To late to trim cucumbers?

Michelle MCNEILL

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So...I messed up. Not only did I plant cucumbers, zucchini, beans and squash all in the same 6x6 planter, but I also planted them very close to huge uncaged tomatoes. Now...I have a giant mess that's so chaotic that it makes my brain hurt. I'm thinking instead of trying to replant in a different area, trying to trim the cucumbers down so I can put in a trellis and train them as they regrow, and maybe the other viney stuff too.
Should I do this this late, or just let them do their tangled mass and ride it out? How far would I set back my harvest, or would I even get one?
 

flowerbug

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Do I have enough time to get fruit this season if I reseed?

i don't know. we've had issues with some of them one year where they just stopped once it got too hot, but that could have been the variety we planted or a disease problem. the guy at the greenhouse said it was disease. in most other years we've
had cucumbers growing the whole season until we had too many and were done with them. we kept them well watered and i think that was what kept them going.

with you guys being much further south i'm not sure they'd do the same (perhaps some broken shade during the hottest part of the day would help but i don't know as i've not done that or needed to here)...

considering the unknowns you can perhaps put trellis space next to the plant and try to train it on that and see how it goes? some parts of it may break off but it may be worth a try.
 

so lucky

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I think most of the packs of seeds say to plant April through June, so, I'd give it a try. I haven't even planted any yet, but my garden is a train wreck this year. The only thing doing well is broccoli and weeds.
 

Ridgerunner

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Do I have enough time to get fruit this season if I reseed?

Huntsville, at the Tennessee line. Cucumbers, probably not, it's going to get hot and dry pretty soon. But if you have room and keep them watered, maybe. In the heat they will germinate grow pretty fast. It would be a big help if they could get some afternoon shade. Mulching can help in keeping the soil moist and the roots cooler.
 

ducks4you

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The only problems you get planting cucumbers is:
1) bad soil. You have good soil
2) squash bugs/squash vine borers
Pumpkins growers suggest pruning to get more fruit. Cucumbers are a squash.
You SHOULD prune the ones you have AND plant new ones. I am planting squash today, I have planted as late as June and got LOADS of cucumbers from that planting, so not too late.
Really, it is good to take advice, but everybody's yard/gardens are microclimates and experimenting will tell you what works in YOUR yard.
 

PhilaGardener

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If you have the space, you might also try transplanting what you need to spread out. Wait for a cloudy day, try to move a good bit of soil with each, and keep well watered before and after moving. Some temporary shade might help them get established.
 

ducks4you

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@so lucky :hugs:hugs:hugs
You should read this, and feel better:
https://www.gardensmart.tv/pages.php?page=episodes&subpage=2017_show37#Mark Catesby
It is a great program, so check your local PBS listing to watch a repeat, which they DO, that is repeat their shows. The expert historian said that a vegetable garden in 18th century colonial America was a wealthy man's pursuit. You needed slaves to carry water and do all of the grunt work.
Consider, too, that if you have happy weeds, at least SOME of your soil is working for you. At least you have broccoli. I put in a really nice bed with lots of spinach in it. It grew very slowly bc we stayed cold, like, as "Pyg" says when I leave her behind at home, "You were gone forever!!!! I counted!!!" No heat and then total heat. Can't win.
Now, it's ready to harvest and BOLTING!!! :rant I am going to try a new crop in total shade to see if that works.
 

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