Allotments 4 All

 Hi
I am growing ridge cucumbers in my polytunnel(to get an earlier crop), they are cropping well but alot of them are bitter and inedible.
I am not growing any other variety, they are not stressed and am now picking 4 a day.
What am I doing wrong? I thought ridge cues didn't have this problem. ???
Thanks
Sharon

Are you removing the male flowers as they appear?

Plus it might be a tad warm in a tunnel  for 'ridge' varieties!

Ridge cucumbers need male flowers, I've checked the variety it says to keep the male flowers on(there must be 30 on each plant). I keep the door open permanently now, it doesn't seem too hot just protects against the elements and allows me to be weeks ahead of the rest of the cues on the allotment. :'(
Sharon

I've occasionally had the odd one that was bitter. I don't know what causes it.

Didn't believe this when I first read it but thought I would try in anyway and it appears to work.  If you have a bitter one, run the cut off end (fleshy bit) up and down the outside of it.  I don't know why it works but it does.

I've looked at the calendar, it's not april fools day!
I've just checked the 3 I picked to day and none are bitter, I will certainly try this and let everyone know : :-*
Sharon

Are you growing two different types of cucumber are you

No Just Long green ridge variety.
Does the bitterness decrease with time, the cues I tasted earlier were picked yesterday. There will be loads due to be picked over the next few days, I will experiment.
I am going to Hyde Hall on friday so I will try to pick the brains there, they have an area just for veg.
Sharon