Cucumbers and Cucurbits

[Cherry]

I have read conflicting reports and don't know whether the cucumbers need watering on the leaves, or if they should be kept dry. They need different conditions to tomatoes, but what are these conditions? Mine are getting the same conditions and fertilizer. Should zucchini which are outside have dry leaves or are they better when sprinkled.

[daitheplant]

Cherry, when watering greenhouse grown cucumbers you should water the ground and away from the stem. As for the growing situation. Tomatoes need a humid atmosphere and should be grown away from the door. Cucumbers need drier air conditions so should be planted near the door for ventilation. As for the zucchini, obviously, when it rains the leaves will get wet, however, when watering, I would again, water the ground rather than the plant.

[Cherry]

Thank you daitheplant. Well I have it all wrong. There is a tomato next to the door and the cucumbers are at the end on the opposite side to the tomatoes. The floor is concrete, but I can still water without touching the stem of the cucumbers because they are in Halo pots so I can water in the pot. I won these actually. We don't have much rain here so I will keep the sprinkler off the zucchini and just slow soak with the hose.

[daitheplant]

Cherry, you are not the first person to get them the wrong way around, and you wont be the last. Good idea with the sprinkler hose.

[Cherry]

daitheplant I only started growing tomatoes with the help of the forum about six or seven years ago. Cucumbers came after that. I would not be without them now.

[lesley]

I've grown mine the wrong way round for the last 4 years since I've had a greenhouse but all have survived and doing really well.

[daitheplant]

Lesley, it took me a while to work out what each plant wanted.lol

[Cherry]

Thank goodness for that lesley. I thought I was really stupid, but now there are two of us.

[daitheplant]

It isn`t being stupid Cherry, it is making a natural mistake.

[Cherry]

No. I can take it. Stupid it is. That comes from half of my life being able to grow anything anywhere in the garden. Gardening like that can mean that we don't have to understand the plants because they just grow. I came to veggie gardening late.

[daitheplant]

Cherry, trust me, it is NOT stupid. People don`t realise that cucumbers are susceptible to mildew. To prevent that they need a dry, airy, situation, and that is by the door.

[Cherry]

Good advice for next year daitheplant.

[sweetpea]

Hi cherry. How is it that I very often go against all the pundits and do my own thing with good results?
This business of tomatoes and cucumbers needing different conditions being a prime example. For a counsel of perfection yes, but most of us can't give the IDEAL so we have to compromise.
I have grown cucumbers, tomatoes, plus various other plants in the same greenhouse for years without any problems. At times I have used varishade on the glass in summer and give the cucumbers a spray with clear water which helps to deter red spider mites.
They both get the same plant food which with me is Phostrogen.
When i damp down the floor of g'house in hot weather all the plants in there get the benefit (or otherwise)
As for outdoor plants, well, apart from an initial watering in they get no more water unless it falls from the sky. once you start watering you make a rod for your own back. The plants will send their roots down deeper and benefit from it too.

The secret is in good ground preparation incorporating humus forming material like compost, FYM etc. etc. This helps the soil to retain moisture and also act as drainage.

Naturally plants in containers need watering and supplementary feeding.

[daitheplant]

Sweetpea, no one is saying you can`t grow tomatoes and cucumbers in the same greenhouse at the same time. Just that they both need different conditions.

[Cherry]

You understand your plants' needs sweetpea. Same with daitheplant and you both keep me right. However, I can see that the cucumbers would be better near the door. Most people have to grow them in the same greenhouse so of course it is not ideal.