Crystal lemon cucumbers

[ChrisMath88]

Does anyone have any experience of growing crystal lemon cucumbers, I have quite a few fruits growing on one plant a few about just over golf ball size. How big do they get and at what stage do I know they're ready?


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[fishpond]

They should go from green to yellow or pick just smaller than a tennis ball.
The one in the photo looks ready for MY plate!

[solanaceae]

Yes, been growing these beauties all summer long - they have done really well. Must have harvested about 80 from 4 pots so far.

As Fishpond said, when just smaller than a tennis ball is the right size and when they have a yellowish tinge to them, but not too yellow otherwise they get rather seedy inside.

Did you start growing these in early to mid summer? Best time to sow would have been April-May or earlier if you have a greenhouse. From the looks of it either you did sow late or your weather has been awful and your plants have not really done much.

My plants have started to look a bit old and withered the past week and the fruits are few and far between thanks to the cool weather we've had, but it sounds like yours are holding up so that's good.

Here's a photo I found on my camera if it helps.

[ChrisMath88]

Thanks! I'll leave them a little longer on the plant I think. I planted them from seed around march time. All of my other cucumber varieties went mad and grew really well now they are dying off but the crystal lemon only start to put on fruit in the last 3-4 weeks. The others are all slowing up now just as the lemons get going properly


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[dim]

I Have 4 plants and have been giving my neighbours cucumbers daily .... I have loads, and pick them when they are about tennis ball size

I will definately plant them again next year

[marchogaeth]

If you like Crystal Apple do try Mini Whites, in a taste test I did with my colleagues (I had lots spare and took both into work) the Mini Whites came top. My colleagues are season cucumber eaters due to diet(ry) requirements!)

While digging up the link I've just spotted the lunch box ones (Boothby's Blond), I need to do a Real Seeds order for next year so I think I'll give those a try.

I see there are no Mini Whites (or Crystal Apples) in the VSP, I will try to save some extra seed and send some in so it's there for "swaps".

[Two_Sheds]

I love Crystal Lemon: prolific, unusual, pretty, easy to spot the pale fruits in all the green jungle, and a perfect lunch box sized snack. I try to pick them at tennis ball size.

They are fairly pippy/seedy, but I don't mind that, and you might want to peel the prickly skin off.

[Bex]

I haven't grown them this year and they have been missed. I'll add them to my wish list. I agree with tennis ball and peel beforehand.


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[Littlefox2000]

Hi there,

I also have 4 plants growing outside and they've been going bonkers. Last weekend I harvested 35 of the things off 2 plants and didn't take all that were ready. I'm easily taking 2-3 a day. I think they are great, but have been inundated with them to the point where I feel like I'm being taken over by cucumbers. I will definitely plant them again, but have only one or two plants. I take them at tennis ball size too.

LF

[meteor]

I grew them for the first time this year , 4 plants. They are definitely tasty and have been harvesting them between the size of a golf ball and tennis ball for weeks now. I am up to my armpits in yellow cucumbers and four plants is definitely over the top for one person living alone and my extended family and friends can only handle so much.However my "normal" cucumbers in the poly tunnel were a disaster this year so I was glad to have them along with another mini cucumber called Beit Aplha. Two plants will suffice next year.

[Doive]

Grown one of these for the first time this year - had a few fruits off it, but not as prolific as some. My Paris Cukes have gone stark raving bonkers this year, dozens of fruits off each plant, and we have three of them. But the Crystal Cukes are really lovely - definitely need peeled though.

[vixylix]

Hi all - I know this is an old thread but I'm planning on growing these this year. Will they be ok in a large pot with a tripod to climb or are they better in my raised bed? I grew burpless in my raised bed last year very successfully

Thanks

[Lumpy]

Last year I planted mine in the flower border because I could'nt be bothered to sort out support for them.

It was quite interesting having to mooch around to fine the little yellow balls of lovliness.

They do take alot of watering so if you do decide to use a large pot you might have to shove a plastic bottle in to act as a constant water source.

[snakeshack]

I've done these successfully in large pots and in the ground, when planting cucumbers into the ground I usually plant into bottomless flower buckets on top of the soil to prevent moisture build up around the neck which causes neck rot.
the easiest way is to plant into a flower bucket full of MPC which has had the bottom cut off then taped back on ,then ,at planting out time untape the bottom of the pot, stand where you want the plant, and insert canes down through the pot and into the soil beneath

[muddled]

Then do you water into the ground level or into the pot Snakeshack?