Cucumbers

[Borlotti]

I had bitter cucumbers last year.  Have just read about male and female flowers.  I had better check the seed packet as this is the first I have heard about male and female flowers.

[Borlotti]

[Georgie]

If you grow outdoor varieties there is no need to worry.  But if you are growing glasshouse types then you need to remove the male flowers.  I'm sure someone posted something on here to explain this in more detail.  You could try using the search facility?

G x

[Borlotti]

Thanks for that.  I also live in Enfield, north London.  No allotment digging today but the rain was much needed.

Joe Swift has a lot of Horse/Mares tail on his allotment (so have I) but the plants seem to have learnt to live with it.

Where is your allotment?  Mine is next to Enfield Playing Fields, lovely weather for the vintage car show, again.

Will you be exhibiting at the Enfield Show.  I won't as I just stick things and hope for the best.

[lorna]

I grow cucumbers in the greenhouse. This year I made sure and bought female plants. Last year I was confident that I had removed all the male flowers but still landed up with some slightly bitter cu's.

[manicscousers]

we grow burpless (outdoor) in the polytunnel, no worries about the flowers and lovely cucumbers  :)

[star10]

Which are the male/female flowers? and which need to be removed?

[OllieC]

Joes Swift is a moron who's going to have a lot more Mares Tail on his allotment by the end of the year!

I quite agree!

[manicscousers]

star10, the female are the ones with baby cucs behind them, the boy ones haven't and need taking off  :)

[Borlotti]

I don't think Joe Swift is a moron.  Perhaps he will come up with a solution for horsetail.  He will learn that an allotment is for life and has to be visited at least once a day, all holidays to be cancelled and most social engagements.  Did I read that you soaked horsetail or boiled it added water and then used it as a weed killer.  I try to burn what I have dug up or dry it out competely or else it will grow again. Anyone know a good use for it as I certainly have plenty. I have had the plot for five years and tried cutting, 'bend it like Beckham' and digging but will have to live with it.  One plot tried burning it but have now moved to another plot.

[Georgie]

Thanks for that.  I also live in Enfield, north London.  No allotment digging today but the rain was much needed.

Where is your allotment?  Mine is next to Enfield Playing Fields, lovely weather for the vintage car show, again.

Will you be exhibiting at the Enfield Show.  I won't as I just stick things and hope for the best.

Hi Borlotti, that makes three of us in Enfield now - CornyKev is the other one.  We were joking earlier about what a lovely day it's been here today.........................not!

I don't have an allotment so I grow all my edibles in pots in my garden.  And no, I certainly don't grow for exhibition, I prefer to eat what I grow.   :)

G x

[Borlotti]

An awful day here today in Enfield.  Thought you must have been joking.  I didn't go to the allotment but have been on the computer and finding Allotments 4 All very interesting, even missing Eastenders.

[OllieC]

Perhaps he will come up with a solution for horsetail. 

He may well, and he'll earn his fortune.... what you don't do, and the reason he's a moron, is rotovate the stuff!

[Borlotti]

My partner bought a rotavator off ebay and played with it on my allotment.  It looked brilliant, but the horsetail is now worse, so you are probably right.  I normally count as I pull them up and even know the ones I have already dug as they grow in a different way.  While it keeps me busy.  Just off to see what the rain has done, probably just more horsetail.  The Council clear a new plot before it is taken over so perhaps that is how it is spreading.  Carpet on the paths seemed to kept it down but that has now been banned.

[OllieC]

...to be fair, he's very likeable too... I just think his advice should come with a health warning!

[cleo]

All female F1 varieties do not have that problem-but the seed is very expensive.

Try to share with others and buy in bulk-the discount for even 50 is amazing.

As for advice needing a health warning there is a chap over on the Beeb who still posts dubious advice.

No names,no packdrill.