Cucumbers...sprawl or climb?

[matty]

Now, I have a small small issue here...I grew cucumber last year. It was Poinsett variety. I thought it would climb. It had none of it. It kind of sprawled - I have planted Market More a few weeks ago, (the poinsett seed is no longer viable...some things are learnt the hard way!) and I think they [poinsett &market more] are both pickling varieties - which I thought might mean they grow in same way...So i have no trellis or anything this time round, but they seem to be reaching out for something. It's actually quite disconcerting... it's like they are reaching out for help...trying to get me to stop them for falling... And so i have explained to them i will ask the guys on Selfsuffiecient-ish, and maybe they will give some sort of tip....? How do u know if cucumbers are sprawling or climbing? And, before anyone asks, i have checked the pack....nothing about it on there. i would just poke sticks in the ground, but didn't want to damage roots if i can help it...and do any unnecessary work...they have started flowering too, so a bit into it. I thought i would just play it by ear, and see what they start to do, but, well. Am i just being paranoid? [/b]

[Millymollymandy]

I don't know much about cucumbers although I am growing them this year. They are the outdoor variety - smaller in length than the greenhouse/supermarket types and have knobbly skins. We have put up a trellis for it and I shall try to encourage it to climb by tying it in as it grows, as it doesn't have much room to sprawl. The trellis is made from three bamboo canes with plastic coated fence wire attached to it.

I used to have a neighbour who grew them and they just sprawled all over the place. I don't think they were unhappy!

[Wombat]

G'DAy Matty,

I have been growing cucumbers for quite a few years and by and large always grow them up. I do this for two reasons - the fruit tends reun more risk of being attacked by pest or disease in contact with the ground and around here it gets pretty humid after Christmas and we get mildew problems, you get better air drainage and less mildew problems away from the ground. Maybe if you let 'em sprawl on mulch it would be OK. Oh it also save space for me!

Nev

[catalyst]

we grow ours up too - also provides some shade for other things (i´m in portugal)

[matty]

ok. here is what i will do...i'll train half and spread half on mulch. this way, i can see what does better. if not from yield, maybe one will get chopped a bit less. Mildew is sometimes a problem here too, usually abotu the time the fruits start coming with the curcubits! but so far, so good with these cucumbers. i guess it's been pretty dry though so far. anyway. i should have thought of all this a few weeks back. this is how we learn! cheers for the advice then. actually, while on curcubit topics, i found out yesterday that butternut squash is something mean when cooked like potatoes in big chunks on the old barbie. which is good as i have been wondering if it could be cooked well without oil. i might try cooking it with the skin on as well next, see if it can be cooked without foil. anyway. well worth it.

[Jeff]

Up is the only way to go in VA too.....bugs get them on the ground.

[Millymollymandy]

My first cucumber is nearly ready for picking. My, don't the plants grow! Every day I have to try to train the shoots to go where I want them to go - they still want to flop out in all directions!

[Wombat]

With a very small whip and chair?

Nev

[diver]

I didn't know which type mine were ,and ,ilke you it didn't say on the pack, so I waited and when they were climbing over my tomatos and peppers I decided to put strings up...so I have literally strung them up and they seem quite happy. My outdoor ones I have grown up an old wigwam tpye frame ...I gave them the choice...up or over and they have all chosed up

[Millymollymandy]

We ate my first two cucumbers yesterday! The plants are loaded. I just hope I won't get bored of them like I'm beginning to get a bit sick of the sight of a courgette.

[2steps]

I planted some cucumbers this year. The sead germinated and the plants grew to a few inches high but now they seem to have stopped there

[matty]

well, for those who like a follow up, i ended up just mulching the cucumbers. i figured there was no point in fixing something that was not broken. i also did not have the time to pussyfoot around vines to tie all up and sink stakes in! but anyway, great crop, they really do love the heat it seems. peak, i harvested 21kg from around 3plants. have become quite apt at making chutney and relish the past few weeks too! but have decided to let most of the rest go to seed now, as the variety does great here, and i am sure the seed can be shared around and stored. so, there you go. but next time, i will stake, as it seems that they balnched a little bit from not all geting enough sun, which a guess would happen less if they were staked, and i am sure they are easier to pick climbing, and maybe they will be a little straighter too? did not get too many curlers, but i am sure gravity would play at least a minor role in keeping them straight? the old mildew took a while to come along, which was nice, but got more borers than i would have wanted, but not too bad. but next time, climb! anwya. started getting some great carrots too yesterday. yum.

[Millymollymandy]

One of my cucumbers is dying - doesn't look diseased, it's just going yellow/brown and - well - dying! There is still fruit on it and flowers and they are being fed and watered regularly.

The other two are OK and I've had tons of cucs (I have to give them away) although one is catching the mould/mildew that my courgettes have got.

Any ideas or do they just have a short life and wither away quickly all of a sudden?