Topic: How to size up a cucumber

[greenstar]

I don't know how to ask this question without coming over all "carry on " but how do I know how big my cucumbers are supposed to be (missus)?

I bought a couple of unnamed plants from Lidl which are fruiting prolifically, and have both male and female flowers.  I've eaten a couple of cukes that were maybe 5 or six inches (stop it!) and they tasted fine.  Is this the normal size for some varieties or can you just eat the normal sized ones smaller?

Stop tittering at the back, and thank you in advance for your help.

Ali x

[luckycharlie]

 
   I would leave them till they were about 12 inches  ;D

   x Chas

[greenstar]

Well, in my dreams, so would I...

[luckycharlie]

 ;D ;D ;D

[davyw1]

Comes down to how much cucumber you eat  and what type you are growing I find that if i take them off at 8" there is no waist it all gets eaten longer than that its gone soft and goes in the bin. Wrapping them in clingfilm helps to keep them fresher longer

[Becca]

i would go along with davy, take them off when you need them.  better to have smaller ones that are fresh and all get eaten than  a quarter going mushy in the fridge,

i also have to take off mine when they are small cos the rest of the baby cukes keep withering and dying, 

[kt.]

This year I sowed Socrates.  My OH says the plants are very prolific producers of cucumbers approximately 8".  Previously I used to grow Carmen, another prolific variety that grew huge cucumbers 14-16".

[greenstar]

Thank you for your sensible suggestions - I think I'll just pick them as and when I need them as they're lovely just now, although I might let a few grow just to see how big they get.  Did anyone else get unidentified cukes from lidl?

[admjh1]

I'd love to know how you grow them straight every year first couple a long and straight then from then on they are all bendy!!! Am I doing something wrong?

[davyw1]

I'd love to know how you grow them straight every year first couple a long and straight then from then on they are all bendy!!! Am I doing something wrong?

I don't understand why you want to grow them straight the flavor remains the same as a bent one unless it is for the show bench its not worth the bother. I grow Carmen and most come straight there is the odd one that i may have to tube with plastic map overlay. If you want to experiment then top and tale a large pop bottle make a tube and slip it over the cucumber tied of with string 

[Squash64]

Thanks for making me giggle Greenstar  ;D

[shirlton]

We don't seem to have any success with growing cues. Praps its just as well ;D ;D ;D

[aj]

Can I just point out that if you leave just one on the plant to grow as big as possible, the plant will stop producing any more. Better to have 5 small ones and pick them regularly than one long one and no more!

[meg_gordon]

I am growing cucino for the first time this year and am delighted at the size and flavour of the cucumbers - which are about 4 or 5 inches long and about an inch in diameter - perfect for an individual salad.

Meg

[cornykev]

I like to get both hands around mine before I pull it.    :P     ;D ;D ;D  ;)

[Squash64]

I like to get both hands around mine before I pull it.    :P     ;D ;D ;D  ;)

Over to you Shirl.......

[shirlton]

braggin again kev ::)

[tim]

Usually when they have parallel sides.

These are a small variety - not quite ready, but I use them as needed.

[Susiebelle]

Gosh Tim they look good - like the growing method of stringing them up like that-
I have tried for the first time this year growing them up an Arch - thanks to Shirlton I purchased 8, yes 8 of them from Wilkos in their end of year sale £2.50 each, they are like a macarno (sp) set but my squash and cu's look bril!