Lisboa Cucumber
Details
Growing Information
Planting:
Sow singly from late winter onwards 1cm (½in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of moist compost. Germination usually takes 7-10 days at 24-27C (75-80F).
Growing:
Transplant at the 2-3 leaf stage into 13cm (5in) pots and then into growbags, border or 23-25cm (9-10in) pots, spacing them 46cm (18in) apart or 2-3 per growbag. Provide a minimum temperature of 15C (60F). Keep soil moist, but not wet to avoid damping off.
Train up the main shoot to top of wire and then pinch out the growing point and allow two shoots to trail downwards. Keep moist but not wet, apply shading as required and provide a moist, warm atmosphere. Regular picking will encourage fruiting. Under stress conditions, male flowers may be produced and these should be removed.
Harvest:
Pick slicing cucumbers when they reach 6-8 inches long; pickling types at 3-5 inches. Keep mature cucumbers picked off the vines to encourage a longer yield. Harvest cucumbers for pickling early in the morning.
Pests & Diseases:
Striped or spotted cucumber beetles can emerge from the soil in spring and nibble on the leaves and stems of emerging plants. The beetles spread a bacterial wilt which causes plants to wilt and die before bearing fruit.
Companions:
Bush bean, cabbage family, corn, dill, eggplant, lettuce, radish, pea, tomato.