Crystal Apple Cucumber Plant - How do I harvest seed and when?

[Edwardo82]

Hi all,

I came across a Crystal Apple Cucumber plant at the local Farmers Market and had to have it. I would quite like to let some of the fruits get to the stage where I can harvest some seeds for next year and for friends etc.

Would anyone be able to advise how and when the best time would be, I assume that I can let any of them complete their cycle throughout the growing season but it may be better to leave the last lot near the end of the summer?

I look forward to all your advice.

Many Thanks

Ed

[SarzWix]

If you leave a cucumber on the plant to ripen for seed, it might stop the plant from producing anymore fruit, so best to leave it til towards the end of the season?

There's some good info on the Real Seed Co website about seed saving How To Save Seed 'Cucumbers and Melons' are right at the bottom of the page.

[Edwardo82]

Thanks a lot Sarz!! I will definitely leave it until the end of the season I think

[Edwardo82]

Perfect website thank you

[SarzWix]

No problem I was quite interested too, as I have Sigmadew cucumbers from the Heritage Seed Library this year, and I want to save seed from them too.

[marathon]

I save a lot of my own seed (since buying from realseeds three years ago)

Your best bet would be to leave a cucumber to mature on the plant but not too late in the season that the cold/frost gets it. If you find that you've missed a fruit say by being on holiday or such like then leave it for a little longer and then when ripe scope the seeds out. By only letting one fruit ripen whilst picking others the plant won't slow down too much.

By the way you won't want to eat the rippened fruit!

[Edwardo82]

Hi Marathon,

Thanks for the tips, are Crystal Apple Cucumbers not very tasty?

Thanks

[gojiberry]

I think it is more a case of over ripe cucumbers not being very nice. Would like to know how far on are your crystal apple cucumbers are, as I have some seed for next year (got them to late for this year). Am growing african horned cucumber this year.

Ian

[Edwardo82]

Well the plant is about 17 inches tall and has not start to produce any actual Flowers yet.

I will let you know Gojiberry as soon as they start coming through

Thanks for the advice all!!

[Edwardo82]

Thought this might help as well!

[Edwardo82]

Here is my Crystal apple Cucumber Gojiberry



I think I am going to train it up in a spiral, need to devise a structure

[marathon]

Hi Marathon,

Thanks for the tips, are Crystal Apple Cucumbers not very tasty?

Thanks

like Gojiberry said, it's only the over ripe ones you wouldn't want to eat the rest will be lush.

[sarraceniac]

I have grown no other cucs for years. They are delicious. They are also known as Crystal Lemon but got the name apple because the Victorians used to eat them straight off the plant like an apple. That is how nice they are and how full of useless information I am.

[Edwardo82]

Thanks Sarraceniac! Theres nothing useless about history its vitally important to educate yourself with the past