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Okay, folks, here's the deal:
I live in Phoenix. Ergo, all plant-growing knowledge as it pertains to where YOU live is pretty much out the window.
In early summer I planted some yellow cucumber. The vines are growing like crazy. Lots of flowers, but NO -- not a single - - cucumber.
I mulch 'em and fertilize 'em. They get about 5 hours of direct sunlight every day. Why no fruit?
And, as we move into winter, where we do get the occasional freeze, do the vines need to be covered or will they just tough it out?
TT
I live in Phoenix. Ergo, all plant-growing knowledge as it pertains to where YOU live is pretty much out the window.
In early summer I planted some yellow cucumber. The vines are growing like crazy. Lots of flowers, but NO -- not a single - - cucumber.
I mulch 'em and fertilize 'em. They get about 5 hours of direct sunlight every day. Why no fruit?
And, as we move into winter, where we do get the occasional freeze, do the vines need to be covered or will they just tough it out?
TT
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Re: Cucumber question
Wed, October 29, 2008 - 8:48 AMCucumbers are an annual so they will eventually die. Too much nitrogen fertilizer will cause a lot of growth, but not much fruiting. Do a soils test to make sure you have sufficient levels of phosphorus and potassium. Also, it sounds like they might not be getting enough sun. 5 hours isn't that much. They need full sun, not partial shade. -
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Re: Cucumber question
Wed, October 29, 2008 - 10:14 PMAh. Thank you. Just after posting this I happened to talk to a friend of mine who lives about a mile away. He's been growing cucumbers for years and he didn't get any this summer, either. He thinks it may be the fact that there were almost no bees around this summer, and when there were bees, they simply showed up after rains when the sage was blooming, took what they were used to and moved on.
So there's a whole bunch of reasons, I guess...alas.
TT
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Re: Cucumber question
Wed, October 29, 2008 - 11:00 PMdid you notice if there was any disease on the plant . . . I noticed several threads about vine plants being infected, all my cucumber, melon and squash plants started out great, bloomed and then died with fruit. -
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Re: Cucumber question
Fri, October 31, 2008 - 12:52 PMNope, they're perfectly healthy -- almost TOO healthy if that's possible. They're taking over the yard.
TT -
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Re: Cucumber question
Fri, October 31, 2008 - 12:57 PMCucumbers and melons cannot fruit without pollinators (like honey bees for example). Could this be your problem? -
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Re: Cucumber question
Sun, November 2, 2008 - 7:51 AMMany varieties today do not require pollination. I'll cut and paste one from the johnny's select seed online catalog. I kinda picked it at random, but it sure sounds good.
Diva
Delicious 2002 All-America Selections winner bred by Johnny's.
AAS trial judges throughout North America agreed - Diva just might be the best-tasting cuke on the planet. Diva looks like a regular salad cucumber but with a much smoother, thin, no-peel skin. Distinctly tender, crisp, sweet, bitter-free, and seedless; especially flavorful harvested small, about the size of a pickle. Plants are gynoecious (all-female) and parthenocarpic (grow fruits without pollination). Resistant to both mildews and scab. Foliage is nonbitter, hence not as attractive to cucumber beetles as some varieties. Adapted to open field production and under row covers or poly tunnels. Choose organic or nonorganic seeds. Order 2198T (Treated) or 2198 (Untreated). Mini: 20 seeds.
Days to Maturity or Bloom: 58
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Re: Cucumber question
Wed, November 5, 2008 - 12:04 AMI always 'tickle my plants with a paintbrush' just in case! that goes for squashes as well! -
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Re: Cucumber question
Wed, November 19, 2008 - 8:07 AMSince I first posted this I've had exactly ONE cucumber show up! And apparently one BEE!
LOL
TT
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