In most years in temperate climates, cucumbers and bell peppers can be grown successfully only under the protection of a green house.
Plant it in mid spring for an early crop that will last all summer long.
Both will be a welcome sight in summer salads.
For cucumbers, choose seeds of an all female variety, as the cucumbers are less likely to be bitter.
Sow two seeds on their sides in pots or modules in early spring in a heated green house or in mid spring in an unheated one.
Provide a temperature of around 25 degree Celsius for speedy germination.
When the seeds germinate discard the weaker seedling.
After about a month, the cucumber seedlings should be planted out, with as little root disturbance as possible.
It is important to maintain a temperature of 16 degree Celsius thereafter.
Cucumbers are best grown as cordons, with a single stem tied to a vertical supporting cane or piece of string tied to an overhead wire.
Tie in the plant as it grows using plant ties.
Pinch out any side shoots, flower buds and tendrils that appear until the seventh leaf.
Thereafter, leave the flowers and tendrils and pinch out the side shoots.
When the plant reaches the top of the support, pinch out the growing tip and leave the top two side shoots to grow.
These can be trained along the top wire and then down towards the floor.
Water the cucumbers regularly, keeping the soil moist at all times and throwing water on the floor of the green house to keep the atmosphere humid.
Once the fruit starts to develop, feed the plants with a very high potash liquid feed once every two weeks.
Maintain a temperature of about 21 degree Celsius.
Harvest the cucumbers when they are large enough, which is usually when their sides are parallel.
Cut the fruit with a short length of stalk.
Pick cucumbers frequently to encourage the development of more fruit.
String makes a simple and economical support.
Fix one length of wire as high as practicable from one end of the green house to the other, aligning it above the border.
Fix another wire just above the ground, attaching it to a stout stake at each end of the row.
Tie lengths of string between the top and bottom wires, in line with each plant.
There is no need to tie the plant to its support.
Loop the string around the growing tip so that it forms a spiral.