Re: Cucumbers in hills?
Nan Sterman wrote:
>
> This is a bit off topic, but you all are the best gardening resource I know
> of and I trust your judgement. I was reading about planting cucurbits
> (cucumbers, melons, squash, etc.) in hills, which I know is the traditional
> method used since way back when. This book, however, said that "hill"
> doesn't mean a raised mound of soil, it means planting in a CIRCLE. In
> other words, at ground level. I've always mounded the soil (maybe that's
> why I've not done well with curcurbits). How do you all plant these guys?
>
Hi Nan
I usually put a dollop of extra compost on the surface of the bed
wherever I am planting a cucurbit, as I gather they are quite greedy,
but I don't really make a hill as such. Once the plant is settled in I
also mulch all round with grass clippings to help the ground stay moist.
If you don't pay attention to their water requiremnets there is a
tendency for the fruits not to set properly.
I actually grow my cucumbers up the outside of a wire cylinder, which
was originally intended as a tomato cage but proved too narrow, putting
two or three plants round the circumference. I don't remember where I
saw it, but I once noticed a neat idea for providing extra food as the
plants grow and this was to put a pile of compost several inches thick
_inside_ the cylinder, The idea is that as this slowly rots into the
soil the plants can put their roots into it for a snack. I did it last
year and certainly got a good crop, so I have just arranged a similar
setup for this season, and we shall see if it works again.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
