General Chat

Well, I have two of the blighters growing on my one cucumber plant in a pot in the middle of the garden. Sheltered and sunny.

I have never grown cucumbers before and my trusty old gardening book is not giving me much info.

I'm not expecting them to grow to the length of shop-bought ones but what length do they normally grow to at home?

This is a genuine question by the way - I'm not hunting out any "silly" answers please!

Jill

Do you remember the variety of what was planted?

They could grow to 'shop-bought' size, if of similar type.

Gwyn

Hi Gwyn

No idea. Bought them off someone at work who raises toms and cues and peppers etc to sell on for Children in Need. Can't ask her as she is on long term sick leave at the moment.

They did start of with lots of prickles running down the sides - they've now got much smaller and less vicious. When they vanish - if they vanish - does that indicate that they're ready?

Sorry to be such a dimwit.

Jill

We grow cucumbers in the greenhouse.I don't think they had any prickles,but they grow to about 6 inches.Some smaller,but I just pick them when they look green enough.They are really tasty.Good Luck with yours.
Jane.

Jill
Are they definitely cues and not courgettes?

Gwyn

Definitely cues.

These are quite a dark green ...

Jill

Hi

I've been growing mini cucumbers for the last couple of years and pick them when they are 6inches long.

Yes, the stalks on mine are prickly too.

If they are not mini cucumbers they should grow to similar size to shop bought but I am sure you can just pick them when you like if you are happy with the size of them.

If you find that any of the flowers do not have fruit growing behind them you should pinch those ones off as the plant probably has both male and female flowers on it. If you leave the male ones on the fruit can become bitter.

My large cucumber plants have a lot of fruit growing but they are really really tiny at the moment, think it will be weeks before I can pick any of them. I was growing 3 mini ones too but have lost one of those and another isn't looking too good this year!!!!! We have had too much rain again and not enough sun. Even tomatoes are taking forever to ripen and not got as many as last year either!!! C'est la vie.

Thanks Geordiegirl

I will go and pick off any remaining flowers - not sure there are any as it lives next to a pot with flowers in and it's all a little confusing.

Think I might pick one this week and leave the other one to see how large it gets.

Jill

ours are prickly too and hubby just picks them and shaves the prickles off with a peeler, are very yummy shame cucumber gives me heartburn, still eat it tho

When we grew them they grew quite long..the trick is to pick them at the right time cos too late & the skin is tough