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Cucurbits: melons, squash, pumpkins, courgettes, zucchini, gherkins and… cucumbers.��

A bit “touchy” —don’t like cold spells of weather— cool southerly winds are no good; frost tender.��

That’s why it’s best to sow them later in spring (from end of October onwards).��

I sow them in medium-sized pots with seed-raising mix (high in organic material); these cucurbits appreciate a good organic feed (compost, sheep’s poo, Seafood Soup – a great liquid fertiliser) on a regular basis.��

But what you have to be careful with is too much water when they have germinated: their new roots are very susceptible to rotting in wet potting mix!��

A well-draining mix helps to keep the young roots safe from the rots.��

Keep your seedling in a nice, warm spot; around 18 degrees or more during the daytime hours and no less than 7 or 8 degrees at night.��

Sunlight is important: at least 7 hours per day direct sunlight.��

My tunnel house easily gets those numbers (and allows earlier planting and better regulation of watering too!).��

I’m not too keen on courgettes (which have a habit of becoming marrows – even worse!); nor am I a pumpkin aficionado. Let’s face it: in Winter there are heaps of pumpkins on the market and they cost bugger-all!��

I usually concentrate on Cucumbers, watermelon, and gherkins.��

These fruits are usually largely made of moisture – which means that when the flowers develop into fruits, the plants need more water (compared to the seedling stage); It’s the watering (liquid fertiliser!!) that really helps them to expand the fruit to a good size.��

Watermelon grows nicely on warm soils – sprawling all over the place; if you want to help them with lovely warm soil, perhaps cover the soil with some black plastic.��

Gherkins and Cucumbers are best grown on a trellis or climbing rack. Again: fruit develop best with increased watering / liquid fertiliser. Cucumbers need to be harvested regularly to make the plant set new fruit.��

Summer snack: Pickled gherkins? (or watermelon??).��