tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21602861.post5447634778309615078..comments2023-10-17T12:05:26.540+01:00Comments on Razor-blade of Life: Brer ZZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21602861.post-2558636532968244042009-05-08T17:51:00.000+01:002009-05-08T17:51:00.000+01:00Are you growing indoor ones or the outdoor ridge s...Are you growing indoor ones or the outdoor ridge sort? The latter are no bother at all, plant and enjoy - though the stem mustn't stand in water so I plant on a little mound. <br /><br />The indoor ones are a little more effort at the start. They can be growing away nicely and then suddenly collapse at root level and it may be for no apparent reason. The best precaution is not to plant them out deeper than the soil level in the pot - if they put out more roots from the stem you can cover those, but make sure there's never any water standing around the stem. But one will sometimes just go and there's nothing you can do.<br /><br />If they're all-female then just pinch out tips as the packet instructs (I rarely bother and let them grow rampant but I've plenty of room) but don't start pruning too early in case it discourages them. <br />If it's a variety with male flowers these must be removed before they fertilise the female or the cucumber is bitter.<br />Outdoor ridge cucumbers don't need the male flowers removed, however.<br /><br />Whatever variety, pick the first few fruits when they're small as otherwise they hang about for ages not growing much and take all the energy, and fruit production, from the plant. I've tried picking off the first few baby cucumbers to encourage the plant to grow big, but it seemed to discourage it from growing more for a long time!Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21602861.post-19858421601329781402009-05-07T16:23:00.000+01:002009-05-07T16:23:00.000+01:00Ah, any advice on cucumbers? I'm growing them for ...Ah, any advice on cucumbers? I'm growing them for the first time this year, in a specially dedicated section of the 'cold' frame.The Allotment Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06785515639672623768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21602861.post-65795072335953335202009-05-06T21:26:00.000+01:002009-05-06T21:26:00.000+01:00Not that much - we get a load and keep it for a ye...Not that much - we get a load and keep it for a year and then it lasts two - but I daresay we could manage a bucketful or two for your prize marrows.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00822383355869390919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21602861.post-39554574911756450562009-05-06T21:15:00.000+01:002009-05-06T21:15:00.000+01:00I could use some of that on my garden. Should you...I could use some of that on my garden. Should you have a few tons spare, that is.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403853324345062446noreply@blogger.com