Socrates cucumbers, only outside??!!

Help suddenly needed! I grew Marketmore last year but on my brother's advice switched to Socrates for this year as he infinitely preferred them. I now, only now, have picked up that these are technically indoor cucumbers. Mine are 10 inches high in the greenhouse and looking forward to moving to the allotment this weekend - will they be OK? My allotment is full south facing and very sunny, also sheltered. I am new to this and feel anxious also about them being smooth skinned which means they are starting to sound a bit tender and wimpy to me! I can probably direct sow some more outdoor seeds if necessary but need to get moving. Thank you all

 

I grow Socrates in a large cold frame and they thrive, I've never grown them outside but I've been tempted to, I'd say that they'd be ok, the season might be shorter but if you've got spare plants it's worth trying. I'm trying a new variety called Suprina which is a smooth skinned variety which it says is an outdoor variety.

 

I am in the south east too so I take your point. Ok thanks, new plan. Keep them in the greenhouse for a bit longer, nurture the spares in case of failure, buy packet of outdoor ones and sow direct now! thanks guys

 

Oh heck!!

 

I've planted mine out too early plenty of times before, so I'm not sowing my outdoor cucumbers till the last week of May, they'll go out some time in June. Plenty of time to sow again or get another variety should you wish. I'm just doing gherkins outside this year though

 

too eager you see. This is how we learn. I'd have had them out in March if I could! So keen!

 

Roger that. Thanks for the tips

 

A professional veg grower gave me a tip with growing cucumber as you are absolutely correct John until established it is really easy for young Cucumbers to rot off if too wet. He told me to get a handful of straw or similar and put that in the planting hole then plant the young cucumber on top so its roots are going to grow through the straw. It works for me and have never lost a plant since doing this. Pretty similar to you method of avoiding soggy compost!

 

I grew telepathy a "greenhouse" cuce outside and had enormous yields. i got a 44cm one even, width of my arm. was very spiney but no problem.