Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: bigben on April 23, 2011, 18:00

Title: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: bigben on April 23, 2011, 18:00

I am growing cucumbers for the first time this year and have half a dozen little plants that have just popped up. From reading what others have written they seem to like to die for any excuse. I only really have space for a couple of plants in the greenhouse along with everything else I am growing. The packet suggests they can be grown outside. Any advice on when to plant out, how many cucumbers would I expect from a plant, any other tips?

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: Ice on April 23, 2011, 18:36

Marketmore is an outdoor ridge type cucumber.  It needs fertilisation by insects and bees to produce fruit and might not do so well in a greenhouse.

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: arugula on April 23, 2011, 18:44

We grew marketmore indoors last year (our first go) as it turned out to be too cold outdoors as planned. Huge crop! :D All depends where you are....

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: Springlands on April 23, 2011, 19:46

Agree with Ice that they are best grown outdoors but if you leave your greenhouse door open through the day you will probably have bees come in - I had about half a dozen in the GH one day this week.

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: Ice on April 23, 2011, 20:05

Loads of bees in mine too and a couple of hummingbird hawkmoths. :)

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: bigben on April 23, 2011, 23:23

Thanks for the advice so far - I have been told I should not put outdoor toms out until the end of May is this the same for cucumbers?

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: JayG on April 23, 2011, 23:30

Quote from: bigben on April 23, 2011, 23:23

Thanks for the advice so far - I have been told I should not put outdoor toms out until the end of May is this the same for cucumbers?

Definitely! (Tomatoes are as tough as old boots compared to cucumbers!)  :wacko:

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: wozza on April 25, 2011, 07:48

Hoping my marketmore last that long ! I put 10 seeds in individual 3 " pots and all came up opened the first leaves (seed?) then promptly decided to commit suicide have 3 left so may have to sow some more.

Thanks Springlands for the recomendation in a previous thread.

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: shokkyy on April 25, 2011, 09:16

I've never had any suicide problems with outdoor cucumbers, but I've no idea why. Last year I did Marketer and they were brilliant so I'm doing them again this year. I sowed them on 10th April, they all came straight up and I pricked them out a week later. Last year I stuck them in growbags next to the espalier cherry tree and they climbed all the way up it, like triffids, and gave me a huge crop.

Title: Re: Marketmore cucumbers any advice
Post by: BabbyAnn on April 25, 2011, 10:47

Of all cucumbers, Marketmore are definitely the hardiest and very prolific.  I've never had any problems with them - whether growing along the ground or up a trellis  :D  Last year I also grew La Diva and Crystal Lemon outside and they too were great