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Cucumber confusion....
+5
Goosegirl
acara
Turan
camprn
Debora Cadene
9 posters
Page 1 of 1
Cucumber confusion....
So I'm a little confused about the cucumber seeds I have. Being a first timeer, I have WAY lots to learn, but was sure I could handle picking seeds. I would like cukes in the garden...I'd like them to be the small pickling ones, as they are also very good to eat. So went to Menards, and found some that said pickling....they are called Burpee Pickler Hybrid. Well upon reading directions, AFTER I get them home, which doesn't happen to often.(the directions part...)...I see they are only 6-8 inches tall, but take up two square feet. Here I am ready to raise some sort of trellis or cage for when they can be planted...and i am instead sitting here...scratching my head.
I assumed all cukes climbed....Period. This appears to be a tiny busy and says plant 4 - 6 seeds 3" apart and in hills , THEN thin. Does one or two bushes give you more then one or two pickles??
Yeah.... I think I'd like a little help in the seed department. I will use a couple of squares someplace else to try these so as not to waste, but would really like to see something taller then 8" , unless you all have a different idea????
I assumed all cukes climbed....Period. This appears to be a tiny busy and says plant 4 - 6 seeds 3" apart and in hills , THEN thin. Does one or two bushes give you more then one or two pickles??
Yeah.... I think I'd like a little help in the seed department. I will use a couple of squares someplace else to try these so as not to waste, but would really like to see something taller then 8" , unless you all have a different idea????
Debora Cadene-
Posts : 73
Join date : 2012-04-22
Location : Atikokan, Ontario zone 3
Re: Cucumber confusion....
I liked the Spacemaster cukes, they grew about 4'-5' tall on a small trellis. I grew 4 squares in the back of a bed and I still have quite a few jars of pickles in the larder. They are also good to eat fresh. 

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Cucumber confusion....
If it is not trellised it grows only 6-8 inches, but they have full size vines that should trellis well.
Burpee Pickler. 53 days. Early-maturing, black-spined pickles, on
full-sized vines. Large plants mean heavier yields over a long period.
Medium-green, 3½ to 5" fruits have blunt tips. Excellent in all sizes.
Tolerates cucumber mosaic. Burpee Bred. Proven tops for performance,
flavor and wide adaptability. Sun.
Turan-
Posts : 2603
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: Cucumber confusion....
They are all so cute & cuddly when you bring them home ...

Then they take off ...

Sometimes they get out of control and grow 10' tall, start craving raw meat...... and then small animals in the neighborhood start missing ....

... and then unfortunately, they have to be put down;

All kidding aside ..... most varieties are vining & will grow as tall/big as you let them.

Then they take off ...

Sometimes they get out of control and grow 10' tall, start craving raw meat...... and then small animals in the neighborhood start missing ....

... and then unfortunately, they have to be put down;





All kidding aside ..... most varieties are vining & will grow as tall/big as you let them.
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
acara wrote:
Glad to see Beauregard is still on garden patrol!
GG
Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: Cucumber confusion....
[quote="Turan"]If it is not trellised it grows only 6-8 inches, but they have full size vines that should trellis well.
I'm not sure I get what this means....sorry.(picture me staring blankly at the computer screen) What does full size vines mean? I think I read that it didn't need any sort of support, which of course added to the confusion.
Does it get like a little bush at the bottom and then just bush out? what if you don't do anything with the vines....do they creep on the floor, or......never mind. Still confused.
I'm not sure I get what this means....sorry.(picture me staring blankly at the computer screen) What does full size vines mean? I think I read that it didn't need any sort of support, which of course added to the confusion.
Does it get like a little bush at the bottom and then just bush out? what if you don't do anything with the vines....do they creep on the floor, or......never mind. Still confused.

Debora Cadene-
Posts : 73
Join date : 2012-04-22
Location : Atikokan, Ontario zone 3
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Cukes will creep along the ground if unsupported.
In my experience, nothing good comes from having fruit/vines in contact with soil (rot, pest & fungus). The veggies also tend to be misshappen & color differently when alllowed to develop on the ground (just asthetics ... not necessarily a problem).
The variey you have is a "pickling hybrid", so the cukes will be somewhat smaller (unless you leave on vine too long), "fatter" and have a thicker (and bumpier) skin.
I don't know that the vine will grow differently than any other cuke though.
In my experience, nothing good comes from having fruit/vines in contact with soil (rot, pest & fungus). The veggies also tend to be misshappen & color differently when alllowed to develop on the ground (just asthetics ... not necessarily a problem).
The variey you have is a "pickling hybrid", so the cukes will be somewhat smaller (unless you leave on vine too long), "fatter" and have a thicker (and bumpier) skin.
I don't know that the vine will grow differently than any other cuke though.
Last edited by acara on 5/7/2012, 8:38 am; edited 1 time in total
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Here is what a Burpless variety can grow to in an SFG box (I pruned/trellis these heavily). The first row in the box is all Bonnie Burpless cukes (yours is the pickling version).


And this will give you an idea of just how many cukes a healthy bush will put out (every flower is a possible cuke);

Again ... they can be trimmed/trained to any size & you can keep them in a single square ..... just takes a lot of work, so I typically don't do the cukes in an SFG square anymore (since they can take over).


And this will give you an idea of just how many cukes a healthy bush will put out (every flower is a possible cuke);

Again ... they can be trimmed/trained to any size & you can keep them in a single square ..... just takes a lot of work, so I typically don't do the cukes in an SFG square anymore (since they can take over).
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Sorry....this post is totally unrelated to cucumbers but I have a question about your boxes acara. How did you attach that fencing to the top of your box? I'm thinking of doing something similar to my boxes because I'm sort of afraid of rabbits getting up into the box(even though they're 12 inches high at one end and 20 inches at the other) and I'm looking at attaching a fence so that I can easily remove it for harvesting or for whatever.
Also, what's the spacing between the slats in the fencing?
Also, what's the spacing between the slats in the fencing?
Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 52
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A
Re: Cucumber confusion....
WoW Acara, those are some impressive cucumber plants 

RoOsTeR-
Posts : 4316
Join date : 2011-10-04
Location : Colorado Front Range
Re: Cucumber confusion....
[quote="Debora Cadene"]
I worded that a little oddly..... sorry.
According to Burpee this is not a bush variety but a vine, and vines can be trellised or allowed to meander. A full size vine is like acara's. His pics are worth a thousand words.
Turan wrote:If it is not trellised it grows only 6-8 inches, but they have full size vines that should trellis well.
I'm not sure I get what this means....sorry.(picture me staring blankly at the computer screen) What does full size vines mean? I think I read that it didn't need any sort of support, which of course added to the confusion.
Does it get like a little bush at the bottom and then just bush out? what if you don't do anything with the vines....do they creep on the floor, or......never mind. Still confused.![]()
I worded that a little oddly..... sorry.
According to Burpee this is not a bush variety but a vine, and vines can be trellised or allowed to meander. A full size vine is like acara's. His pics are worth a thousand words.
Turan-
Posts : 2603
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Welcome back, Acara! I've missed the pictures of your garden and your wry sense of humor.
Speaking of cucumbers, I wonder if you could give me some advice. Since the monster Spacemasters I grew back in 2004 or 2005, I've had miserable luck with the things.
This year, I planted, replanted, then replanted several squares (two seeds per square). The one seed that originally germinated promptly rolled over and expired. Two seeds replanted in that same square are currently thriving, as is one I planted in a portable pot to catch the sun.
As back-up, I also started three seeds indoors in vermiculite. They sprouted in three or four days and look supremely healthy! I plan to set them out any day now.
Now, I know they need beaucoup water and sunlight, and that darned olive tree next door was trimmed a bit this year, which should help somewhat.
Can you think of anything else I could do to ensure a decent crop this year? This will be my last summer with this particular garden, since I'll be moving to my new house in Oregon soon, which has lots more sunlight and space but will require a greenhouse.
Thanks!
Speaking of cucumbers, I wonder if you could give me some advice. Since the monster Spacemasters I grew back in 2004 or 2005, I've had miserable luck with the things.

This year, I planted, replanted, then replanted several squares (two seeds per square). The one seed that originally germinated promptly rolled over and expired. Two seeds replanted in that same square are currently thriving, as is one I planted in a portable pot to catch the sun.
As back-up, I also started three seeds indoors in vermiculite. They sprouted in three or four days and look supremely healthy! I plan to set them out any day now.
Now, I know they need beaucoup water and sunlight, and that darned olive tree next door was trimmed a bit this year, which should help somewhat.
Can you think of anything else I could do to ensure a decent crop this year? This will be my last summer with this particular garden, since I'll be moving to my new house in Oregon soon, which has lots more sunlight and space but will require a greenhouse.
Thanks!
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:Sorry....this post is totally unrelated to cucumbers but I have a question about your boxes acara. How did you attach that fencing to the top of your box? I'm thinking of doing something similar to my boxes because I'm sort of afraid of rabbits getting up into the box(even though they're 12 inches high at one end and 20 inches at the other) and I'm looking at attaching a fence so that I can easily remove it for harvesting or for whatever.
Also, what's the spacing between the slats in the fencing?
It's the snap-together fencing (with side connectors) you can get at any box store (think it comes in 12" or 18" sections.
You use the "tabs" that are at the bottom (that would be used to push into the ground normally) to mount the fencing to the box. The trick is, you mount the first section, leave the next unmounted...repeat around the perimeter of box. This allows you to have at least one section per side that unsnaps and swings outward, to allow access to the base of the box.
Hope that makes sense.
As far as the slat-spacing ..... roughly 4" on center ...so call it roughly 3" clear opening between slats.
Last edited by acara on 5/7/2012, 11:58 am; edited 1 time in total
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
RoOsTeR wrote:WoW Acara, those are some impressive cucumber plants
Thanks.
In the past, my epic battles with mutant cukes were be a frequent source of entertainment here on the forums.
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
donnainzone10 wrote:Welcome back, Acara! I've missed the pictures of your garden and your wry sense of humor.
Speaking of cucumbers, I wonder if you could give me some advice. Since the monster Spacemasters I grew back in 2004 or 2005, I've had miserable luck with the things.![]()
This year, I planted, replanted, then replanted several squares (two seeds per square). The one seed that originally germinated promptly rolled over and expired. Two seeds replanted in that same square are currently thriving, as is one I planted in a portable pot to catch the sun.
As back-up, I also started three seeds indoors in vermiculite. They sprouted in three or four days and look supremely healthy! I plan to set them out any day now.
Now, I know they need beaucoup water and sunlight, and that darned olive tree next door was trimmed a bit this year, which should help somewhat.
Can you think of anything else I could do to ensure a decent crop this year? This will be my last summer with this particular garden, since I'll be moving to my new house in Oregon soon, which has lots more sunlight and space but will require a greenhouse.
Thanks!
Honestly, your doing better than most. I've never been able to get started on single-seed plantings.
If I'm doing a dry-start, I use at least a dozen seeds in a 3" Jiffypot & cull as I go, until I'm down to three plants & then that goes in the box.
If I'm doing a wet-start, I simply slice the cuke 1/4" thick & bury that in the 3" jiffypot.
The only "concern" I would have is your Verm-start technique. It works well on almost everything, but it's caused me some problems on plants with high water needs. What I've run into is that when you transplant the Verm-starts, it allows the water around the core root structure to drain away too quickly (through the Verm core) & the "adult" plant suffers, unless you water very frequently. The good news is ... you'll probably never get root fungus/rot/nodes

As far as growing them .... it's a balance. They need a ton of water, which leads to mold/fungus problems if there is any shade. However, if they have full sun, they need to be watered 1 or 2 times daily.
I've also never had any luck with cukes unless I trellis/stake them.
Cukes are also very vascular, so do your trimming/pruning late at night or very early in the morning. The cut site takes a hour or two to "heal" and you can dehydrate the plant pretty quickly with mid-day pruning.
The only other thing I do is stunt the vine. Stunting is cutting off the blossums, until you get the vine to the height/size you want them. Once the vine is "sturdy" enough for the crop, then I usually hit the plant with a light fertilizer (5 max NPK) to jump-start the bloom.
Most plants are hardwired to grow or bear-fruit, but few do both well (at the same time). Having you plants try to push out produce too early forces the plant/produce to compete for resources.
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
Acara,
Thanks for your sage advice!
Those monster cukes I harvested back in the Dark Ages grew in pots, believe it or not!
I've planted/will plant all the cukes in the sunniest parts of my yard, cross my fingers, and hope for the best! I think I can get around the possible Verm-start issue by watering thoroughly when I plant, but not so thoroughly that the poor things drown.
If the two in the raised bed survive, they'll climb the trellis on the north side.
I also like your suggestion to "stunt" the vines. In place of the fertilizer you mentioned, would fish emulsion work?
Thanks for your sage advice!
Those monster cukes I harvested back in the Dark Ages grew in pots, believe it or not!
I've planted/will plant all the cukes in the sunniest parts of my yard, cross my fingers, and hope for the best! I think I can get around the possible Verm-start issue by watering thoroughly when I plant, but not so thoroughly that the poor things drown.
If the two in the raised bed survive, they'll climb the trellis on the north side.
I also like your suggestion to "stunt" the vines. In place of the fertilizer you mentioned, would fish emulsion work?
Re: Cucumber confusion....
donnainzone10 wrote:Acara,
Thanks for your sage advice!
Those monster cukes I harvested back in the Dark Ages grew in pots, believe it or not!
I've planted/will plant all the cukes in the sunniest parts of my yard, cross my fingers, and hope for the best! I think I can get around the possible Verm-start issue by watering thoroughly when I plant, but not so thoroughly that the poor things drown.
If the two in the raised bed survive, they'll climb the trellis on the north side.
I also like your suggestion to "stunt" the vines. In place of the fertilizer you mentioned, would fish emulsion work?
Most fish emulsion (that I'm aware of) is 5-0-0, or lower. It's safe to use, just remember to change over when you want to focus on the produce ("N" is more for the growth of the plant, the P/K are generally for the produce).
Avoid the 10+ stuff on veggies though (yeah, I'm a complete liar, fall off the wagon occasionally and use the stuff every once in a while, just like everyone else ... but it's really not good for continuous use on the veggies

acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Cucumber confusion....
acara wrote:Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:Sorry....this post is totally unrelated to cucumbers but I have a question about your boxes acara. How did you attach that fencing to the top of your box? I'm thinking of doing something similar to my boxes because I'm sort of afraid of rabbits getting up into the box(even though they're 12 inches high at one end and 20 inches at the other) and I'm looking at attaching a fence so that I can easily remove it for harvesting or for whatever.
Also, what's the spacing between the slats in the fencing?
It's the snap-together fencing (with side connectors) you can get at any box store (think it comes in 12" or 18" sections.
You use the "tabs" that are at the bottom (that would be used to push into the ground normally) to mount the fencing to the box. The trick is, you mount the first section, leave the next unmounted...repeat around the perimeter of box. This allows you to have at least one section per side that unsnaps and swings outward, to allow access to the base of the box.
Hope that makes sense.
As far as the slat-spacing ..... roughly 4" on center ...so call it roughly 3" clear opening between slats.
Yes...it makes perfect sense. The next time I head to a Lowes or Home Depot I will have to get them. Thanks!

Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 52
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

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