Cucumber

Fill small pots or modules with peat-free seed compost and sow cucumber seeds on their side about 1 cm deep. Keep the compost warm (around 20 °C) and moist – a propagator or warm windowsill is ideal. Seeds should germinate in about a week.

Once seedlings have a couple of true leaves, transplant each into an individual 8 cm pot of compost. Keep only the strongest plant if more than one came up per pot. Grow them on in a bright, frost-free place (around 18 °C) and keep the compost moist.

April in Arncroach is a good time to start hardening off your cucumber seedlings. Gradually accustom them to outdoor conditions by placing them outside during the day and bringing them in at night for about a week. This will toughen them up for planting out.

Transplant your cucumbers outside in May once the risk of frost has passed in Arncroach. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. Space the plants about 45 cm apart if using supports, or up to 90 cm apart if they will sprawl on the ground. Plant them in rich soil and water in well.

Provide a trellis or canes for the cucumbers to climb and tie in the stems as they grow. Once the main stem has around 7 leaves, pinch out its tip to encourage side shoots. Allow side shoots to grow (pinch their tips after around 7 leaves if they get too long). Do not remove any male flowers on outdoor varieties – they are needed for pollination.

Start feeding about 2-4 weeks after planting out. Use a general liquid feed every couple of weeks to boost growth. Once the plants begin to flower, switch to a high-potash tomato fertiliser to encourage lots of fruit. Keep the soil consistently moist alongside feeding.

Pick cucumbers regularly once they reach a usable size. Cut the fruits off with a knife or secateurs – don’t pull them. Harvesting while fruits are young and green ensures the best taste and encourages the plant to keep producing more cucumbers through the summer.