Greetings Gardeners
Today I wanted to finally share my success in growing cucumbers! In previous years, I had amazing success with my Burpless cucumbers.
I love cucumbers, and they were so easy to grow, I thought I would change it up this year by trying some new varieties. I managed to get my grubby paws on some crystal apple cucumbers.
These cucumbers grow round and are said to be slightly sweet. I wouldn't know, because for the last three months (my whole summer), I would get shoots and the slugs swarmed them. Needless to say, I was furious!
Now, it's easy to say, get slug bai. However, the slug bait available all comes with a warning that it is toxic to cats. We just had new neighbours move in next door to us with two young cats. I opted to give up on my cucumbers for the time being.
After trying eggshells, coffee grounds, and even garlic, nothing protected my cucumber seedlings. There were two more options I could try. The first was diatomaceous earth, and the other salt.
Those who have read my updates before know that I grow in pots, so setting salt down seemed okay, as I didn't have diatomaceous earth. I surrounded my self-watering pot with a heap of dishwashing salt crystals. Don't worry, there is no one around us with a garden, so the salt content wouldn't have ruined their gardens. In addition, our rainy season is fast approaching.
The salt crystals did nothing. The slugs were still devouring seedling after seddling, after seedling. I switched tactics and went for fine salt. Not a single slug has made its appearance since.
Slugs are a major nuisense in our complex (gated community) but I didn't want to put toxic bait down with new kittens possibly roaming our courtyard when I am not around.
And now, the results. I have 3 1 by 1 foot square containers that fit in my self-watering container, and I currently have 5 cucumber plants that seem to be thriving.
I will have to thin these as they grow or figure out how to train them up a gate or trellis.
This one only sprouted a few days ago.
Now I wouldn't suggest salt to those of you who have gardens, as this would change the mineral content of the soil and even burn the plants you're trying to grow. If you have an in-ground garden, it may be best to add a dish of beer (slugs love beer and will drown themselves in it) or add diatomaceous earth. However, if adding diatomaceous earth, be aware that this can negatively affect your beneficial arthropods as well.
So yeah, that is my update about my garden. Cucumbers in fall. I don't know if they will make fruit before winter, but I am going to give it a good try while our wealth isn't too bad during the day time hours.
Wish me luck!