Rosemary Ward, of Gardening Which?, looks at what needs to be done in the garden this month

Greenhouse cucumbers

Gardening Which? grew more than a ton of cucumbers in our last trial, so we could recommend the best ones for you to try. Out of 15 varieties, we found EIlas, Passandra, and Zeina, were the best small-fruited types, and Flamingo, was the best in large fruited group though Futura,, Galileo, and Tiffany, also did well.

Don't cucumbers have romantic names? They're not very romantic plants though.

All these modern varieties are all female, and self fertile, so you don't have to worry about removing male flowers as you once did. To grow, sow seeds individually in small pots as they resent root disturbance. If you have a heated greenhouse, sow in March otherwise wait until April.

Germinate on a warm, well-lit windowsill, or a heated propagator. When the young plants have grown four or five leaves (which takes about a month) transfer them to large pots (10 to 15 litre) or growing bags. Keep the compost moist at all times - this may mean watering twice a day, or installing an automatic watering system. Also try to keep the atmosphere moist eg by wetting the path daily.

Feed regularly with liquid tomato food, and keep the temperature at 15C to 21C. Train the plants up a cane or string. Nip out any side shoots, but be careful not to damage the flowers.

When the plant reaches the top of the support, tie the stem carefully and allow it to trail. Cut cucumbers when they reach a decent size 20cm for small-fruited ones and 30-40cm for large-fruited. Pick all mature fruit even if you can't eat them or they will stop producing.

Jobs of the week

Hoe weed seedlings on dry sunny days so they don't re-root

Prune willows and green-leaved dogwoods grown for their coloured stems. Cut each stem to an outward facing bud within 5cm (2in) of old wood. With variegated dogwoods, prune back only one stem in three each year

Protect delphinium, hostas, tulips and other emerging shoots from slugs and snails

For inspirational ideas coupled with reliable, research-based information subscribe to Gardening Which? For your free trial issue call Freephone 0800 252 100 quoting code G_CC06, or visit www.gwfreetrial.co.uk.

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