rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  06:49:20

I have not grown cucumbers in years. The bugs seem to get to the plants too often, either below ground or above. This year, in my new garden space area, I have accumulated about 100 sq ft of an excess dirt pile. it is in mounds based on wheel barrel dumps, consisting of old potting mix dumps and other digs for patio areas. It looks and feels great for a place to plant some cucumbers.
However, I would need to let the vines grow on the ground and not up trellises. They would block some critically needed sun for tomato plants nearby. So, my FIL always planted his cucumbers in mostly buried coffee cans with bottom cut out, and let the vines cover the ground. He said the cans kept under ground creatures from eating the roots?
Any advice, based on success or failure growing cucumbers this way?
Brad

conic - Posted - 05/22/2024:  07:40:09

I grow mine vertical and does not affect my tomatoes or capsicums. i don't get any critter attacks at the roots but when I get aphids and whitefly on the leaves I spray with a mix water, vegetable oil and washing up liquid soap, that does the trick.
Something else I discovered. 75% of my capsicums , sunflowers etc get lopped off by slugs in the night every year without fail but this year I have pruned back a large rosemary plant, the sprigs and needle offcuts i sprinkled around my plants and sometimes planted them next to my plants and have had no problems yet,

rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  07:51:07

quote:

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Originally posted by conic

I grow mine vertical and does not affect my tomatoes or capsicums. i don't get any critter attacks at the roots but when I get aphids and whitefly on the leaves I spray with a mix water, vegetable oil and washing up liquid soap, that does the trick.

Something else I discovered. 75% of my capsicums , sunflowers etc get lopped off by slugs in the night every year without fail but this year I have pruned back a large rosemary plant, the sprigs and needle offcuts i sprinkled around my plants and sometimes planted them next to my plants and have had no problems yet,

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Dang! I just did a major prune back of the rosemary that weathered the winter.  we ate some minced up for a pork roast and tossed the rest, as it was fairly tough and woody.  Next year I hope remember this.

conic - Posted - 05/22/2024:  08:04:29

If you cut some sprigs now and plant them they quickly take root and good for companion planting I have then stripped the rest of the branches and keep the leaves/needles in a sack for sprinkling around.

I also have in a big polytunnel and on dwarf rootstocks, nectarines, apricot and cherry which get attacked every spring by red spider mites, a few good sprays of the water-oil and washing liquid sends them into a permeant sleep.

rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  08:23:41

quote:

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Originally posted by conic

If you cut some sprigs now and plant them they quickly take root and good for companion planting I have then stripped the rest of the branches and keep the leaves/needles in a sack for sprinkling around.



I also have in a big polytunnel and on dwarf rootstocks, nectarines, apricot and cherry which get attacked every spring by red spider mites, a few good sprays of the water-oil and washing liquid sends them into a permeant sleep.

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Those red spider mites are terrible around here.  I put out a lot of ladybugs, but apparently never enough.  

What is your recipe for your spray?  Thanks, Brad

rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  08:54:59

My wife prefers "English"/"Asian" cucumbers, most eating uses. I am not sure if there is a difference with these long skinny cucs? I will probably plant a mound of English, and a mound of burpees for pickles. Brad

conic - Posted - 05/22/2024:  09:09:44

I just use a 5litre bottle with water, 1 table spoon of soap and 1 of oil. get the nozzle right inside the leaves

rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  10:03:51

quote:

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Originally posted by conic

I just use a 5litre bottle with water, 1 table spoon of soap and 1 of oil. get the nozzle right inside the leaves

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5 litre bottle, eh.  so, close to 5 quarts.  I will do the math do fit some standard jug in these parts, such as a gallon.  Thank you, Brad

Edited by - rinemb on 05/22/2024 10:04:15

conic - Posted - 05/22/2024:  11:21:48

yes its near enough a gallon. we used to use gallons until the pesky EU, At last we got out but I prefer metric

AndrewD - Posted - 05/22/2024:  12:35:42

I've got a big rosemary plant right next to where I've just planted courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. I'll try that rosemary trick and report back.

PS. We adopted metric some years before we entered the EU.

rinemb - Posted - 05/22/2024:  18:38:38

quote:

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Originally posted by AndrewD

I've got a big rosemary plant right next to where I've just planted courgettes, peppers and tomatoes. I'll try that rosemary trick and report back.



PS. We adopted metric some years before we entered the EU.

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I actually prefer metric, in my later adult years.  I see lengths pretty much both ways. The scientific community is pretty much all in now.  Funny, when I was young it was understood the U S A would completely change to all in metric.  It never fully happened, or adopted.  Brad

rinemb - Posted - 05/23/2024:  05:51:07

So, I have been thinking...why not I buy two narrow (say 6' x 2') gridded trellis's with space in the squares big enough to get your hands through, lay them down together like a tent "/\" and zip or string tie together, for a low cage of sorts? And this rig would cover 3 cucumber mounds. Brad

conic - Posted - 05/23/2024:  06:03:59

Yes, that would work fine. I grow mine in a polytunnel so I tie the end of a string to a small branch which I put under the rootball, then tie the other end to the roof, the plant then supports itself on the string, I also do it with melons

STUD figmo Al - Posted - 05/25/2024:  05:39:53

I'm trying to grow mine in a big container this year. Interested in seeing how they turn out.
Liz

mander - Posted - 05/25/2024:  06:02:13

quote:

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Originally posted by conic

I grow mine vertical and does not affect my tomatoes or capsicums. i don't get any critter attacks at the roots but when I get aphids and whitefly on the leaves I spray with a mix water, vegetable oil and washing up liquid soap, that does the trick.

Something else I discovered. 75% of my capsicums , sunflowers etc get lopped off by slugs in the night every year without fail but this year I have pruned back a large rosemary plant, the sprigs and needle offcuts i sprinkled around my plants and sometimes planted them next to my plants and have had no problems yet,

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I could be wrong, but I thought it was cutter worms that lopped them off. Slugs eat decimate the foliage and the stem looks withered.

Elmo_Smiley - Posted - 05/27/2024:  06:40:10

Just some thoughts. I never have container grown cucumbers, but I'm learning it's not a bad idea, and many entire gardens can be grown in containers. I never have had a problem with roots being eaten, but I have had a problem with squirrels or rabbits eating leaves. An old Granny at a garden center advised a few natural fixes. First, plant fragrant flowers, especially marigolds with your cukes. You can also plant fragrant herbs such as peppermint with them. It seems the larger critters hate those things. Some hot pepper flakes sprinkled among the leaves may help as well. Making a spray from peppermint is also a good idea to keep critters and bugs away. I have grown both ways - usually along the ground between rows of other things, mostly tomatoes. And yes, climbing up the border fences. The only thing I can say about cukes is that if you get them growing and get the critters leaving them alone, they will grow like weeds. One year I was still harvesting into the first of October in my area. Good luck!