Best way to sow cucumber seed

I have grown Cucumbers before from seed but not had the best germination rates so was wondering what people think is the best way. I sow in approx. 70% seed compost and 30% vermiculite. I can tell top from bottom of the seeds (bottom of seed is slightly flatter than top). I've read you are meant to plant the seed on it's side, does that mean on the "sharp"edge or flat? I have planted vertically, so maybe that's the reason I haven't had that good results which is annoying as F1 seed is quite expensive. I use vermiculite to lessen the chances of overwatering but open to suggestions for another growing medium. The temperature I've sown at has been correct for what the "book of the words" says (around 70 to 75 F)
I know it's quite early to be sowing but have a heated propagator and grow light so hoping to get some started as last year I didn't get any Cucumbers until well into July last year as sowed much later.
Sure some of you experts will be able to give me the right info. I was told many many years ago by a professional Tomato and Cucumber grower to plant Cucumbers in soil in the greenhouse and mix a fair doze of Straw/old Hay in the planting hole to get the plant off to a good start. This has worked well and I've never had any problems once I've had germination. Unless it's a dreadful summer I've usually grown enough Cucumbers from a couple of plants to supply both Tesco and Sainsbury's

 

Nothing can see wrong with your mix, but maybe my method for sowing will help you.

I sow on the sharp edge, lengthways so the ends of the seed go side to side rather than like your previous years up and down. If it's flat, water can sit on it and help it rot so I sow on it's edge.

Cucumber plants and seed can rot easily if too wet so I sow mine the same way I do with sweet peas.

Fill your pot up lightly to the rim of the pot with compost, take the pot and tap it to settle the compost, it should settle to about 3/4 full, now water it so it's soaked, leave to drain for an hour.

Now top your pot off with dry compost, sow the seed in that and do not water. The dry compost will "wick" water up from below without drowning your seed.

That should get you going.

Steve...

 

Absolutely great @Steve R . I think that despite being careful watering, my compost mix may have been a bit wet to sow into and the seed has rotted before it's had time to germinate. Off to get sowing and I'll blame you if I don't get 100% success

 

He he, blame away, everyone else does !

Steve...

 

Sown as described by Steve R, waiting game now, they have been treated like royalty so they'd better do their stuff and appear

 

Well done @Steve R I have 100% germination. Your advice was followed and bingo! I now have the task of keeping them going until it is suitable to plant them in my unheated greenhouse which might be tricky but worth a go to see if I can get fruit earlier this season than last.

 

I'm so pleased it has worked for you.

At this time of the year I look after tender plants by building a temp greenhouse inside my polytunnel at the allotment, neither are heated. It's just a real basic temp structure with some plastic sheet thrown over it, I daresay that fleece would work the same but I have not tried that.

In the crates are Aubergines peppers and cucumbers and all not just survived frosty nights but actually thrived.







You could use one of those cheapie 3 shelf stand up greenhouses in a normal greenhouse for the same effect. I know a lass in our village that does that every year and even goes out and lights a couple of tealights inside the blowaway before going to bed on frosty nights.

Steve...

 

I have a grow light but not sure it's that good. I have poly cloches and fleece so what I thought of doing was when the seedlings are a bit bigger, I was going to pot them on and put them under the poly tunnel in the greenhouse on the soil border which will be warmer than on the parts which are slabbed. At night I'd cover the poly tunnel with a couple of layers of fleece and hope for the best. I see you live in Cumbria so your temperatures won't be so different to ours up here in Fife. Many down South think we in Scotland live in permanent perma frost conditions when actually we don't! Only had 2 small falls of snow this winter but don't talk to me about rain. I probably don't need to tell you that, as around your parts it was dire at times and I felt so bad for those flooded having myself experienced terrible flooding at another property. Your plants look great...feel slight tinge of green coming over my face. Heard of using tea lights before I have a huge bag of them so can see it might almost have that romantic feel in my greenhouse over the next few weeks