I have got 4 cucumber plants in my greenhouse all with fruit starting to grow. I have read somewhere that I need pollinate the flowers.
1, Which are male flowers & which are female flowers?
2, how do I go about pollinating them?
3, some of the flowers have dropped off/ died off, what will happen to the fruit?
I have also got 3 courgette plants in the greenhouse, do I need to do anything with the flowers on them?
Thanks for any advice. My broad band has died and this dial up business is soooo slow. I am praying that the BT gut comes tomorrow, as promised......
Thanks
RC
Confused--you will be!!Outside cucumbers (ridge) need to be pollinated, male flowers show first (I presume those are the ones which have dropped off)-they are just a flower and drop off quite quickly, female ones (ones with a small cucumber behind,approx 2-cm in length) come next. Newer varieties only produce female flowers!! With indoor cucumbers as far as i know you have to remove the male flowers or the cucumber will be bitter if pollinated. It all depends on what type yours are. If your require pollinating I do'nt think you need to do much,spraying and insects should do it.I am growing some for the first time and I have no idea what sort they are so time will tell.
P.S. I too am still confused about growing cucumbers and next year will buy a common type with in-depth instructions!!! Hopefully somebody with a little more experience with them will reply!
I agree with DBD ..General rule of thumb is to pinch off all male flowers as they appear on indoor cucumbers unless it says otherwise on the packet ...If you let them pollinate the Cucumbers taste like lemons ...
Leave all flowers with a little cucumber at the back of them on ,pull the ones off that just have a thin stalk at the back of them ..Easiest way with indoor cucumbers is to buy an F! all female variety...
Leave all the flowers on your courgette as these same as marrows or pumpkins need to be pollinated for the fruit to set ,,
Redcow--taken a couple of pics--1st is male 2nd female. Got a bit of skaky hand syndrome on female one but should get idea.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f148/deboydoyd/allotmentMay2006025.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f148/deboydoyd/allotmentMay2006027.jpg)
Sorry not brilliant at re-sizing!!
Thanks so much for your help. Off to greenhouse now to pull off male flowers, now I know what they look like..... ;D
I Cant get over how big they have grown & how much fruit there is on each plant. If I have missed a few male flowers will all the fruit taste sour???
Thanks again
RC
As far as I know they will if they are pollinated but like you said they grow so quickly that only the first few will taste like that, the new ones developing after you have started removing the male flowers will be ok. I presume you are sure which sort you are growing now !!!!! I'm presuming mine are outdoor ones (although growing in greenhouse) as it says 'plant out' on instructions after risk of frost- I may be wrong but we shall see!!! Good luck.
I know it is a hobby horseof mine but Crystal apple and other old open pollinated cucumbers are cheaper, you can save your own seed, and need both flowers so there is no messing about/missing flowers!
;D
someone sent me some Marketmore seeds to grow in the greenhouse. Any idea if I need to remove the male flowers please?
Marketmore are an outdoor ridged variety and need all their flowers.
Thanks ever so for the speedy reply Clang......hmm, was told wrong then about it being a grenhouse variety, no matter tho..
Full instructions here Lishka:
http://www.fothergills.co.uk/en/cucumber-marketmore-715.aspx (http://www.fothergills.co.uk/en/cucumber-marketmore-715.aspx)
Excellent Clang and it's solved my g/house space problem....goodbye Marketmore, hello Okra! ;D
I grew Marketmore indoors last year and they went mad. My 3 plants had 23 cukes ready at one point. I was picking them as fast as I could get rid of them.
Update on my Marketmore...I went to move it from the 'house this morning - the plant is still quite small but imagine my surprise!! One cuke, bout 6" long, shyly hiding at the back of the tub 8)
So it's staying ;D
Lucky you - mine a struggling to show signs of life. I am off up to the plot tomorrow with a defibrulator tomorrow just in case. I have sown about 20 cucs this year and currently have two rather sad looking plants.
The old outdoor open pollinated varieties really like the protection of a "cold" greenhouse, if you have any luck with Okra Alishka let us know!
:)
Quote from: saddad on June 18, 2006, 21:39:17
if you have any luck with Okra Alishka let us know!
:)
Will do, but the seeds came from EJ - if anyone can get a crop from them, she can 8)