hollow cuke.

[brownfingers]

Took my first marketmore cuke off today. About 12" long and quite thick of girth. When I cut some off to sample it, the inside had a hollow running straight down the middle. Star shaped, much like a mercedes badge. It tasted fine. Is this usual, or does it indicate I'm doing something wrong?

[Penellype]

I've had courgettes do this occasionally but I have no idea why.

This might help Hollow Cucumbers

[solway cropper]

Picked a round courgette today with the same problem. Turned it over and there was a big hole at the bottom with a void inside. Don't know the real explanation but I'd put it down to erratic watering. Mine are grown in big containers but keeping them watered has been a real pain in this hot weather.

[Nicos]

yup- all to do with watering from my experience!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Watering as above or maybe you left it a little to long before harvest

[Moopmoop]

I had a shop bought cuc with the same problem a few weeks ago so it's not just us it's commercial too. A the time I assumed that it had been picked too late but I was under the impression that Marketmore was to be picked at around 6in, I never let mine grow bigger than that.

[brownfingers]

I don't think its water. I water 3 times a day. I may have left it too long. The article Penny kindly posted was very good. I think it could be partly overfeeding. I give it the same as my toms. Thats roughly 4ml of feed to 1 litre of water and feed 1/3 of a litre per day. then it gets a good litre per day of plain water on top of that.

[Scarlet]

I often grow marketmore and I have had a few with the same problem. I feed with a homemade feed and water everyday. I assumed that it was something to do with growing in the GH as it's an outdoor cue. Though very prolific in the GH, tastes isn't any different with or without the hole so I've never worried about it.

[brownfingers]

With marketmore, what is the procedure regarding nipping off side shoots. Some say two leaves from the first female flower. Some say just let it do it's own thing. It's strange that after taking the first cuke off, there are loads of small ones developing, but the biggest is right at the top of the plant.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your last post more or less confirms it was because you left it long. The plant was not producing any more because it had done it's job i.e. reproduced. Cucs will often hibernate if you don't pick the fruit regularly.

[brownfingers]

Message received and understood. I shall pick em younger in future.