[debih]

I think my watermelons and cucumbers are ready for potting on to their final container and am looking for advice.

I have two melon plants that are doing well and 4 cucumber plants (although I am intending on giving two cucumber plants to the school to grow in their polytunnel and keep the other two for myself).

I am intending on growing them in pots to make the best use of space in the polytunnel and would be most grateful on advice on the following -

1.     What size pots should I grow them in and should they each have their own, individual pot.
2.     Should the plants stand next to each other or should I keep them apart (disease??).
3.     How much space are they likely to take up.
4.     Do the cucumbers need to be stood on a bench or can I train them to grow up a trellis?
5      Any hints or tips or anything that I have forgotten.

This is the first year with a polytunnel so we are just sticking with the melons, cucumber and six tomato plants (they have gone into a raised bed down one side of the tunnel and the cucumbers and melons are going to go in pots where the potting table is currently stood - hence the use of pots as I don't want to run a raised bed down that side of the tunnel as I will need it each year for my seedling table).

[mumofstig]

I know nothing about growing watermelons  but my cucumbers have tubs which are slightly bigger than tomato pots/flower buckets.  I cut the bottom off of the pots they are now growing in, and semi-sink pot into the tub.
Then when I water into the tub the stem of the cucumber stays dry, so shouldn't rot.
They stand on the border and climb up any odd piece of netting that I tie up to the g/house frame

[debih]

Thanks for that.  I know exactly what sort of size pot you mean and love the tip about keeping them in the pots that they are currently growing in.  I have some tubs that will be perfect.

I think I will treat the watermelons pretty much the same but put them in slightly bigger pots.

I think my dad has some old trellice that I will hunt out this weekend.

[Kristen]

1.     What size pots should I grow them in and should they each have their own, individual pot.

12" if possible, 9" as a compromise

2.     Should the plants stand next to each other or should I keep them apart (disease??).

They will be fine next to each other.  I reckon they need to be about 18" apart

3.     How much space are they likely to take up.

18" The Cucumbers will mostly grow up rather than sideways. They will be happy climbing up a string provided you can secure it strongly to the tunnel frame's roof. The plant will carry 3 or 4 cucumbers at a time, together with the plant it weighs quite a bit.

4.     Do the cucumbers need to be stood on a bench or can I train them to grow up a trellis?

Trellis is fine. I would stand them on the floor if you can - there is more "total growing height" starting from the floor, rather than from the bench

5      Any hints or tips or anything that I have forgotten.

Cucumbers are prone to Red Spider. Keep the humidity up. Shallow trays of water around the base of the plants helps, and misting them.

The one time I grew water melons I let them sprawl along the floor (like Winter Squash outside). Their fruits are heavy, difficult to support if grown "upwards"

It was a novelty experiment though, we decided we were not THAT fond of water,melon anyway, so not well-incentivised to grow them - then, or since, so my advice on Watermelons is only worth what you have paid for it !!!

[debih]

Thanks for all that Kristen - very helpful.

I was not that bothered about growing watermelons - but our 8 year old was very excited about the idea so we thought we would give it a go!