cool cucumbers

[SuperChemicalGirl]

I'm on my third set of cukes already this year. We warmed up, I planted them, then we got a wind storm, then 3 weeks of COLD and RAIN.

I've never had good luck with cukes except last year when my boyfriend bought some seedlings at Lowes and planted them in his driveway with a bit of potting soil added in. Really. That made me so mad. They did get a ton of heat and sun though in that set up.

I've also been wondering if it's the weather up here. We're not known for an incredibly long and warm growing season. However, I'm really good with squash, and isn't that kinda the same type of plant? Two years ago I was drowning in squash, I think I planted 7 plants for just myself.

 

[4grandbabies]

Veggie varieties are kind of like old friends, that you can welcome back every year, 4!

Don't give up on those Calypsos!

Even if you have to wait until 2012 - they will be something you will look forward to and be pleased to see again!

Steve

You are right steve! They are my fav's ..As a young gardner(many years ago ) I thought straight 8 were the best, then I met calypso!!

 

[Collector]

Thanks Steve, We love fresh cucs here and between the foul weather and the dogs "puppies" we were wondering if we would get any this year

 

[digitS']

Cucurbits are a very diverse lot.

Where was it that I saw someone say that he/she would like to grow watermelon but there isn't much water available for them? Texas A&M says that watermelon use less water than just about any full-season crop. And, Texas A&M must know watermelon!.

The pumpkin field near the big veggie garden was planted about 2 weeks ago, or more. I bet the 35 didn't hurt them!

I used to know some people that lived on the hill above Careywood. Thistle' will know where that is. They had no trouble growing winter squash, at the edge of a cliff, with about a 90 day growing season, facing south.

It kind of seems that the cucurbit ancestors might have been canyon plants, down on a seasonal creek bed. Maybe some were in the desert, some were in the tropics, maybe some were even in alpine areas. But I bet, they were from all over the world!

Probably owe it to them and to us, to have them in our gardens.

Steve

 

[vfem]

If I accidently plant cukes too early, and the weather cools at night still... like some early May's for us... I loss those plants, or they are stunted to the point they don't produce for me at all. Come June (lucky long growing season) I replant from seed and rip out those vines.

Due the cool issue, I do notice those are the years and seasons I've ended up with mildew on the leaves of the early plantings.

I know their are hardier versions who successfully via off the mildew... but even those varieties can't do it if they are weakened by the cool snaps.