CUCUMBER 309 
size early in Novem- 
ber; there should be 
full pickings at Thanks- 
giving and a liberal 
supply for the Christ- 
mas market. 
There is a wide va- 
riation in the time of 
starting the plants for 
the spring crop. A few 
growers sow. about 
February 15. Many 
sow early in March, 
while some of the most 
successful greenhouse 
growers wait until the 
latter part of March, 
thus growing an extra 
crop of lettuce before 
cucumbers are planted 
in the beds. Then, too, 
later sowing not only saves time, but the plants are 
generally thriftier and probably more productive on ac- 
count of higher temperatures and more sunshine. Noth- 
ing is gained by very early sowing unless a special market 
is to be supplied. If the houses are not adequately heated, 
it is especially important to defer sowing until March 1 
or possibly March 15. Plants which have been started 
March 1 should be large enough to bench early in April, 
and in full bearing during the months of June and July. 
Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the impor- 
tance of growing good plants. The success of the crop 
depends largely upon setting in the beds strong, vigor- 
ous plants that have not been stunted, injured or checked 
in growth at any time. Such plants never fully recover, 
and they generally produce a large percentage of small, 
irregular cucumbers that grade as seconds or perhaps as 
Fig. 106.—Abundance from the originator. 
