cucumber question

[tizzycat]

Hi everyone, I wondered whether anyone can advise me whether the male flowers should be removed from "konsa" cumbers. This the first time I have grown cucumbers in a lot of years and have previously stuck to the all female varieties.

However, I spotted this packet of seeds in Lidl with the word "outdoor" and couldn't resist. I have checked the "net" and can only find reference to this variety not being bitter, but nothing about removal of the male flowers and the packet doesn't give a clue either.

The advice on this subject in general is mixed.

Please can anyone advise me.

Many thanks in advance.
Chris.

[Demeter]

Hi Chris - welcome to the vine. I got Konsa from Lidl too

The consensus seems to be that you don't need to remove male flowers and that for this type of cuke they actually need them for pollination and fruiting to occur (unlike the greenhouse type, I think, which have different requirements and need the male flowers removing).

My first year, though, so don't necessarily take my word for it

[Kristen]

My understanding is that outdoor Ridge cucumbers need both male and female flowers, and indeed need to be pollinated to produce fruit.

Greenhouse cucumbers are generally F1 hybrids bred to only produce female flowers - but in the event that any male flowers appear they should be removed as if the cucumbers are fertilised they will be bitter.

[tizzycat]

Thank you both so much for the replies, two out of two is good enough for me, the male flowers get to stay.

Thanks again
Chris.