Cucumber

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are a staple ingredient in summer salads and sandwiches. They can be grown from seed indoors and outdoors and in glasshouses. The long green types found in shops can only be grown with the aid of a heated glasshouse, but the other types are quite at home in the vegetable plot, or produced earlier using cloches, cold frames or a polytunnel. We have many types of cucumbers available, including Partner F1 which is a gherkin type. As cucumbers are made of 96% water, they are very refreshing. They are also low in calories and high in potassium. As a leading supplier of vegetable seeds, we have everything you need to grow your own perfect salad, including salad leaf seed too!
Cucumbers can produce male and female flowers (unless you grow an all female or all male type). Male flowers will appear first and don't produce fruit, just pollen. Female flowers develop into fruits once they have been pollinated.  If growing outdoors, you don't generally need to remove the flowers, although some gardeners prefer to remove the first few females to help the plant grow stronger.  If you're growing an all female type near an all male type, especially indoors, you may decide to pick the male flowers to prevent any cross pollination.

GLASSHOUSE VARIETIES - ALL FEMALE TYPES
Sow the seeds edgeways in individual pots, modules or peat pots from late February up to late May under glass at 21°C. Maintain the temperature both day and night. Keep the plants moist but not waterlogged and plant in the glasshouse border or in grow bags in late March or April. Train the stem up wires or canes, pinch out the growing point when it reaches the roof. Feed regularly once fruit start to swell. Spray the floor twice daily to give a humid atmosphere.

OUTDOOR & INDOOR VARIETIES
Fertile moisture retentive soil is imperative for good cucumbers. From April to May sow seed on its edge to prevent rotting 1.5cm (1/2”) deep in individual 9cm (31/2”) pots under glass at a constant day and night temperature of 21°C. As soon as the seedlings have formed 3 true leaves, transplant into 15cm (6”) pots. When the plants are about 10cm (4") tall, plant out outdoors once hardened off and all risk of frost has passed. Grow up against netting or allow to trail along the ground. Can also be cropped under glass, planted into large pots or growbags. Provide some form of support and tie in stems as required. Outdoor crops should be ready from about July onwards. Keep picking to encourage new growth. Some varieties can be grown either indoors or outside. Choose the growing technique which applies to the growing site.