The premier gardening information source
Cucumbers
Growing cucumbers is slightly more complicated compared to some
other vegetables, to say otherwise would not be telling the truth.
However, the whole subject is made over-complicated because there
are two distinct variety of cucumber which require very different
treatment.
There is the traditional cucumber (the long slim variety) and the ridge (or outdoor) variety. This article is concerned with ridge varieties which can be grown outside of a greenhouse.
Cucumbers are very high-yielding. Just three plants should provide all the cucumbers needed by a small family.
RIDGE CUCUMBER QUICK GUIDE
Latin Name
Cucumus sativus
Type
Half hardy annual producing edible
fruit.
Site and Soil
Tolerant of most soil conditions. Full sun
Plant to Harvest Time
12 to 14 weeks.
Yield
Average of 12 fruits per plant
Varieties of Ridge Cucumber
Ridge (or outdoor) cucumbers are sold by most seed merchants. We have
had the best success with two varieties which are listed below:
Variety
Type
Comments
Mini Petita Slicing This worked well for us outdoors in the Midlands as the picture testifies (click on the name to the left. Juicy, delicious flavour.
Marketmore Slicing A great choice for growing outside in cooler climates. Fruits are 20 cm (8 in) long and very tasty. Combine this with good disease resistance and you have a great cucumber.
Burpless Tasty Green F1 Slicing If you suffer from indigestion after eating cucumbers then this is the indigestion-free solution! Fruits are around 20 cm (8 in) long and are crisp and green.
Pollination
Ridge (outdoor) cucumbers produce both male and female
flowers. The female flowers need to be pollinated by the male flowers
for cucumbers to develop. With ridge cucumbers, insects will do the
job for you. Don't remove any flowers from ridge cucumbers. If the
plants are being raised under cloches or poly tunnels make sure they
are opened up in the warmer parts of the day to let insects get at
the flowers.
Name: Sue
E-mail: lindasuebolin@hotmail.com
Date posted: September 18, 2011 - 04:35 pm
Message: This year we planted cucumbers close to our muskmelons. The cucumbers were weird shape but tasted fine. Our muskmelons however, ripened up fine but had no flavor at all. I have since learned from a couple of people not to grow cucumbers next to muskmelons. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Thanks for any help with this. Sue
Name: jake
E-mail: jakegilder@gmail.co.uk
Date posted: January 25, 2011 - 08:03 am
Message: ram a cucumber
Name: sam
E-mail: hindu@live.co.uk
Date posted: January 25, 2011 - 07:56 am
Message: eat all ur carrots
Name: Ellie
E-mail: Private
Date posted: September 30, 2010 - 07:01 am
Message: my cucumber tastes like dirt .. can you help me please? x
Name: Ismail khamies
E-mail: Ismail.khamies11@gmail.com
Date posted: September 02, 2010 - 06:22 am
Message: I want no about vegetables cultivation practce in sudan
Name: sharon
E-mail: nearlybutnotquite1@hotmail.com
Date posted: August 08, 2010 - 05:00 am
Message: hi, i bought some ridge delicious cucumber seeds and followed the instructions. they are more like a marrow!!!!! why? any ideas
