Page 36 - ALG Issue 2 2023

vegetables
Veg at a glance...
Ridge Cucumbers
Ridge or outdoor cucumbers are sometimes seen as a poor relation
to our more refined hot house types, but what they lack in good looks, they make up for in flavour says Kitchen Garden editor, Steve Ott.
Unfussy, prolific and full of flavour, outdoor cucumbers are a must for any plot. Once established they don’t need a greenhouse to thrive and given the right conditions and a decent amount of sunshine, they will go on fruiting for much of the summer.
SOWING
Outdoor cucumbers are tender and should not be planted out until the frosts are over in your area. Sowing, therefore, should be timed to take account of this and plants generally take four to six weeks from sowing to planting.
To avoid root disturbance and damage to the fragile stems, sow into large- celled trays or small pots, one seed in each (germination is usually reliable). Conventional wisdom says that the seeds should be sown on their sides
to help drain water from around them but don’t worry too much about this. Sow 13mm (1/2in) deep into any good multipurpose or sowing compost, label and water well.
Place in a heated propagator set to 21C (70F) and cover with a lid or polythene
until the seeds have germinated. Check each day for signs of drying out and to remove condensation that might cause rotting.
Once the seedlings have emerged, uncover them and maintain the temperature until the seed leaves have unfolded on most of the plants at which stage the heat can be reduced to 15C
STEVE’S TOP TIP
If growing along the ground, plant through a soil covering fabric or black polythene and trail the plants over this to keep the foliage and fruit free of rain splash.
36 Allotment and Leisure Gardener