cucumber 'Carmen'

Transfer young plants into large pots of good quality compost or into the greenhouse border. Water little and often to keep the growing medium evenly moist. Feed evert 10-14 days with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Provide wires or canes for the plants to climb up. See 'growing cucumbers' in vegetable cultivation for further information

Pinch out the growing point when it reaches the greenhouse roof. Pinch out the tips of side shoots two leaves beyond a female flower (which has a tiny fruit behind it). Pinch out the tips of flowerless side shoots once they reach 60cm long

Propagate by sowing seeds on their side, 1-2cm deep in modules. Sow mid-February to mid-March if you're growing them in a heated greenhouse, or April if you have an unheated greenhouse

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly

May be susceptible to cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildews