Disappointing Cucumber

[Farmer_Gyles]

Most years my cucumber plants die before fruiting - this year, I've actually got cucumbers! We picked the first one yesterday. It's watery and tasteless. What a disappointment! I think the variety is called Emilie and they're a greenhouse cucumber.

There are another two cucumbers on the plant - one nearly full size, one half size. Most of the "baby" ones wither and die before they reach 2 inches. Will these other two be tasteless too?

[WendyC]

I'm growing Emilie for the first time this year and we've been enjoying them. They are not a long cucumber, about 20cm. I wonder if you are leaving them on too long. The new ones seem to shrivel if there are mature ones on the plant. I feed with tomato feed when I feed the tomatoes, once or twice a week or when I remember!

[marchogaeth]

For what it's worth, I tried to grow greenhouse cucumbers last year in my poly tunnel and they were a waste of time. This year I've grown ridge ones in the tunnel. I culled one plant but the others are doing really well. I've got Mini White and Crystal Apple. The Crystal is amazing, it is cropping like crazy and rampaging around both on the ground and scrambling up a string without needing tying, it's almost like a runner bean! The Mini Whites are my favourite for taste, though.

[solway cropper]

I'm growing Spacemaster 80 in the greenhouse for the second year as it is an amazing cropper. Short, dumpy fruit with a spiky skin but sweet and tender inside. So far the three plants have given over 7kg of fruit with no sign of slowing down and best of all are as yet untouched by powdery mildew.

I've had very hit and miss results with 'proper' greenhouse cucumbers and prefer ridge types now.

[Tripmeup]

Amongst others I am growing Crystal Apple too, and they are way more productive than I was expecting....
Having a great cucumber year this year so far...

[redser]

I grew burpless tasty green this year and it's been ok. We've never been without but it's not been exactly prolific. Last year we tried superbel and it was amazing. Very Heavy cropper and delicious. So I'll be going back to that next year. Maybe go all out and try a few varieties next year and see if one excels in your particular conditions.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have 3 plants of my regular Baribal small mini cumber. As usual when I have 3 plants I can't give them away fast enough.

Normally I would only have 2 plants but funnily enough I didn't murder one this year.

Potty

[zazen999]

I have about 8 mini whites on the go, 3 for seed saving that have just been let after the first few pickings and the rest are producing lovely white baby cukes, about are starting to slow down a bit now. Hopefully, the seeds should be ok as they won't have cross pollinated with other cukes in the greenhouse as they are all the same variety.

[marchogaeth]

I have had ago at seed saving but on a small scale by using nets made from tights over the flower and hand pollinating. The fruit has set and I'm waiting to see if it continues to grow up big and healthy.

[zazen999]

Excellent - hand pollinating cukes is so fiddly, I thought for one year I'd just grow all the same variety and see what happened.

[marchogaeth]

Excellent - hand pollinating cukes is so fiddly, I thought for one year I'd just grow all the same variety and see what happened.

When I read what you'd done on the other thread I thought it was so sensible. Do they not cross pollinate with any other plants?

[zazen999]

When I read what you'd done on the other thread I thought it was so sensible. Do they not cross pollinate with any other plants?

No. They will only cross pollinate with other cukes.