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May: Cucumbers

I always think of cucumbers as being an exotic plant, but they do perfectly well in our climate, even in a poor summer, and it is not too late to grow your own. So many children seem to like them and they are great for little growers as they have large seeds, sprout at a fair old rate, and you can even find seeds for small 'lunch box' cucumbers.

Sow them in moist compost in paper, or small pots, preferably with the seed on its edge (ie, with one of the long edges facing upwards), about 1cm/½" deep. Keep in a greenhouse or on a sunny window sill, and if frost threatens protect them with some newspaper or bubble wrap if you do not heat your greenhouse. When they have sprouted about 4 true leaves (the spiky ones, not the first 2 round-ish ones), the roots will probably be bursting out of the pots - pot them on into something bigger, and let the roots bulk out again. When the last risk of frost is past (watch out for late May frosts) you can plant them into the ground and water in well. They like a rich soil, so if you can, dig a hole now and add some compost or well-rotted manure where the cucumber is going to go. Alternatively plant them into growbags in the greenhouse, 2 to a growbag, and train them upwards by tying them onto wires. They like the growbag to stay moist, but be careful not to over-water initially, as they will simply rot (I speak from experience)!

Just watch them grow away, and you will very quickly be eating the first fruit. Water them until they are established, then keep picking them regularly, and they will keep producing until the first heavy frost.

Tip: you need to buy specific cucumber seed for growing under cover or outside. Outdoor cucumbers tend to have ridged and slightly spiky skins, and a delicious flavour - I have had good success with Burpless Tasty Green, and am trying Marketmore this year. The indoor ones tend to be like the traditional shop-bought cucumber. It is best to go for all female, or self-pollinating varieties for the indoor ones, such as Bella. If you do not have the chance to sow seed, buy a small plant in a garden centre, pot on and keep somewhere frost-free until it is ready to go out once the last frost is over.