Cucumbers only producing male flowers

[applestar]

I'm SOOOO glad I read your "homework" linked page, HG, before responding to Hydro Re:

From all I have read regarding growing cucumbers the last thing you want to do is pollinate the flowers. All of the male flowers should be removed as soon as you see them.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that "they've" managed to breed/create asexually prolific cukes. Jurassic Park, anyone? Kinda funny that the "billy" cuke flowers stink up the product.

So, jmoore, ARE you growing the greenhouse/indoor variety? Better be sure before snipping the males.

[Hydrogardener]

I have noticed that the female flowers tend to cluster together also.
You might just hang in there until conditions improve. And, you might consider starting another type of seed, as you still may have time to get a decent crop.

[jmoore]

It's a Festivus miracle!!!!!

[img]https://www.grievethis.com/images/miracle2.jpg[/img]

I just checked the cuke's when I got home from work and there are 4 female flowers on there! All the females are on the very end of the vines, so maybe it just took some time for everything to get itself going.

There are lots of bud clusters there too, so I'm praying for more! My faith is restored. At least in this batch of cukes.

[Hydrogardener]

Count your blessings.

[gixxerific]

Good to hear, remember they need lots of water.

I could mail you some. I cut my planting down to basically 4 plants and find myself trimming them back by about 30% every week or less. But the cuc's keep coming way too fast for me. I'm probably pulling 15-20 or more a week.

[jmoore]

I have been afraid to overwater the garden but the last week or so I stepped it up some and everything seems to have responded well. So I'll keep the same schedule I'm on and hope for the best.

I'll be happy if I can get one good cuke off the vine. Hopefully I'll get more, but I'm keeping my sites low for now. I have 6-7 plants so I may be overrun. It would be nice to have enough to make some spicy pickles to eat in the fall/winter.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I think I need to post some pics of the female flowers now. Just for posterity.

Good to hear, remember they need lots of water.

I could mail you some. I cut my planting down to basically 4 plants and find myself trimming them back by about 30% every week or less. But the cuc's keep coming way too fast for me. I'm probably pulling 15-20 or more a week.

[The Helpful Gardener]

And I'd chalk that up more to genetics than cultural issues, Jason. Isn't too late to start some new cuke seeds; soak 'em in water for a day and plant. Don't know what you might do to get girls more other than shower, comb your hair, use deodorant, and be polite. It's often worked for me... ... cukes I am less sure about...


HG

[jmoore]

I've got a few pumpkin seeds working that are going into an open spot. I'll clean up all nice and neat and put on a fresh shirt when I plant them. Maybe that will convince them to bring on the females. I'll also talk really sweet to the cukes. Tell them they look pretty and that their flowers don't make them look fat

And I'd chalk that up more to genetics than cultural issues, Jason. Isn't too late to start some new cuke seeds; soak 'em in water for a day and plant. Don't know what you might do to get girls more other than shower, comb your hair, use deodorant, and be polite. It's often worked for me... ... cukes I am less sure about...


HG

[The Helpful Gardener]

Politeness never hurts, and it's cheap

HG

[locteach]

I too live in Dallas and have suffered through no female cucumbers. Hmmfff. I think the heat really stresses out the cukes. I did put up a shade cloth and now the plants have little female friends. They were planted in May. We will have to see what happens.

My watermelon and pumpkin are boy producing plants at the moment. I am hopeful that some friendly girl flowers will drop by soon. It was 108 in my garden this afternoon. I can't even imagine the heat index temp. I felt like I was melting away. My green peppers have yet to produce one flower.

Best wishes.

[jmoore]

Sounds like we have similar gardens - cukes, peppers, pumpkins. Also sounds like we have the same growing issues.

My cukes are against a fence so they get probably more shade than they should. That's probably why they are not scorched to death. The females have finally started coming. I counted 4 on Friday. There are definitely more now and more every day. I am hoping it continues and I have a decent crop. The first females are looking good so far but I can't tell if they have been pollinated yet. Fingers crossed.

My peppers - jalapeno and orange bell - are a different story. The flowers I do, which are few, drop off after a few days. Before it got hot, they were doing fine. Not now. I figure it's heat stress. I'll keep them well watered and maybe get something when it cools down a bit.

Where are you in Dallas? I'm near White Rock Lake.

I too live in Dallas and have suffered through no female cucumbers. Hmmfff. I think the heat really stresses out the cukes. I did put up a shade cloth and now the plants have little female friends. They were planted in May. We will have to see what happens.

My watermelon and pumpkin are boy producing plants at the moment. I am hopeful that some friendly girl flowers will drop by soon. It was 108 in my garden this afternoon. I can't even imagine the heat index temp. I felt like I was melting away. My green peppers have yet to produce one flower.

Best wishes.

[locteach]

I think we do have similar gardens - I am North of Northwest off Hillcrest. - I am new to Dallas and am container and raised bed gardening. My plants are just hanging on. I am looking forward to the anticipated rain as it will lower temperatures and because I just built 2 rain barrels for watering my garden.

I do have one beet left, several herbs, and I am growing malabar spinach. My bean plants are not producing either. I found out today several of them are infested with aphids and spider mites. I ripped some out today.

I love Northhaven Gardens for my gardening supplies. Do you recommend anywhere else? I went tonight to Half Price books on Northwest and got a great book by J. Howard Garrett - Organic Gardening. I am hopeful to implement some of his strategies in my garden.

Hopefully I will have girl flowers soon on all my plants!! Bring on the rain.

[The Helpful Gardener]

The Dirt Doctor is good people. I have not met him yet, but my friend Paul has had Howard on his podcast, and liked him a lot...and we sure like what he is preaching...

HG

[Hydrogardener]

Just to clarify, I am not growing a greenhouse variety. The cucumber in the photo is Bush Champion, and the seeds were purchased at Home Depot. The information concerning male flowers on cucumbers is available at several Ag/Tech college sites and state cooperative extension sites.

[jmoore]

I think we do have similar gardens - <snip>

1. What rain? Maybe in Sept we'll get some

2. Northhaven is great. I usually just go to Home Depot. I don't have a lot of garden specific stuff just yet.

3. I thought my bean problems were just me. Maybe they'll come around. I've got a few buds but they look weak.

You should stop by the Lake Highlands Community Gardens sometime. It's awesome. I'm thinking of buying a plot there for next year, but I do like the convenience of having the garden in the back yard.