Cucumber problem

[cristalfiona]

Hi all,

I'm growing Marketmore and crystal lemon cucumbers and having problems with them tasting horrible. They're both outdoor varieties, so the issue shouldn't be with the male flowers. I grew both last year and both varieties were fine so I think it's unlikely to be cross-pollination troubles. The crystal lemons were the first to start it, with a horrible taste, but then one of my marketmores which have been fine until now (although I've only had a couple) was also disgusting.

I'll be starting hand pollinating from tonight just in case it is cross pollination, but it will be a couple of weeks before I know if this is helping.

Does anyone have any other theories?

[vixylix]

I'm no expert Fiona but this does sound like cross pollination... maybe you were just lucky last year?

I wonder if you've hand pollinated, can they still be cross-pollinated by insects - or is it 'done' once they've been pollinated once?!

[Bal]

I'm glad you started this thread as I have the same problem. I'm growing Telegraph and Ponam Khera the Khera taste great but the two telegraph that have ripened so far are really bitter.

[Bigmallly]

[Bal]

My mum used to do this when we were kids and grew them at home. I tried it with the telegraph and nothing came out at all after about a minute of rubbing. It still tasted really bitter.

[Bren In Pots]

Could it be down to watering? i had the same thing last year so this time I've got a couple of my plants on capillary matting I'll see how they do compared to those in the GH bed.

[cristalfiona]

I wonder if you've hand pollinated, can they still be cross-pollinated by insects - or is it 'done' once they've been pollinated once?!

I have tried to separate them - the two crystal lemons are next to each other on one side of the garden and the 4 marketmore on the other side. I suppose the only way to be sure would be to hand pollinate and then isolate the flowers, the same as for seed saving. I'll give both a go and see if either work.

Interesting, I'll give this a try with the crystal lemons that are almost too big to harvest...

Could it be down to watering? i had the same thing last year so this time I've got a couple of my plants on capillary matting I'll see how they do compared to those in the GH bed.

Do you mean lack of or inconsistent watering? I can't really help the second, but I doubt it would be the plants getting too little water - even on the sunny days here we've had rain. I've only had to water 2 or 3 times so far, and those were only so I could feed the plants anyway.

[Jonnyt]

I bung mine all together in the Greenhouse (All require pollination) and have never ever had this problem so it's strange.

Therefore I'd think it's not cross pollination causing the issue.

[Bren In Pots]

Do you mean lack of or inconsistent watering? I can't really help the second, but I doubt it would be the plants getting too little water - even on the sunny days here we've had rain. I've only had to water 2 or 3 times so far, and those were only so I could feed the plants anyway.

I got to wondering that inconsistent watering might stress the plants I know it effects toms so thought I'd try the capillary matting and a water trough.