If you enjoy the taste of fresh cucumber, sow some seeds in spring for a summer-long supply. Here's our guide to growing your own.
What to do
In mid-spring sow two seeds on their sides, 2cm (0.7in) deep, in a 7.5cm (3in) pot filled with seed compost (do this twice).
Cover, water and label.
Put in a propagator to germinate.
Remove from propagator after germination and remove the weakest seedling when they're 2cm (0.7in) tall.
Provide support with a small garden cane.
At the end of May, plant two cucumber plants into a growing bag.
Push a large cane into the growing bag and secure to the roof of the greenhouse.
Keep plants well-watered and tie regularly to the canes with garden twine.
When plants reach the roof pinch out the tips.
After fruit appears, feed fortnightly with a liquid fertiliser high in potash.
Some varieties have both female and male flowers on the same plant - remove the male blooms and leave the female - these can be recognised by a swelling fruit behind the flower.
Harvest cucumbers in summer, when they've reached the desired size.
