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Feeding Cucumbers

februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
in Fruit & veg
I bought a couple of cucumber plug plants (Piccolino) a couple of months ago and immediately potted them up. There have been little cucumbers on them for a couple of weeks but I only planted them in the hanging basket yesterday. I used a mixture of topsoil, compost and farmyard manure. Basically what I've got to hand that I need to use up. Should I be feeding them straightaway because of the flowers/cucumbers or will the compost and manure be enough for now?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I recently potted my one up into a 22L pot in the greenhouse - and picked my first 6 cucumbers today :)
    I used a similar mix to you. I also added a handful of Vitax Q4 (never used it before, but thought I'd give it a go).
    Mine is growing well and lots more on the way.

    They are hungry plants that have a lot of fruits to produce, so I'll start feeding mine with ordinary Miracle Grow once or twice a week starting next week probably.
    I prefer to feed at about 1/2 to 3/4 of the suggested dose, that allows you to feed more frequently without overfeeding and gives the plant food twice a week rather than once a week, so I think it's better for the plant.

    If the leaves seem to be getting quite a dark green, go a bit lighter with the feed.
    If they're a bit pale, give them a little more.

    I believe that Miracle Grow is a little more suited to cucumbers than Tomato feeds, so I use that. It's also a LOT cheaper!

    Try and keep the crown of the plant (where the stem mettes the compost) slightly above the compost level - just a touch as they are prone to rot at the crown if wet or damp for long periods.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Shauna2021Shauna2021 Posts: 53
    Yikes, I don't have a single cucumber showing on mine just yet! Well behind you...
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Pete.8 I was considering tomato feed but when I checked, it didn't seem to be recommended so I bought some Miracle Gro fruit and veg feed which seemed to be more suitable. I've got a pierced bottle in the basket to handle the watering 🙂

    @Shauna2021 I bought plug plants so I cheated a little!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    👍


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    This variety will grow to 9’ or so tall and need a trellis to support them,  not sure a hanging basket will give enough nutrition or that you will be able to make a trellis for a plant that size. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Lyn I don't recall where I read it, but there was a description of Picolino growing to 5'-6'. The original plan was to have the cucumbers in a hanging basket with the vines cascading down. It's something I'd seen in a couple of places and seemed like it'd be ideal for my patio. I was going to be hanging them (and Tumbling Tom tomatoes) on this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0916CDBJY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (I have some Rustoleum exterior paint for it) however, once I'd planted the cucumbers, the basket (18") was much  too heavy to lift. I've left the basket on the shelf and instead of cascading, I'll train (or at least attempt to) the vines up the rack. If it works, great, if it doesn't I can always try something different next year!   
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Worth a try then,  they are an all female variety, if you get males just pick them off.  I suppose they won’t get to that height in a basket so maybe what you read refers to growing them that way. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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