cucumbers

[paradox]

Are these climbing plants?

It didnt mention anything on the packet but if they are then im going to have to remove the just sprouted seedlings and locate them elsewhere

[flower]

they usually 'scramble' either over the ground or upwards over a trellis, compost heap or something.
They have quite hairy stems so if they are grown upwards you tend not to get as much slug damage

[paradox]

Ive planted my peas in a raised bed and used wire mesh and canes in a zig zag pattern.

The space left between the zig zags i have planted my cucumbers.
Are they going to be ok left there or shall i move them elsewhere and give them somthing to climb up?

[flower]

hmmmm.... they may be okay but also remember that cucumbers are very greedy feeders.

I wouldn't personally grow the two together but I'm no expert and I often have problems with peas .

my outdoor cukes are going into poop filles tyres this year cos I'm a bit strapped for space. They need to be watered a fair bit too.

[ohareward]

Hi Paradox, I would shift your cucumbers as they do need plenty of room. They spread out like pumpkins. The vines are strong enough to support the fruit if you grow them up something,ie mesh or trellis.

Robin

[Millymollymandy]

I grow cucumbers next to a trellis and give them plenty of room. I tie them to the trellis as they grow but they do sprawl a lot so part of the plant is always spreading out over the ground as well as growing upwards. I think they will swamp your peas so best move them asap.

[paradox]

Thanks for all the wonderfull advice.

I will make another bed up and transferr them accross.

Could anybody tell me what would be a good crop to plant in the spaces between my peas?

[flower]

kohl rabi are quick and (like any brassica) will really appreciate the nitrogen.
Or leeks....mine are going in my broadbeans bed. When the beans are finished I cut them off at ground level so that the roots release all their nitogen as they rot down, just in time to give the leeks a boost

[digiveg]

One thing about cukes is they really don't like to be moved. I try to sow mine where they're going to live rather than putting seeds in pots and transplanting later. The roots are extremely tender and don't bind the soil together very well, so the whole potful has a tendency to break apart. And, if you try to avoid that by planting them in small pots, there's a very good chance their growth will get held back.

I've tried experimenting by growing both transplanted and direct sown cukes side-by-side. Even though the tranplants continue to grow and end up producing fruit, I always get better growth and crops from the plants which were sown direct.

I now do the same thing with courgettes and the other 'squash' family members, too.

PS: HOWEVER...having just read 'Is this the earliest courgette?' by Christine I'm going to plant a courgette in Feb, possibly even Jan, next year. The thought of courgettes in May is too good to resist. I'll still sow the 'maincrop' direct, though.