[HilaryG]

My cucumber seedlings are about 4 inches high, still with seed leaves on. They look as though they will need supporting soon but it doesn't say anything on the seed packet. Do I put a cane in or not..........never grown them before but everyone says they're yummy. They're in a cold bedroom on the windowsill at the moment. Thanks

[DD.]

Sounds like they've gone leggy with too little light.

OK - some will come down on me like a ton of bricks, but in my opinion you've started them a bit too early. Light levels are low and day lengths are still short at this time of year.

With other plants, I'd say to pot them up deeper, but with cues you're asking for stem rot.

By all means try supporting them, use the old aluminium foil trick and stick some behind the plants to reflect the light, but be prepared to re-sow.

[HilaryG]

Thanks, I'll try the foil trick and hope for the best!

[Paul Plots]

DD I agree with you . It's rather early to have them springing to life as its too cold in an unheated greenhouse for them to be potted on. 

[New shoot]

Gosh I'm slow this morning.  I was looking at this thread wondering why Learner has a piccie of a big pile of bricks on his post - DOH    Need more coffee 

I usually sow cucumbers last of all as they grow so fast - think it was late on in April last year.  Don't be tempted to put them outside early if they get big Hiliary.  Young cucumber plants wake up each day and think of a new way to die as it is 

[Kristen]

Yes they need a cane to grow up

Keep the minimum temperature 10C or above

If they are a greenhouse variety: starting them this early they many well be 4' tall by the time they are safe to plant out (Dunno about outdoor / ridge ones, but I suspect they are not quite so vigorous)

[DD.]

Another couple of weeks and I may consider starting to think about the possibility of maybe sowing some of mine for the heated greenhouse. Only perhaps though.

[mumofstig]

Are you sure about that 

I thought you could start to think about sowing them now 

[TheSpartacat]

Hilary, Have you got a heated greenhouse to move them into when they get bigger? If they're outdoor then I agree with everyone that they will be monstrously big by the time you can put them outdoors.
If you fancied growing them around your window, you could start training/tying in using a cane... umm? Or pinch out the top when they get tall, they produce side shoots... but you'll be limiting the productiveness compared to what you could grow outside with more space.

I sow my outdoor ones in April/May. April indoors and move them into coldframe in May... and start more in May in a cold frame- the May ones always catch up with the April ones.

Are you sure about that 

I thought you could start to think about sowing them now 

I'm always thinking of sowing my cucurbits... *sigh*. I have a pack of Jack Be Little pumpkins sitting in front of the keyboard, goading me into getting their patch ready

[Aunt Sally]

Not sown my cucumbers yet.  Just beginning to think about sowing tomatoes.

[Paul Plots]

Awaiting delivery of my cucumber seeds.... no rush (much, much later on the list of things to sow)