Allotments 4 All

On GQT today, Bob Flowerdew said that Crystal Apple have to have male flowers removed to avoid bitter fruit.

Is that right?  ???

Yes they are not all female cukes so need to be treated like all  cucumbers that can get male flowers

oh no - how will I tell which are male and which are female ??

I had bucket loads of these last year never did anything to them and they were delicious and juicy!

Chrispea, how many plants did you have?  I have sown some seeds but I am not sure whether to sow some more.  My family love cucumber and are very excited about these. :)

Female flowers have a mini-cunumber behind them, male ones don't.

Sorry for butting in. Do you take off the male flowers? also I gave 1 plant to a friend, but does she need 2 really?? will one plant be ok

One will be fine. The rule is, take the male flowers off the greenhouse ones, if they have them (some varieties are all-female) but leave all the flowers on the ridge type.

Robert, approximately how many cues will I get off one plant? I have sown 8 seeds and am not sure if that is enough or too many! :-\

How do they grow like a bush or have them going up a bean pole?

Ach, I thought I understood cucs but now I am confused again.  :-\

I had an outdoor ridge cuc with male and female flowers last year, left all flowers on, cucs fine (as per Robert's post above).

I thought these (Lemons and Apples) were also outdoor cucs and I could do the same.

So now, two more questions:

Are they indoor cucs?
If not, how come we have to take the male flowers off if they're outdoorsies?

BTW, Bob F didn't rate them, but I don't believe him, I believe EJ!  ;)

Quote from: pye on May 03, 2007, 16:42:52
BTW, Bob F didn't rate them, but I don't believe him, I believe EJ!  ;)

My daughters pretty much said stuff all the others and just grow these - so much for Bob F.


One mans meat is another mans cucumber

Quote from: tulippa on May 03, 2007, 12:55:21
Robert, approximately how many cues will I get off one plant? I have sown 8 seeds and am not sure if that is enough or too many! :-\

I grew only one last year in the Polly Tunnel it got to a stage where i was frightened to go in. I was convinced it was a Triffid waiting in ambush

We grow four plants and have loads. We grow in a cold greenhouse. pick the male flowers off? Nonsense... how will they set seeds for next years crop...?
::)

If all my seeds come through I shall need to give some away then! :)

Pye, I am going to grow them outside like EJ.  I believe her too! :)

I grew them outdoors last year no problem, and the only thing I removed was the bumper crop!

Which reminds me, if I can sneak in a request - I couldn't find seeds this year anywhere - could anyone spare me just a couple, please? Happy to swap for something.

I have some crystal lemon ,any use?
p.m  and they are yours

 They will grow inside or out quite happily. By the way you can use them like courgettes if you let them mature on the vine a bit longer than you would for cucumbers. XX Jeannine

I've never counted how many I get off a plant, but they produce them regularly from the beginning of August until it gets too cold. Greenhouse ones would probably have a longer season.

Never found Crystal Apple to go bitter-a bit pippy if grown on though. It`s not one Iwill grow next year