Cucumber fertilisation?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Telmadee, May 9, 2020.

  1. Telmadee

    Telmadee Gardener

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    Another bit of advice please?....going on our hours excercise walk we past a garden that had plants on the wall with a sign to take for free just drop the pots back....(what a lovely guy).... I didnt want to be greedy so I just took a cucumber one, I have only ever grown cucumbers once but it was maybe 15 years ago or so, and I had bought the ones that you have to take the flower of and rub it against something else to fertilise it (sorry cant remember what or where) but my father told me I should have got the ones that dont need it, so I never grew them again. My question is, is there any way of telling by looking at my plant if it is one that will need me to help with fertilisation? I hope that makes sense in my mind I know what I mean Haha. I would normally have gone to ask my father but cant anymore. Thanks again in advance
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Those old fashioned varieties produce both Male and female flowers so we had to nip off the males as any cucumber fruit that is fertilised taste bitter. These days most of us grow F1 all female varieties so there is no action needed to prevent curbit sex !

    It is still possible to buy the old fashioned varieties and the seed is much cheaper than modern F1 varieties, also there is only 4 or 5 seeds in the expensive packets.

    If it produces male flowers then nip them off. There is no way to identify them otherwise.
     
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    • Telmadee

      Telmadee Gardener

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      @JWK thank you much for that reply, I'm excited to grow them again (my other one that I grew the cucumbers curled up and father told me I should have put them into toilet roll dinners to keep them growing straight (but he told me this after they had grown :scratch: these are lunchbox cucumbers so I'm really excited to see if they grow, because my grandchildren aged 01, 02 and 03 love cucumber aswell so it will be nice to take them into the greenhouse to pick them off too.
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I think we are talking about the difference between green house cues and outdoor ridge cues.
        Green house ones do not need fertilisation, whereas outside ones do.
        Unless you know the variety name it's difficult to tell just looking at the plant, which kind you have.
         
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        • Telmadee

          Telmadee Gardener

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          Thank you for your reply @pete all it said on the notice outside with the pots was that they were lunchbox cucumbers so I'm totally blind I'm afraid. I did see him painting his fence the other day and wanted to ask but unfortunately the shy side of me kicked in and I couldn't bring myself to ask.
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            You should do, he might be a really nice guy. :biggrin:
             
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            • Telmadee

              Telmadee Gardener

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              @pete he may well be ....that's the reason I wont speak I will scare him off hahah....for the record though when I returned his pot to his doorstep I did put a note in it thanking him and saying that it was such a kind thing to do for strangers :biggrin:
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                Have a look at Dobies website, I'm using my phone and can't work out how to post links with this thing.

                Cucumber baby F1.
                 
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                • Telmadee

                  Telmadee Gardener

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                  @pete aww thank you so much that's very kind of you
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Oh I forgot about Ridge cucumbers, it's not straightforward is it?

                    You could return and put a note asking him to leave a note stating the type and variety - maybe getting too complicated :)
                     
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                    • Telmadee

                      Telmadee Gardener

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                      @JWK ...he lives next to a busy main road, so someone may take the note :th scifD36: so I think I'm gonna have to go trial and error and cry big tears if I fail
                       
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