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  • #1

    Growing a gherkin indoors?

    Anyone have experience growing a cucumber or gherkin indoors? I had a lot of success growing tomatoes in my living room bay window last summer, and thought about trying it with a gherkin this year as well. I tried cucumbers outdoors last summer (specifically outdoor variety), and all three plants failed to produce a single fruit.

    It was a wet summer, and after a few tiny formed fruits all three plants gave up the flight to powdery mildew.

    Anyone with experience growing them in a conservatory or indoors? It is a much different climate than a green house, but I was thinking that it might be alright because the tomatoes seemed to thrive. Do cucumbers/gherkins like a dry environment?

    It will be easy to hand pollinate, since I will already be doing that with the tomatoes.. but I've never heard of anyone growing them as windowsill plants.
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  • #2
    You may struggle a bit as cukes plants can be fairly long and "whiskers" are looking for some support as the plant grows.No harm in trying though.

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    • #3
      Cucumbers generally do not do well in the same environment as tomatoes. They prefer a more humid and warmer climate. However having said that most people do not have two greenhouses or conservatories and still manage to grow tomatoes and cucumbers in the same place.Give it a go, I know that cucumber seed tends to be expensive but it is still worth a go. If you want cheaper cucumber seed look at the seeds of Italy range, about £1:69 for 120 seeds so plenty to play around with.

      Ian

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      • #4
        Thanks for the advice!
        Last edited by Gwen11ian; 19-02-2009, 05:20 PM.

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        • #5
          My cukes and gherkins went furry and rotted away last year. Trying again this year though - fingers crossed.

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          • #6
            I have grown cucumbers indoors hydroponically. They take up some space and are messy though. Here is the advice I gleaned from my book on greenhouse growing regarding cucumbers:
            F1 hybrids, all female flowers, are as easy to grow as tomatoes. With that type training on a single stake is all that is needed. With every type of cucumber you need to remove the male flowers. Do not pollinate the female flowers or the fruit will be bitter. The female flower has the small fruit at the base. Some varieties produce tremendous amounts of male flowers when growing conditions are poor. If you plant a regular variety removing male flowers becomes a chore.

            At present I am harvesting lettuce I have grown indoors.

            Hydroponic Workshop

            Last edited by hydrogardener3; 22-02-2009, 06:50 PM. Reason: typo
            No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson


            http://hydroponicworkshop.blogspot.com/

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            • #7
              Mmmm.. that lettuce looks delicious!

              I think I'll give a try growing one gherkin plant indoors and then a couple outdoors, just to see which is most productive. I did that with tomatoes last year, and my ones indoors were much sweeter and ripened faster.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Gwen11ian View Post
                Mmmm.. that lettuce looks delicious!

                I think I'll give a try growing one gherkin plant indoors and then a couple outdoors, just to see which is most productive. I did that with tomatoes last year, and my ones indoors were much sweeter and ripened faster.
                The lettuce is always delicious. It does not have to contend with the extremes of weather, or insects. Lately I have been concentrating on heirloom varieties. Gardening indoors allows me to garden 365 days a year, and being a vegetarian I LOVE fresh veggies..
                Good luck with the gherkins.
                No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson


                http://hydroponicworkshop.blogspot.com/

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                • #9
                  Love the lettuce and you've given me a great idea of what to do with all the wooden veg crates I've accumulated for my house move when I'm done with them!

                  I hope gherkins and cucumbers are n't as fussy as they sound - I'm growing gherkins for the first time but resorting to a fun favourite (chrystal apple) in the cucumber department.

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                  • #10
                    Being a techy guy id love to have a go at hydroponics, just dont have the room sadly!

                    Interesting blog tho Hydrogardener, and i see your a radio ham too, so hello from 2E0JCA

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by JamesA View Post
                      Being a techy guy id love to have a go at hydroponics, just dont have the room sadly!

                      Interesting blog tho Hydrogardener, and i see your a radio ham too, so hello from 2E0JCA
                      Yeah, it is kind of a techie project but you only need a few square feet. On a six foot table I can grow 45 or 50 plants. With hydroponics they do not need as much room. It is not rocket science.
                      73
                      N2JNT
                      No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson


                      http://hydroponicworkshop.blogspot.com/

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