Cucumber conundrum
Posted on April 16th, 2008 – 7:35 AMBy Jaime Chismar
From simple salted slices to Asian-inspired noodle salads, I am crazy for cucumbers. Every April, I eagerly start a few plants from seed. By July, my cucumbers hang — misshapen and mealy — on a withered vine. By August, I have to shop the farmer’s markets for my summer fix.
Despite three years of failure, I remain optimistic and started another batch of seeds. To my surprise, my little over achievers were the first veggies to sprout in the CPPC (Cat-Proof Protection Chamber). Their secondary leaves grew quickly, and soon afterwards, these bold little sprouts were bursting out of their small planter. Seed staring mix is mostly peat — Great for moisture, but not for nutrients. It was time to upgrade to a bigger container with better soil.
I swung by the Linden Hills Co-op for a few groceries and couple bags of potting mix. I was in a hurry and didn’t bother read the label. Potting mix is potting mix, right?
Um, wrong.
I’m not sure what “Father Dom’s” organic soil mix looks like, but I’m sure it’s not much different than Father Dom’s organic potting mix — a disappointing bag of dirt clods, rocks and plastic chunks. Despite the label, this mix was totally inappropriate container gardening. The roots of my tender seedlings could never penetrate such thick muck.
I turned the bag over and read the fine print: “We use all natural organic material and do not use peat or sphagnum moss, which many times are stripped from the ground in an environmentally damaging manner.”
Father Dom was doing the right thing, but unfortunately, he wasn’t doing right by my seedlings. Luckily, I still had half a bag of seed starter left. I mixed the two together as Mr. Puff supervised over my shoulder.
I was feeling pretty good about my progress, but pretty conflicted about the peat. Are peat bogs in crisis? I know there are alternatives like coconut fiber, but is there a locally produced substitution? What about straight up compost? (I guess it’s time to do a little Greengirl research… )
Peat questions aside, it there a flower, fruit or veggie you can’t grow? How does one overcome your garden-variety failures?
16 Responses to "Cucumber conundrum"
I wasted 50% of my full-sun gardening space on a pumpkin patch last year. Doh! It yielded one lame greenish little thing that the sqirrels or rabbits gnawed on before I could even pick it. Although as you can see, the rodents *actually carved a spooky face into it. I’ll never waste space on pumpkins again.
I just read recently that England has run out of peat for horticultural use, and Ireland is going to stop harvesting soon too. Apparently it takes 10,000 years for a peat bog to form?
Ha! That is a total Edward Gorey pumpkin! Seriously, do not get me started on squirrels. Those little (insert swearing here) have gotten fat off my garden, not to mention, bold as hell.
I’ve read that New Zealand has sustainable peat practices but if a bog takes 10,000 years to regenerate, those efforts seem rather futile, no?
I am a total convert to the coconut “peat” as it is less acidic, holds no fungus, and is easy to come by. Straight sifted compost is good too.
My seed babies do pretty well in a sterized compost seed start mix. If you think they are going to need food them compost tea or the draining from the aquarium with the Koi (boy, can they skank up a 15 gal aquarium in short order!)
Bonus points to both Sandra (for the great pic of the pumpkin) and Deb (for using “skank” as a verb). I like the idea of using compost tea from fish skank. Ok, mostly I like saying the word.
I’m a little concerned about compost teas, especially after reading the new book, “The Truth About Organic Gardening,” by Jeff Gillman. He’s an associate proferssor of horticulture who researched organic gardening methods and products. In his book he writes:”… the use of compost or manure tea, because of the environment it provides for bacterial growth, could spread harmful bacteria.”
That sounds kinda scary.
:”… the use of compost or manure tea, because of the environment it provides for bacterial growth, could spread harmful bacteria.”
That sounds kinda scary.
That does sound scary. Is he over-emphasizing the risk? I’m no expert, but if he equates manure tea with compost tea, perhaps he is.
He is equating the two, because he says they are made the same way. He doesn’t do his own research on this, but cites several scientific studies.
If you’re at all interested, check out his book. It’s cheap. And I found it really interesting.
I don’t start my cucumber seeds until may 1st, they grow so fast and you shouldn’t put them in the garden until late May first part of June, from what I understand. Anyhow…I’ve had great luck the last three years, so it seems to be working.
i’ve tried two year past to grow nasturtiums, and never did a single seed sprout. this year i purchased the seeds from seeds of change instead of the local hardware stores. and for the first time ever i have a grow light set up for my tomato seedlings, and i decided to try nasturtiums again. i figured the grow light, good seeds, and extra moist starting conditions would give me a better chance, and i was right! nearly every seed sprouted! i shall have nasturtiums at last!
I must be fearless as I have been using composted (rabbit) manure and the old fishy water for years and have never had adverse affects. I am not sure what I would catch from the Koi, fin rot?, ick? If they are in good health I will continue.
We live in a balance of bacteria, some good (take a bite of yogurt here), some not so friendly. Living in a sterile world gives us no resistance to any of the baddies so we must grow more of the helpful bacteria like compost and the ones that grow on legume roots.
I don’t start my cukes indoors anymore. They sprout nicely direct seeded. I also make a silo out of woven wire and plan the seeds outside the little silo. I put my compost stuff in the silo. The cukes get more nutrients, have wire to grow up (gives nice straight cukes), and probably stay hydrated than other methods I’ve tried.
After my cukes started running wild last summer, I put up a small trellis. That worked out well.
I love that pumpkin pic, too. Especially the asymmetrical eyes. Looks too cute to be Gorey. More like Tim Burton, in my opinion.
Composted manure and compost tea made from (or contaminated with) manure are two different things.
Laura,
Congrats on your nasturtiums! The blossoms and leaves make great additions to your spring salads. One trick to try next year: Soak the seeds in warm water over night, then plant. Those skins are so tough, it’s hard for the sprouts to break through!
I highly recommend a trellis for cukes, the don’t end up rotting on the ground and you get so many more out of one plant in a smaller space.
oh…and look at them closely each day. those pesky cucumber beetles tend to show up very quickly sometimes before you know it. If you get them early you should be fine.
Yes, with nasturtiums, soak the seeds overnight before planting.
Peat bogs are endangered. I have never liked using peat anyway, because let it dry out, it’s a pain in the neck to rewet.
Greengirls Jaime Chismar, Connie Nelson, and Robyn Dochterman are dishin' the dirt from the backyard garden and beyond. Whether you're a greenthumb or greenhorn, they're eager to learn from your misshaps, mistakes -- and most importantly, your sweet successes -- all growing season long.
You can also send your questions, ideas, tips and tricks to greengirls@startribune.com.
Subscribe to Greengirls
Learn more about RSS
Garden resources
Categories
- Apples, Plums + Tree fruits (14)
- Asparagus (2)
- Beans + Peas (6)
- Bees (9)
- Beets, Carrots + Root veggies (5)
- Berries (7)
- Books + Resources (12)
- Chickens (7)
- Compost (7)
- Container gardening (6)
- Corn (1)
- Critters + vermin (21)
- Cucumbers + Melons (14)
- Farmer's Markets (1)
- Flowers + Grasses (26)
- Garlic (5)
- Greens + Lettuces (7)
- Herbs (6)
- Lawn care (8)
- Mulch (7)
- Mystery plants (9)
- Potatoes (9)
- Preserving (6)
- Rain gardens (2)
- Seed starting (16)
- Soil care (3)
- Squashes + gourds (1)
- Succulents (2)
- Tomatoes, Peppers + Eggplant (34)
- Tools, gloves, rain barrels + more (13)
- Transplanting (1)
- Tree + shrub care (3)
- Uncategorized (88)
- Water gardens (3)
- Weather woes (23)
- Weeds (11)
- Weekend to-dos (10)