Cucumber baby F1

[quanglewangle]

You are lucky, I have had -4 in our greenhouse this week

Yeh, we had that a couple of years ago. Laid waste to lots of gardens and was the principle talking point in the pub for months.

As for lucky: whenever I say that mrs quanglewangle, the intellectual one with nice legs, says something like "don't be silly, it's not luck, we chose to live here". Boy, am I fortunate she doesn't read this...

[Vegi potager]

Just seen your new signature Mr Q. Don't worry, none of us will ever hold you responsible for any of the daft things we might do (ermm... that would be me! ) We are just envious because we have to wrap up warm to go break up the ice on the pond, used de-icer on the shed lock. Nice and warm at 6c in the GH yesterday though

[quanglewangle]

If, BIG IF, you're on FB or Twitter, try asking there - its more public embarrassment for them if they don't know the answer!

I followed your advice and Suttons have just (after 5 days) replied on Twitter. But they say its an all female variety and only has male flowers if stressed, and these should be removed.

So, conflicting advice. And if they are all female that probably means I have to grow a variety alongside that carries male flowers, and flowers at the same time.

Puzzled

[veggiechicken]

If its All female it doesn't need a pollinator.

[quanglewangle]

If its All female it doesn't need a pollinator.

So its Parthenocarpic. Why don't they just say so.
Thanks VC

[veggiechicken]

As I understand it, Parthenocathy is something different again.
Don't know if this helps -
https://seminis-us.com/resources/agr...its-cucumbers/

[Scarlet]

So, conflicting advice. And if they are all female that probably means I have to grow a variety alongside that carries male flowers, and flowers at the same time.

F1 cues are usually bred to produce female flowers only - if they are pollinated by a Male flower they are often inedible. Really bitter.

[veggiechicken]

Here's an old thread about Parthenocarpy.........https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...rpy_87567.html
I'm not much wiser now but I don't bother with "ordinary" cukes in the GH - in fact, I only grow Beth Alpha and the jury is out on whether that's an F1 or not (depends on who is selling it).

[Mamzie]

F1 cues are usually bred to produce female flowers only - if they are pollinated by a Male flower they are often inedible. Really bitter.

I grew White Wonder in 2018, have never tasted a cucumber as bitter as that was - could that have been down to pollination please Scarlet?

I haven't grown it since, but still have spare seeds as hate throwing them away

[quanglewangle]

I think so-called all female are really parthenocarpic varieties

As I understand it, Parthenocathy is something different again.
Don't know if this helps -
https://seminis-us.com/resources/agr...its-cucumbers/

I have seen this link and indeed it forms the basis of my scant understanding of the topic. It says of gynoecious (all female) varieties:

The female flowers of gynoecious varieties still need to be fertilized with pollen from male flowers, so a certain percentage of monoecious plants need to be planted along with the gynoecious plants to serve as pollenizers.

and of parthenocarpic varieties:

In addition to gynoecious and monoecious varieties, there is also a third type of cucumber variety, parthenocarpic varieties. Unlike the gynoecious and monoecious varieties, which require pollination to produce fruit, parthenocarpic varieties produce fruit without the need for pollination.

So I think the seed companies sell parthenocarpic cucumbers as "all female" so as not to confuse us poor innocent gardeners.

[quanglewangle]

I grew White Wonder in 2018, have never tasted a cucumber as bitter as that was - could that have been down to pollination please Scarlet?

I haven't grown it since, but still have spare seeds as hate throwing them away

I think this is further evidence that so called all-female varieties are really parthenocarpic

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/selfpo...ers-43527.html has this to say:

Plants that produce long, seedless cucumbers originated in European greenhouses and are termed parthenocarpic, which means they yield cucumbers without pollination. These cucumber plants must be grown in greenhouses to exclude bees because pollination causes their cucumbers to become misshapen and bitter.

[veggiechicken]

Parthenocarphy seems to mean "seedless" whilst all-female cukes produce seeds but the seeds from an F1 plant will not grow the same as the parent.

[Mamzie]

Just confused myself even more reading the reviews about white wonder cuc - its reccommended for growing outside and mine was in GH, opposite a Cucamelon (was also bitter...) Could they have crossed?

I do have spare seed of each, but was really put off them both

https://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cu...rod002007.html

[Scarlet]

Just confused myself even more reading the reviews about white wonder cuc - its reccommended for growing outside and mine was in GH, opposite a Cucamelon (was also bitter...) Could they have crossed?

I do have spare seed of each, but was really put off them both

https://www.burpee.com/vegetables/cu...rod002007.html

I'm sure there was a thread before where I complained bitterly! They were also a white variety but produced male flowers and taking them off were a nightmare. I've only grown F1 since - usually a mini variety / mini munch and telegraph improved or something similar. Always in the Green house.

[veggiechicken]

I remember that thread too but can't find it!