Greenhouse and outdoor cucumbers

[Dennis-The-Menace]

Just been looking at a seed catalogue and I notice they are selling both greenhouse and outdoor cucumber seeds.

In the past I’ve only grown greenhouse cucumbers but I was wondering is there any difference (in taste, size, etc….) between a greenhouse cucumber and an outdoor variety?

[lynda66]

well the one marketmore outdoor cuke i got to see before the plant died and the slugs ate it was full of spikes ...... i think they are called ridged ones or something, dunno if they all look like that though, sorry didn't get to see it beyond an inch in length and never got to taste it either

[Dennis-The-Menace]

Thank you for your reply and I'm sorry to hear of your disappointment.

After many years of suffering red spider on my cucumbers in the greenhouse it looks as if the outdoor varitey is just as troublesome to grow!

[lynda66]

not really i just planted them in june, which was too late, i'd have had a baby one if the slugs hadn't got it ....... i just left them to it, not really any trouble at all.

[Two_Sheds]

I grew Crystal Lemon (I think) and a gherkin outside this year. I totally neglected them, planted them into a decomposing compost heap & just forgot them. I discovered half a dozen fruits, but the slugs had got to them.

Not hard to grow, at all.

[Demeter]

We grew Konsa outdoors (seeds from Lidl) and gave them very little help or care once planted out in June or so. We grew them up a tripod of branches lashed together with twine. They succumbed to powdery mildew (as did all the cucurbits! I blame the weather and maybe planting too close) but even so we had probably half a dozen cukes off each plant, we would have had lots more in a better summer. The baby cukes start off really spiky but the spikes mostly disappear as the fruit ripens - that's how you tell they are ready to eat! I've got a different variety to try next year (off Real Seeds, can't remember the name) which will also go outdoors up a tripod.

PS - this is what I've got from Real Seeds, just looked it up:


'Mirella' Cucumber

A few packets unexpectedly available again!
This is another really nice cucumber we often grow for our own use. Originally from plant collector Glen Drowns, 'Mirella' is a fat, dark green cucumber on compact vines. It is also very early and makes lots of cucumbers, even outdoors in Wales, as you can see in the photo.

We like it because it is particularly tasty, with a distinctly fruity flavour.

As a cucumber it is great. It does however make very few seeds, which is why we don't have it available that often!

We thought we wouldn't have seed any this season - in the paper catalogue you'll see that its marked as unavailable - but our second harvest actually gave a few hundred packets worth, which we have listed here, so get yours quick now!

Provide some support as it seems happiest climbing something..

Order CuMi - 10 seed £1.89

IF YOU LIKE THIS ONE YOU MUST KEEP YOUR OWN SEED AS THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST YEAR WE WILL OFFER IT. It makes very few seeds!

[Rhona]

I grew my first outdoor cucumber this year in a bucket of compost. It only had two "proper" sized fruits but they were delicious. Can't remember variety off hand though - soz.

[Newbie]

I grew Marketmore for the last couple of years & although the skins are slightly spikey they just brush off and the flesh is less watery and has fewer seeds that a supermarket / "normal" cucumber. I just ignore them & they fruit ever so well, even for a novice like me!

[sallym]

I grew Marketmore too this year. Like Newbie says the spikes just brush off. I had about 6 from one plant and they were lovely. Just planted them and kept them watered.

[Jonny Green Fingers]

I planted Marketmore for the first time this year. I started them in pots then transplanted them into the ground. I had five plants in total and once they got established I had loads of cucumbers through the summer right up until late September. I didn't realsie that you were meant to pinch out the tip once you get a few fruits forming, but it didn't seem to matter. I mucst have had more than 10 from each plant. Maybe I was lucky? I peeled the skin, but the flavour and texture were superb. Lovely dipped in home-made humous.

[SlugLobber]

I grew Burpless this year, after two attempts at another variety (which I forget). I germinated those indoors and moved them outside in July/August. They're almost dead now, but I've had a few cukes from them. Would have had more if I'd picked Burpless to start with, I reckon!!