Cucumber : Children's Ornamental Cucumber Hedgehog

Ornamental Vegetable

• Crops in : August to September
• Ideal for : Children
• Height : 4 feet

Description

Horace Hedgehog.

Easy and fun. A climbing plant producing lots of pale green, round decorative, spiny ornamental fruits which you can turn into decorations and characters. They will last up to 3 months.

Sowing Instructions

Sow April to May. Sow seeds 5cm (1in) deep, on edge in a pot or troy of good seed compost at 20C (68F) in a greenhouse or propagator. It's important to sow the seed on its edge or it may rot if sown flat. Protect seedlings from direct sunlight to avoid scorching.

Growing Instructions

Pot-on individual seedlings into 7,5cm (3in) pots of compost, keep just moist to avoid the stems rotting. Keep tempera ture at about 20C (68F). Once all frost has gone. plant out in a sunny. well-drained soil 30cm (12in) apart in borders or in a container.

Aftercare

Use potash fertiliser once fruits appear, water and mulch regularly.

Nutritional Information

Cucumbers are 96% water, low in calories but high in potassium. Avoid peeling as the dark green skin is rich in carotenoid antioxidants.

Caution

The fruits are bitter and do not taste nice so do not eat them.