Anyone familiar with homemade pickles cukes?

[hoodat]

I'm trying an heirloom variety of cucumbers named homemade pickles this year and they are very slow starters. We have had a cooler than normal year so far but these guys seem to be just sitting there. They are barely starting their third leaf and have been up for almost three weeks. Does anyone else have experience with this variety? Are they just slow starters or is it the weather?

 

[RidgebackRanch]

Sounds like a typical Colorado spring. It's warm enough during the day to get you inspired to plant things, but cool nights keep soil temps low enough that seeds will sprout but not thrive.

I think if you can keep them protected when needed they will come around when it warms up. As much as I want to get plants and seeds in the ground I know it will be best to wait just a little longer.

 

[patandchickens]

I tried that variety last year. It sat and sulked for a long time and then some of them died, I eventually ended up with one small unhappy plant out of probably 10 seeds planted. OTOH I generally suck at growing cucumbers, so while I sucked even MORE at this variety than usual, I don't know if that's necessarily the variety's fault LOL

It could perfectly well be the weather, for you. Any way you can warm them up a little, row covers, cloches, something like that?

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[hoodat]

I think it was the name that got to me. Pickles is what I wanted most of my cukes for. If they don't get going soon I'll take them out and plant a more dependable variety. They're just wasting trellis space.

 

[vfem]

These prefer MUCH warmer temps to thrive! Do a second planting now and you'll probably get better results from the late planting.

 

[journey11]

That's what I bought this year too, but I haven't gotten them planted yet...

 

[lesa]

I have had very positive results with National Pickling Cucumbers...Good luck!

 

[RidgebackRanch]

DW grows National Pickling because it really climbs well and covers a 7' x 12' trellis. She usually puts up about 70 quarts a year.

 

[hoodat]

These prefer MUCH warmer temps to thrive! Do a second planting now and you'll probably get better results from the late planting.

I guess I'll give them a little longer then. May and June are usually cool and cloudy here. The days have only been getting into the 60s and the nights in the 50s. It's a pleasant time of year for humans but some of the hot weather plants don't like it.

 

[trunkman]

I've planted some cukes in one of my new gardens and like yours they popped up aren't doing anything right now but we've also had a cold spell during this full moon, hopefully they'll take off soon here too. I planted regular pickling cukes. Kinda weird tho, I planted some a few weeks earlier in an old garden and those are doing great, climbing already and have one little cuke growing now.