Question
Can someone explain to me how to propagate cucumbers and zucchini?  How far along does the vegetable have to be before the seeds will germinate and grow?

Also, can you propagate carrots, onions and canteloupe?  I really want to learn to how to propagate all of my heirloom plants.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Tom,
Thanx for your questions.  It would help me a lot if you could tell me where you are but for now, I'll tell you this.

Cucumbers and zucchini require warm soil temperatures and will not tolerate frost or cool temperatures.  They love heat and sun as long as they get lots of moisture with zucchini being tougher than cucumbers.  The seeds germinate quickly 5-7 days at 80 degrees F and will grow quickly.  Many zucchini and cucumbers will set fruit in 45-55 days after germination as long as it is nice and warm.  I planted a fall crop of patty pan and zucchini squash at the beginning of July last year and had fruit from the end of mid-August to the first frost around the 20th of October last year.  Canteloupe have the same requirements.

Carrots are best planted after the last frost until early summer and then for a fall crop can be seeded at mid to late July.  Make sure you keep them watered.  If you have clay soil, use ball carrots like Thumbelina which grow more like a beet.  Heavy soils can cause long-rooted carrots to split and become forked and deformed.  Onions can be started from sets (tiny bulbs) or from seed.  If you're starting from seed, start at the last frost and the bulbs should set by late summer.  There are short day and long day onions.  That means, the bulb sets for short days in the South and long days in the north (day lenght, time for the sunlight).  Short day onions don't do well in the north and long day don't do well in the south so make sure you get the right sets.  Your local nursery will most likely have the right onlons for your area.  Onions need to be well weeded as they do not compete well with weeds.  IN fact, veggies period, do not do well if not properly weeded.  I hope this helps and if you drop me another line and tell me where you are, I can connect you with more information on growing vegetables for your are.  I hope this helps.
Tom