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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: beethobensonata on July 19, 2005, 15:19:59

Title: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: beethobensonata on July 19, 2005, 15:19:59
Have grown cucumbers for the first time this year and have several flowers with baby cucumbers sprouting from them. The baby cucumbers look like they are covered in greenfly bot when i touched them it was just rough knobbly skin!  ::) Is this normal, only supermarket cucumbers have a smooth skin?
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: wardy on July 19, 2005, 15:31:10
Outdoor grown (ridge) cucumbers have rough skins.  They taste good though.  Once they are diced or sliced I don't think you'll notice  :)
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: Svea on July 19, 2005, 16:02:13
the knobbles get less as they grow. they look like gherkins when babies, then the skin stretches ;)

much like humans :D

svea
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: plot51A on July 19, 2005, 16:12:38
Thought it was the other way round with us humans Svea - start smooth and end up knobbly!! ;D
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: tim on July 19, 2005, 16:53:34
Some indoor cus can be quite prickly.
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: Charlotte Sometimes on July 19, 2005, 18:27:17
Hi, its my first year growing them too.  Have had about 12 fruit from 3 plants then nowt for ages, just fruiting again though.  The baby fruit on my indoor "Fidelio" cukes are exactly as you describe, but as they grow, they smooth out. 

The outdoors ones are almost warty-looking.  They taste just as good though and of course, can be peeled for a more acceptable appearance!
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: dicky on July 19, 2005, 19:53:43
I'm doing Prima F1 and Marketmore, both start off quite prickly then smooth out as they swell, once the are fairly smooth and you can easily know off the spikes they are about ready, good way to tell.

My dad used grow the long thin ones like supermarkets sell but I don't know what type they were
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: dicky on July 19, 2005, 19:56:11
meant to post this as well


(http://www.dicky1.f2s.com/gdn%20009.jpg)
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: wardy on July 19, 2005, 20:04:06
Very impressive specimen  :)
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: vegging out on July 19, 2005, 21:41:56
I find that the lower/first fruit are usually rougher.
Title: Re: rough skin on my cucumbers
Post by: Roy Bham UK on July 19, 2005, 22:27:21
I have Telegraph variety and prefer them skinned, taste delish without the skin ;)