I really want to grow cucumbers from seeds. I just went and bought a packet of cucumber seeds. Is it too late already or do I have a shot?
Tina, Where you are I wouldn't think there would be any problem with planting them now. There should be info on the seed packet that gives you the Days to Maturity and if that time period is before your first average date of frost you should have plenty of time for a crop. I know I have to get mine going early so I can harvest all I want before the hot part of summer comes and they start curling and become bitter tasting.
I think you should have plenty of time. The seed packet probably has a germination and days to harvest chart. That may be of help.
Thank you both. The seeds are now in the baggy(Petunia's method) waiting to germinate. Will update you on how they are doing.
Tina: although I would think I have plenty of seeds started-I too did pickling cucumbers but none of regular cucumbers. I thought about starting them still. I'm sure its still not late for us here either. I'm just making sure we don't get anymore frost, before we actually do any planting in the garden.
Cucumbers grows fast from seeds. Typically you can harvest after 60 days starting from seeds. In fact, there is an advantage to plant cucumbers late to protect them from cucumber beatles which may transmit bacterial wilt. Start seeds indoor in May. During this time, overwintering adult cucumber beatles wake up and look for young cucumber plants to feed, lay eggs and then die. Transplant cucumber seedlings outside in June to avoid the beatles. If young plants get the bacterial from the beatles they will die quickly before the plants mature. The same for other melon and squash plants that are not resistent to bacterial wilt. I started some cucumber plants in March and they already have cumbers to harvest. But I have to keep them indoor in pots. For outdoors, I started another batch of seedings just a week ago. Seeds can germinate in about 4 to 6 days if you can keep tempreture 80F.
