell43]

Great to know that its not just me , felt gutted when they all went limp after I repotted. Will keep nurturing and fingers crossed.