GROWING CUCUMBER 'Long White' SEEDS

Cucumber 'Long White' seeds

If you consider yourself to be a competitive gardener, and let's face it many of us are, then you will understand the enormous satisfaction of growing something bigger, better or so unusual that you are the only one amongst your peers to do so.

So if it's vegetables that draw your eye then you would be foolish not to take a look at Cucumber 'Long White' as this is one such crop that is guaranteed to place you two, maybe even three rungs above everyone else!

Cucumber 'Long White'

A first glance Cucumber 'Long White' looks as though it is just a gimmick, but this will all change once you take your first bite! The flesh is firm, sweet and juicy, with a comes with a vibrant taste that can add flavour to your salads without the bitter aftertaste often associated with other home-grown cucumber varieties. Better still, the tender, white skins are so thin that they won't even need peeling.

As you would expect with any long cucumber it will require the additional warmth of a greenhouse and trained against supports. Cucumber 'Long White' will need to planted at a spacing of one plant per 18 inches and will reach an overall height of approximately 9 ft tall.

If you are growing in a northern European climate the you can sow Cucumber 'Long White' seeds from early March to April for greenhouse cropping.

Sow the cucumber seed on its side at a depth of ½ inch in 3 inch pots containing a good quality free-draining, seed compost such as John Innes 'Seed and Cutting'.

Place the pots in a propagator or seal them inside a clear polythene plastic bag at a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Place on a warm, bright windowsill, but out of direct sunlight and you can expect germination to occur within 7-10 days. Be aware that emerging seedlings are easily scorched by direct sunlight. The cucumber plants can remain on the windowsill until they are large enough to be transplanted into the greenhouse, and make sure that the compost is kept moist but not wet as this can result in damage to the young roots.

When the cucumber plants have reached a height of 6 inches or so then they are ready to be transplant in the greenhouse. Space them at a rate of 2 plants per grow bag or 18 inches apart if you are growing them in the ground. Keep the greenhouse warm, and humid, but ventilate during the warmest part of the day to reduce the incidence of fungal disease. You can increase humidity by hosing down the greenhouse paths.

You may well need to provide greenhouse shading during the height of the summer. Water well after planting until cucumber plants are fully established.

For related articles click onto the following links:

CUCUMBER 'Long White' SEEDS
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