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#1
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ridge cucumbers
I have just bought on impulse, a "Ridge Cucumber" plant in the garden
centre, on the basis of remembering somebody telling me that they needed no fertilisation. Upon reading my gardening bible when I got home it states that fertilization IS important. Further reading suggests that some are female and therefore apparently DON'T require fertilisation. Unfortunately the label doesn't state what variety it is. I'm now more than a bit confused! Can anybody advise what I should do. I've never grown cucumbers before, only courgettes. Many thanks Ros Chichester West Sussex, UK. |
#2
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The message
from Ros Butt contains these words: I have just bought on impulse, a "Ridge Cucumber" plant in the garden centre, on the basis of remembering somebody telling me that they needed no fertilisation. Upon reading my gardening bible when I got home it states that fertilization IS important. Further reading suggests that some are female and therefore apparently DON'T require fertilisation. Unfortunately the label doesn't state what variety it is. I'm now more than a bit confused! Can anybody advise what I should do. I've never grown cucumbers before, only courgettes. Just plant it out, the insects will do the pollinating. I've never had to artificially pollinate ridge cucumbers. I've never seen an all-female ridge cucumber plant - I think you can rule that out, it'd be an F1 hybrid, and rather more expensive than run-of-the-mill plants. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
#3
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In article , Ros Butt
writes I have just bought on impulse, a "Ridge Cucumber" plant in the garden centre, on the basis of remembering somebody telling me that they needed no fertilisation. Upon reading my gardening bible when I got home it states that fertilization IS important. Further reading suggests that some are female and therefore apparently DON'T require fertilisation. Unfortunately the label doesn't state what variety it is. I'm now more than a bit confused! Can anybody advise what I should do. I've never grown cucumbers before, only courgettes. Many greenhouse cucumbers are all female F1, and they are self fertile. Those that are not, like Telegraph, have to have their male flowers pinched out or the fruits can be bitter. Ridge cucumbers (gherkins) grow differently from that, they have to have their male flowers left on in order to pollinate. A little help with hand pollination could make more certain of getting a crop, but we've never had to do that. Gherkins are best picked small and young, and taking them off will encourage more new fruits to form. -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs. |
#4
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The message
from Alan Gould contains these words: Many greenhouse cucumbers are all female F1, and they are self fertile. Those that are not, like Telegraph, have to have their male flowers pinched out or the fruits can be bitter. Ridge cucumbers (gherkins) grow differently from that, they have to have their male flowers left on in order to pollinate. A little help with hand pollination could make more certain of getting a crop, but we've never had to do that. Gherkins are best picked small and young, and taking them off will encourage more new fruits to form. I like them sliced in the usual way for cucumbers - stickleback and cucumber sandwiches, anyone? -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
#5
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thanks for the help, I'll just plant it out when the time comes and see
what happens. Ros I have just bought on impulse, a "Ridge Cucumber" plant in the garden centre, on the basis of remembering somebody telling me that they needed no fertilisation. Upon reading my gardening bible when I got home it states that fertilization IS important. Further reading suggests that some are female and therefore apparently DON'T require fertilisation. Unfortunately the label doesn't state what variety it is. I'm now more than a bit confused! Can anybody advise what I should do. I've never grown cucumbers before, only courgettes. Many thanks Ros Chichester West Sussex, UK. Chichester West Sussex, UK. |
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