Which cucumber?

[martini]

Still having loads of fun getting my seed list together - they've even become bedtime reading! I'm stuck on cucumbers - have decided to try some Crystal Apple cos they look cute but don't know what other normal type to pick for growing in a cold greenhouse. As a beginner I don't want to fiddle around with male and female flowers, so I'd be grateful for any advice. Thanks

[sewer rat]

Hi Martini
I grow cucumbers in my cold greenhouse up here in Ross-shire (I'm 35 miles north of Inverness) and have grown the variety "Topsy" for the last two years - I thoroughly recommend this variety - good sized cukes, All female, and great fresh taste - and I average about ten to twelve cukes per plant. . Get the seeds from Unwins.

[Earthbabe]

I've only been growing outdoor cukes but would be interested to hear how you get on with the Crystal Apple as mind didn't do well. Have grown Marketmore and Wautoma this year and the Wautoma is still going strong!

Very tasty too.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks Rat - I think I might try them next year.

[JazzDuke]

Crystal Apple are cute but by the time you have peeled the thick skin and taken out the firm seeds you aren't left with a lot of cucumber. I enjoyed them for the novelty value but won't be growing them again.

Diamante were billed as a gherkin type but the short fruit were sweet enough to eat as normal and pickled well. I'd grow them again.

I'm also looking for an outdoor ridge type that will trail happily and does not need supporting.

[weedgrower]

hi martini
try marketmore. they are very nice. although they are suppoese to be an outside cucumber they grow relly well inside and have a fabulous taste. i'm also gonna try burpless tasty green next year. is that back garden finished yet

[martini]

Thanks for the great advice everyone - might cancel the crystal apple - didn't realise the skins were that tough.
Hi Weedgrower - some of the turf is off, the wood for the beds is on the patio, the flags for the shed are waiting to be laid - awaiting drier weather as parts of the garden are flooded

[multiveg]

I want to grow crystal apple. I love skin on a cucumber. Remember going to the markets in Croydon (bus journey) and we'd buy 3 cucs - they'd be gone on the way back, just the ends remaining.

[JazzDuke]

Marketmore is a bit MOR for me, anyone got some good lesser known ones?

[Alison]

I've grown Crystal Apple for the past few years, the skins are fine if you pick them young and no problem to eat. I've found that if they get a bit more mature (this can happen VERY quickly!) they're better to cook as you would a courgette and then the skin doesn't seem to matter. This year I've had one Crystal Apple plant in a 10" pot in the green house and one convential cucumber (can't remember the variety but could check at home) and have been inundated, giving them away to work colleagues like never before. Never tried any outdoor so can't comment although my brother has had a good sucess with some ridge types outdoors.

[JazzDuke]

My comments were outdoor in growbags. Certainly then the skins are tough and seeds solid. Nice flavour and juiciness of flesh though. But imho a novelty act outdoors.

[Earthbabe]

Hi JD, try the Wautoma (Real Seeds), Mine started off supported but has grown so much it is now trailing everywhere and the fruit seem more than happy enough. Everything went in late but I have been very impressed at the heavy crop and the length of cropping. More prolific than my marketmore as well.

[multiveg]

Still not ordered seeds!!! Looking in organic gardening catalogue - how about the long (!) white paris cuc? Says, ' a mild, sweet, white skinned cucumber, low in acid...'

Crystal Lemon/Apple should be picked when 9-12cm in diameter.

[martini]

Hi MV - I keep doing my list, then look at something else and redo it again and it just goes on and on ...

[multiveg]

When I choose a variety of veg, I want it to be different from the sorts of things you can get in the shops. Homegrown King Edwards (etc) are bound to be tastier than those from supermarkets but ....

Back to the catalogues - misread one variety of cuc - thought it said Buggerit - or have I been reading too much Terry Pratchett!