What did I do wrong?

Hi,


First year of edible gardening for me and all in all a major success. Loads of spuds, parsnips, carrots, peas, beans, courgettes, celery(a major success on that one) onions garlics etc but the failures have been the cucumbers and the squash.

I managed two cucumbers of around 5 inches length off three plants, and the squash are only just flowering so will get nothing from those.


What am I missing?

 

For a first year (and I'm guessing not the last!) that's impressive!

Even us professionals get "off years" for one thing or another.

Both squash and cuc's like a hot sunny summer... blame the weather, try again next year...... and feel proud!

 

That makes me feel a lot better, but it bugs me when something doesn't go as planned-s'pose I am just never satisfied lol.

 

Fantastic result!

I have to say my allotment went just as well too but also having failed on the cucumbers and squash's!

I plated a bit late i guess but i'll blame the weather too haha

 

The squashes were from a packet and they are exactly as you describe-lots of leaves and are only just flowering.

The cucumbers were indoor and were against the south facing wall of the greenhouse-plenty of sun. As mu greenhouse is on concrete they were in planters and I am starting to think maybe there wasn't enough water for them-although I did check them.


Oh and I forgot-my tomatoes were doing well until they all developed blight.

 

Some people think that cucumbers and tomatoes dont do well in the same greenhouse. Tomatoes like it warm and a dryish atmosphere - keeps some of the fungal diseases at bay. cucumbers like it cooler and a moister atmosphere. i have to admit that often I have had years when the tomatoes have been brilliant but the cucs rubbish and then vica verca but never brilliant together.
I grow butternut squash and they do like a long warm summer so the last two years have not suited them. I have decided that planting squash under sweet corn does not work. It might work in the States where they have hot sunny summers but not under our cloudy skies? That is one experiment I will list as a failure.