Container cucumbers indoors

[jackb]

I thought that I would try to defy Mother Nature and grow a few cucumber plants indoors in a container this winter. So far, so good.

 

[RidgebackRanch]

So far so good indeed! Keep the pictures coming as things progress.

What variety is that?

 

[jackb]

The plants are Little Leaf, a parthenocarpic variety developed by U. Arkansas. They work well for pickles and are OK for slicing. I grew them in the greenhouse this summer and we made several batches of garlic dills from them. My granddaughter, Ava, got hooked on pop's dill pickles, and fresh cucumbers are getting hard to find now so I though I would try to grow them. Time will tell.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i've been wondering how you start the seeds? do you use a certain type of medium or those little clay balls i see in most of your pots?

 

[jackb]

I place the seeds in moist coffee filters until the radicle starts to emerge, then gently place them in either rockwool cubes or Oasis horticubes. When the seedling has a few true leaves I transplant them into whatever medium I will be using to grow them. The cucumbers in the photo are growing in coco coir and agricultural perlite. In the active hydroponic systems, like ebb and flow, or aeroponics, I use the expanded clay balls.

The photo shows some Dutch Winter Brown lettuce that Ava and I will be planting tomorrow. I can pretty much get a plant from EVERY seed in the package.

 

[jackb]

It looks like this is going to be a success, as the plants are finally producing female flowers. The plants are parthenocarpic and do not need pollination. This was worth trying.

 

[RidgebackRanch]

I know it's been awhile, but how did the cucumber plant turn out?

 

[jackb]

I know it's been awhile, but how did the cucumber plant turn out?

I got some cucumbers, but not enough at one time to make any pickles. Next year I am going to place two pots in a tent and see if I can get more cucumbers.
Thanks for asking.
Jack B.