A few weeks ago, I planted some cucumbers along the fence in my front yard, where lawn used to be but where it is mainly weeds. I am not even bothering with grass this year; I have most of the lawn planted in corn, with vining things along the fence.
So I just dug into the soil a little, didn't till anything, let all the old leaves and stuff stay there, and planted my cucumbers. A few days alter, I saw a few little sprouts coming up.
A week later, I saw no sprouts. On close examination, I found several little stems. I guess bugs must have eaten them. The grass along the fence, though clipped close or pulled, still is messy, and I suppose it houses many bugs.
So today I tried something new. I bought some disposable cups, and cut the bottom off of them so they made a cuff about two inches tall. Put one cuff under each of the drip-holes in my hose. Filled each cuff with some wet potting soil, and planted the cucumber seeds in them.
I figure that this way, they will be up off the ground a little, protected by the cup. The roots will go down into the yard soil, and when the sprouts are sufficiently high I can remove the cups and just let them grow on their little soil mound.
Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, will it work? Should I put a little smear of Vaseline around the outside of each cup to further discourage bugs?
--S.