Thinning the cucumbers...and other things...

[EggsForIHOP]

So...I now have to thin the cucumbers...how many plants do I leave? 2 - 3 of the healthiest ones? Or just one?

Also...my cilantro on the porch appears to be bolting...what do I do about this? Move it to the shade? Or start over?

And the corn has sprouted...VERY SPARSELY SO! Like 3 little spots of it! Will more come up? Or should I replant the bare spots and cross my fingers again?

I'll go get some pics in a bit so you can see what I mean...Plus I am DARN PROUD of what is making it!

Oh! The little pepper plants are already making little peppers! Should I pinch them off and wait until later? I don't know what to do....they seem so young for this....

thanks every one! All advice helps me greatly!

 

[curly_kate]

Are the cukes in the ground, or started in pots? If they're in pots, definitely thin to the biggest one. If you planted several seeds in one spot, also need to thin down to one. Cukes need a lot of room to ramble, so give each plant plenty of space.

As far as the corn is concerned, I might give it a week to see if the other seeds sprout, but after that, I'd definitely replant. You need to have a good sized block all tasseling at the same time so that you get proper pollination.

Can't say anything to the cilantro and peppers, tho....

 

[EggsForIHOP]

Oh! yes, the cukes are in pots...sort of... It was my "ode to the trailer home"....I drilled holes into 5 gallon buckets and put them in there, they are next to the fence so they have something to climb...so thin them down to one? got it...

The corn has been in the dirt a week and 3 days now...give it a few more days and then replant? 10-4 good buddy!

Now all I need is someone to chime in on the other stuff and I can head in a direction...any direction is fine with me I just don't have one right now

 

[Collector]

EFI, I think that maybe you should pinch off the blooms on your peppers and let them grow a little. Dont take my word as gospel though I dont know much about them. It is just what I would do, and I make alot of mistakes.
Did you soak your corn seed for a day before you planted it? My dad swore it made them sprout sooner and more sprouted. He also did the same with beans and peas.

 

[lesa]

Is the cilantro planted in pots, or the garden? You can pinch the flowers off and get a little more time out of it, or you can let a couple plants go to seed (remember that is coriander) and reseed. In your climate, I am sure you are going to have trouble with bolting- but it is a fast grower, so I would keep replanting those seeds... Even in upstate NY, I can get 3 crops. If you have a spot that is a bit shady, that might slow it down.

 

[digitS']

And, as I am typing . . . you are getting more good advice.

I know a gardener who does all of his cilantro in containers. It gives him more control of location - a little more shade, a little morning sun.

Cilantro is a quick, quick crop. My best plants are those that have over-wintered and it doesn't seem that many can survive. Those that do can get quite large. Unfortunately, seed sown in the garden has to be used when it is ready to go and that doesn't take long. Then, it is difficult to find a good place for sowing more as the weather heats up.

I'd re-sow and find a good place for it . . . then come back and tell us how well your cilantro is doing for you. BTW - cilantro is grown in greenhouses for commercial production. It gives the growers more control of the environment.

I am one to remove all tomato flowers on small plants so if your peppers really seem too small to be producing you should certainly be able to do that. It gives them more chance to grow leaves rather than putting their energy into fruit & seeds.

Steve

 

[EggsForIHOP]

Okay...pinch off buds to give the plants time to get bigger with the peppers....SHOULD have soaked the corn, but didn't know about that! Will do next time....let the cilantro reseed itself? Then keep it kinda shaded...can do totally! I'll go get some pics in a bit too...still working on laundry and playing on here in between loads