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Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: caroline7758 on July 19, 2007, 15:41:08

Title: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: caroline7758 on July 19, 2007, 15:41:08
I bought two cucmber plants from Saddad at his plant fair, and he gave me instructions but I've forgotten what he said!  :-[One is Crystal apple and the other is Boothby's blonde. Thay are now about 3 ft tall and producing lots of flowers. What do I do next? Leave well alone or start taking off flowers/pinching out ...?
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: Sigsy on July 19, 2007, 16:08:42
Hi,

I'm a novice also and have been growing 8 'Marketmore' plants this year,

Mine are all fruiting really well and I didnt pick any flowers off at all.  I did however pinch out the growing point after 7 leaves to allow the laterals to grow as I heard they produce more fruit, however you really need lots of space to do this as they spread like wildfire, so next year I will not be pinching early but growing to the roof then pinching out and let the laterals grow down.

Hope this helps in some way
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: tim on July 19, 2007, 17:46:02
Ask Dad??
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: caroline7758 on July 19, 2007, 18:41:57
Yep, hoping he'll pop in later, Tim!
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: saddad on July 20, 2007, 07:54:52
Leave them alone... they need both sets of flowers... pleased they are doing well.
;D
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: caroline7758 on July 20, 2007, 09:37:20
Thanks, Saddad- glad I can take the easy option! BTW that Archocha I bought from you  is growing like mad- can i leave that alone as well?
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: saddad on July 20, 2007, 15:52:09
Yes with the provision that you can get past it...if not take a machete to it... once the green pods start to form in the leaf axils hwere those tiny white flowers are you can pinch them out and eat them... whole while smaller than thuimb nail size... later you have to cut the seed spine out... remember to save some at the end of the season...
;D
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: caroline7758 on July 20, 2007, 18:33:18
Don't think I've got flowers yet but thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: Cucumber novice questions
Post by: saddad on July 20, 2007, 21:51:50
Bet they have... tiny /insignificant ones but bet they have!!!
;D