Mini Cucumber recommendations

[Teej]

Hi - I'm going to try mini cukes this year as well as my usual Burpless TG & Sindy (no idea how everything I'm planning is going to fit in the greenhouse but that's another story!!).  I can't decide whether to go for Rocky or Cucino & I would be grateful to hear of anyone's past experiences with either of these.

Thanks a lot.

[Teej]

[STHLMgreen]

Good question! I was wondering about mini cucumbers as well!

Will be good to hear others experiences.

[tricia]

I grew Danimas and Rocky last year in GH. Danimas did better, but my favourite is Zeina F1 which I couldn't get hold of last year. I hear Pepita is also good. What is the experience out there? I don't like the spiny ones at all  :).

Tricia

[Teej]

I hadn't heard of Zeina before but I've just done a quick search for you & found the following supplier.

http://www.exhibition-seeds.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Cucumbers_26.html

[dandelion]

Did you grow Zeina outdoors Tricia?

[manicscousers]

anyone want some melothrie seeds, type of mini cucumber , only got enough for one, first come, first served..we grew one in a teapot with a hole in so they don't need a lot of soil, they sprawl up everything, be warned   ;D ;D

[Teej]

Manicscousers - I'd love to try if you wouldn't mind!

Thanks v much - if I'm not too late!

[tricia]

Dandelion -  I grew it in my small GH. I used to buy one plant from my local garden centre, but unfortunately, the garden centre is no more and I'm not paying £4.50 for 5 seeds again. I did that with an expensive cucumber seed once and the slugs had a very expensive breakfast  - only one seedling survived >:(! Unfortunately, it was an F1 hybrid so I didn't try to save seeds. I have an idea it was Rocky - but I'm not sure.

The only seeds I have so far are 5 Petita -  F1 again, so no saving seeds.
I'll probably go a bit further afield to check out the garden centres later on and buy a Danimas and a Zeina plant if I can find them. I seem to remember I paid £1.29 or thereabout for each plant, so it's really not worth the bother - or the expense of buying the seeds. I don't need more than 4 plants in all :).

Tricia

[tim]

f all the cus I've grown in the greenhouse,

Danimas
Carmen (long)
Passandra
Petita
Gracius
Delta Star
Mistral
Brunex
Simpson's Sweet Success
Melon
Flamingo (long but good in cold)
Long White

Danimas has done us best over 12 years. Passandra would be second choice. I find the minis muchmore even than the longer ones.

We average 50 per plant which is just fine. More imporatant is succession.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/cu1911.jpg

[okra]

I have grown Burpless outside for the last couple of yrats and had plenty Q's

[Merry Tiller]

I can't recomend Paska highly enough though seeds are quite expensive. This year I'll be growing Prima Top, mainly because I got the seeds for 25p when they were all reduced at Wyevale last year 8)

[flossie]

Grew Petita last year - was given seed -  would not normally buy F1.
I eill be sticking to the usual Burpless/marketmore this year they give a much better crop

[tim]

As a matter of general interest, 'give a better crop'.

Like where - & how many each - or how better??

[flossie]

Petita, only had two or three, from each plant.  Maybe they didn't like it in my greenhouse?
Outdoor - did not count but could not keep up with production - gave loads away
Next year I will take a leaf out of your book Tim and keep better records

[Teej]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
From my research & what you've said it seems like all the mini varieties are expensive.  I usually get a huge crop from my Burpless & Sindy, both indoors & outdoors so just wanted to try something "different" too this year.  I'm really limited for space (bearing in mind that I also want to try melons & aubergines this year, along with my usual chillies/peppers - giving the tomatoes a rest as they were a HUGE disappointment last year!) so I may try a couple of minis this year & then different varieties next year.

Thanks again.

[adrianhumph]

 Hi teej,
             If you want to try something different, try crystal apple (sometimes called crystal lemon) these are small & round, eat them between golf ball & cricket ball size. They are yellow rather than green & are tasty :D Cu`s don`t come much different to this  :o
                  Adrian.

[Deb P]

I grew Petita last year in my greenhouse and they did really well, I had cucumbers almost every day, I coudn't keep up with them. A lot grew bigger than 'mini' size though, I gave loads away, good flavour too. I notice POD (where I got the seed from last year) are not selling them this year though.

Crystal apple is lovely, attractive (if you like bristly lemons!) and really juicy, I am growing again this year, popular with kids.

[tim]

'Bigger than mini size' - yes , a careful watch is necessary or the plat gives up!

In passing - "produce 50-100 fruit". Has anyone got 100 from an unheated all-female mini?

OK - how??

[tim]

'plant'!!