Cucumber Gurus

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

After indulging in this sites popular act of seed hoarding through the winter months, I now find myself with 4 types of cucumber- Marketmore, Crystal Lemon ( I think), Melonie (Varigated) and Socrates F1. The idea was to grow one or two of each and see which was potentially a favourite?

However I read an article last week stating that cuc's grown in close proximity to each other could cause one another to become bitter? Has anybody had experience of this and should I try growing them outside and well apart to avoid this?

Dave

[VirginVegGrower]

Not heard of that. I grew two types in the greenhouse last year with some gherkin/cornichons and never had a problem. I have never grown the Crystal Lemon but they were given rave reviews by someone recently.

[sewer rat]

I haven't heard this either but I suppose that if you grew F1 all female varieties in close proximity to an OP variety with male and female flowers and you missed a male flower, then the F1 variety could be pollinated and this would result in bitter fruits.
I only grow F1 all female varieties so never encountered this problem.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I haven't heard this either but I suppose that if you grew F1 all female varieties in close proximity to an OP variety with male and female flowers and you missed a male flower, then the F1 variety could be pollinated and this would result in bitter fruits.
I only grow F1 all female varieties so never encountered this problem.

Someone mentioned this to me a few years ago. So like you I grow all female plants only. 1 mini and 1 standard in my GH and never had this problem.

Colin

[ginger ninger]

Crystal Lemon & Marketmore can be grown outside in a sunny position. If you grow all female plants and they get too stressed, they may start to produce male flowers. This is one of the way's you can get bitter cuc's. The other is as S.R said. Best to nip out male flowers and hand pollinate.

[King Carrot]

I'm growing 5 or 6 varities this year and I use different tunnels/frames for each type, mostly to make any seedsaving easier. I do sometimes grow F1s and again they have their own frame or tunnel to minimise the risk of cross pollination and bitter fruit on the F1.

[Kristen]

Best to nip out male flowers and hand pollinate.

Ermmm ... what with then? (or maybe I misunderstood)

Don't want Greenhouse Cucumbers pollinating, that makes them bitter.

but outdoor ones (so called "ridge" Cucumbers) do need to be pollinated - even if you choose to grown them inside the greenhouse.