[ROYAL=BD=]

Hello All   .
I have just got started as a " gardener" due to working away in the construction industry over the past 35 years, but now have a little more time in the garden & greenhouse on a sunday afternoon, with a little radio on and a bottle of vodka with lime juice under 1 of the work benches :twisted: .
so i would like to ask the following:
1) How do i tell the difference between a male and female cucumber flower, as the packet says i must take of the male flower when they grow?
2) i purchased a lime & lemon bush last year ( about 6 inches tall). they now stand at 3 feet tall. i have put them in the summer house for the winter period which is not heated but the frost dosent get in. should i put them in my house ? or will they be fine where they are ?
3)i got some galic from the super market and planted them in november and they are all now popping up   , but when do you harvest them ?
4) I will be growing sweetcorn this year , any tips would be greatfull.
5) I planted some onion seeds a few weeks ago ( very hard trying to pick little black seeds out of my hand whilst under the influence of vodka and lime  :roll: ) . they are just popping up now, but how much water do they need at this stage ?.
6) what does " bolting " mean ?? . do the onions run out the greenhouse ??
many thanks
john  
p.s GREAT WEB SITE

[Kate and her Ducks]

Welcome to the forums

I'm not much help with the growing stuff side of things but I'm sure someone will be along soon.
Can tell you that the citrus should be fine in the summer house, in fact they will be happier there than in the house as it is usually too dry for them and the suffer leaf loss and more likely to get pests like the dreaded scale in my experience.

[peapod]

Hi Royal DB, vodka and lime when planting?I like your style  

1. The female flower has a baby fruit behind it
2. Agreed with Kate, its fine where it is
3. Julyish will be harvest time
4. They are very hungry and need lots of food. Also plant in blocks not rows, I plant mine in blocks of 12.
5. Just keep them moist and dont let them dry out
6. Bolting is where a veg plant goes to seed before it should  :cry:

[woodburner]

Welcome!
I don't know the answer to all of them but here goes
1) I don't know what cucumber flowers look like in particular but the male parts will be the ones with pollen on them and the female part has a (slightly) sticky blobby end to it. There is usually more than one male part per flower, but only one female part.
2) What Kate said
3) Errr end of summer?
4) Start in paper or peat pots to avoid root disturbance when planting out.
5) Not too wet not too dry,  :? If the compost is so wet you could sqeeze water out of it, it's too wet. Usually the surface of compost looks lighter as it gets dry, and if you let it get too dry the seedlings will wilt of course.
6) Bolting means flowering, with the added implication that it's not wanted!  

Edit:  :oops: I took so long in posting (blame the telly) I cross posted.