Cucumber with soggy end - cause?

[nmayhew]

hi,

thanks to the help on here i've managed not to kill any more of my cukes by over-watering, and they are now watered from the bottom as suggested.

however, my first cucumber was force-harvested, as its end had become soggy and was gradually spreading up the fruit. there was no mould or anything visible on the end, and it wasn't in soggy earth (top soil in pot is dry).

what's the problem?

i notice another mini cuke on another plant seems to be going same way too: flower dies even when fruit is v small and then end seems "squidgy".

please help!

many thanks,

Nick

[Paulottie]

Don't fret, it happens with cukes and courgettes, normally caused by cold weather and over watering. Most common with early fruits. I don't know what 'force harvesting' is but cut them off and more will form ...when plant is happy and settled it will produce more infact it sonly encourages the plants if you cut the first couple of fruits early.

[Two_Sheds]

paul beat me to it ... cold springs often cause this in cukes and courgettes.

[nmayhew]

thanks guys

by force harvesting i meant i had to snip it off and eat it (was tasty though) before the whole thing went mush, that's all.

fingers crossed for my other ones!

thank you once again

N

[lynda66]

i found with my courgettes last year, if you leave the flower on, it sometimes makes the fruit go bad, so once the flower dies, break it off and the cukes should be ok

[gojiberry]

Lynda hit the nail on the head, once the flower starts to wither take if of to stop a rot starting. I also use a bit of kitchen roll to gently wipe the end of the fruit to make sure it is nice and dry. Should solve the problem.

Ian