I grew several kinds, that got eaten by aphids. Now I have Mexican Sour Gherkins just starting to fruit - they look like miniature watermelons, and I keep waiting for West Indian Burr Gherkins to fruit, but nothing so far. Thse I spray with garlic-soap-oil-water solution from aphids and it seems to be helping nicely.
-
LindsayArthurRTR
- Green Thumb
- Posts: 527
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 10:41 pm
- Location: South Carolina, Upstate
I am growing American slicing and Japanese Soyu.
The Americans are just starting to produce. I have harvested 2 lovely cukes but some of the vines are producing cukes that are big on one end and that don't grow and are curled at the blossom end. I am going to feed them today and see if that works for me.
I planted the Soyu late so I am still waiting for them.
The Americans are just starting to produce. I have harvested 2 lovely cukes but some of the vines are producing cukes that are big on one end and that don't grow and are curled at the blossom end. I am going to feed them today and see if that works for me.
I planted the Soyu late so I am still waiting for them.
-
Green Mantis
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 931
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:52 pm
- Location: Alberta, Canada zone 1a
tomf----When you say lemon cucumbers are you talking about the round ones? They are SO good! Just love them!---Do you start your's first in the house or greenhouse? Any special fertilizer or anything? I want to grow them here next year. But Alberta is so different from British Columbia it's un-real! I sure hope they will grow for me though. If I started them indoors, When would I start them? Thanks in advance.
I been growing the lemon cukes for 3 years now and they are just wonderful, very tasty and very prolific last 2 years..this year they have not grown hardly at all, I think I just started them way to late.
Did I read right that you can eat the skin off lemon cukes? What about the little black prickly things all over it?
Applestar I love the trellis idea for cukes and will be doing this next year
Did I read right that you can eat the skin off lemon cukes? What about the little black prickly things all over it?
Applestar I love the trellis idea for cukes and will be doing this next year
Great pics applestar.
I grew the Armenian, sweet success, and Burpee sweet burpless hybrid this year. Have grown the sweet slicer in past years. Have also grown straight eight some in the past, but I can't stand the bitter taste of mature straight eights. They are okay if picked about half developed. The Armenian has been the best tasting of the group. I love the tender, edible, skin. The fruit is very crisp in texture and goes well with anything in any salad. The texture of the Armenian is similar to the crispness of water chestnuts in salads.
The Armenian's are the only ones to live and produce through the heat this year. The sweet success and Burpee hybrids simply succumbed to the heat after producing a few fruit. They usually produce so much I can't find takers for the fresh cucumbers. I will probably grow the same next year but will also throw some sweet slicers back in the mix.
Your Yamamotos look like my Armenians are supposed to look except for the dark green skin.
Ted
I grew the Armenian, sweet success, and Burpee sweet burpless hybrid this year. Have grown the sweet slicer in past years. Have also grown straight eight some in the past, but I can't stand the bitter taste of mature straight eights. They are okay if picked about half developed. The Armenian has been the best tasting of the group. I love the tender, edible, skin. The fruit is very crisp in texture and goes well with anything in any salad. The texture of the Armenian is similar to the crispness of water chestnuts in salads.
The Armenian's are the only ones to live and produce through the heat this year. The sweet success and Burpee hybrids simply succumbed to the heat after producing a few fruit. They usually produce so much I can't find takers for the fresh cucumbers. I will probably grow the same next year but will also throw some sweet slicers back in the mix.
Your Yamamotos look like my Armenians are supposed to look except for the dark green skin.
Ted
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Thanks Tedln. These are fun to grow and fun to harvest.
According to Seed to Seed, Armenian cucumber is a Cucumis melo, and will cross with all other melons -- cantalopes, musk melons, honeydew, crenshaw, etc. West Indian gherkin is Cucumis anguria. Neither will cross with Cucumber, which is Cucumis sativus.
Japanese Yamato is a Cucumis sativus so it's a true cucumber.
According to Seed to Seed, Armenian cucumber is a Cucumis melo, and will cross with all other melons -- cantalopes, musk melons, honeydew, crenshaw, etc. West Indian gherkin is Cucumis anguria. Neither will cross with Cucumber, which is Cucumis sativus.
Japanese Yamato is a Cucumis sativus so it's a true cucumber.
. "Easier said then done" would be an understatement is that situation -
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Thanks 
I suppose the color combo WOULD look interesting. But this was the first one, I'd heard that by the time the skin turns yellow the seeds are more developed and not as good to eat, and I wanted DD to have a good first taste of it. She loves cukes. (She said so herself, "I don't like cucumbers, I LOOOVE cucumbers!"
)
I'll check out the colors when we have some more fruits on the vines.
I suppose the color combo WOULD look interesting. But this was the first one, I'd heard that by the time the skin turns yellow the seeds are more developed and not as good to eat, and I wanted DD to have a good first taste of it. She loves cukes. (She said so herself, "I don't like cucumbers, I LOOOVE cucumbers!"
)I'll check out the colors when we have some more fruits on the vines.
What you heard is probably correct. It has been a lot of years since I ate some lemon cucumbers. The seeds probably were well developed. I don't remember. I never ate one still green so I don't have a taste comparison.
I also love cucumbers in a lot of different ways. I think my odd ball cucumber was probably the best I've eaten. I really have a hard time comparing it to other cucumbers because it had texture more like a melon, but with a mild cucumber flavor. Because it had a fully developed seed cavity, the flesh was seedless. I have another of possibly larger size I am allowing to ripen on the vine. I pulled one last night that is more like a normal cucumber in size. I will eat it tonight. My vines are doing well and I expect to have more until fall. I'm saving seed if you want some.
Ted
I also love cucumbers in a lot of different ways. I think my odd ball cucumber was probably the best I've eaten. I really have a hard time comparing it to other cucumbers because it had texture more like a melon, but with a mild cucumber flavor. Because it had a fully developed seed cavity, the flesh was seedless. I have another of possibly larger size I am allowing to ripen on the vine. I pulled one last night that is more like a normal cucumber in size. I will eat it tonight. My vines are doing well and I expect to have more until fall. I'm saving seed if you want some.
Ted
PM me where to send them. I already have some seed dried, but there is a chance that seed could have been cross pollinated with some normal cucumbers. I will wait to get seed from the cucumber that is ripening on the vine. Since all my normal cucumbers are now dead, it should guarantee the purity of the seed. I believe the Armenian is an OP variety. The seed cavity on the large one was very large and full of seed, so I should have enough to send to anyone who wants it when the next one matures.
Another unusual thing I noticed about the Armenian is the fact that it is very, very slow growing. I planted them at the same time I planted the normal cucumbers back in April. The normal cukes took off and grew fast. The Armenians produced weak, thin little vines in comparison. I think they were just waiting for the heat to arrive. When the heat did get here, it killed my other cukes, but the Armenian vines came to life and produced thick vines that climbed and bloomed rapidly. The Armenians also produce a lot of side vines from the main vines which covers the trellis pretty quickly. When my normal cukes died, I replanted some more normal cukes and some more Armenians. The normal vines couldn't take the heat after germinating and died quickly. The new Armenian vines are growing fine, but a little slow. I think next year, I will plant the Armenians on a different trellis than the normal cukes.
Ted
Another unusual thing I noticed about the Armenian is the fact that it is very, very slow growing. I planted them at the same time I planted the normal cucumbers back in April. The normal cukes took off and grew fast. The Armenians produced weak, thin little vines in comparison. I think they were just waiting for the heat to arrive. When the heat did get here, it killed my other cukes, but the Armenian vines came to life and produced thick vines that climbed and bloomed rapidly. The Armenians also produce a lot of side vines from the main vines which covers the trellis pretty quickly. When my normal cukes died, I replanted some more normal cukes and some more Armenians. The normal vines couldn't take the heat after germinating and died quickly. The new Armenian vines are growing fine, but a little slow. I think next year, I will plant the Armenians on a different trellis than the normal cukes.
Ted
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
The Yamato variety seems to tend to bitterness, though drought is a factor to keep in mind. I only give the kids the bottom 1/2 of the cuke. The cats sometimes get the next 1/6 of the cuke.
A few days ago, I bit into a top 1/2 and it was so incredibly bitter I couldn't spit it out fast enough. But when I followed a typical Chinese cucumber prep of cutting them in chunks and liberally salting them in a strainer, they released about 1/4C of liquid. I added them to an unsalted pasta sauce I was cooking after giving them a quick rinse, and they tasted terrific.
A few days ago, I bit into a top 1/2 and it was so incredibly bitter I couldn't spit it out fast enough. But when I followed a typical Chinese cucumber prep of cutting them in chunks and liberally salting them in a strainer, they released about 1/4C of liquid. I added them to an unsalted pasta sauce I was cooking after giving them a quick rinse, and they tasted terrific.
In Asian culture, they grow what I understand is called "Bitter Melon" and use it in their cuisine. I've often wondered if the Bitter Melon is in fact simply a bitter cucumber. I don't know how anyone could eat them. Bitter cucumbers are more than my taste buds can handle. Maybe they prep the fruit similar to applestars method which is often used for bitter eggplant also. If they do prep the melon by removing the bitterness, why would they grow them at all?
Ted
Ted
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Somebody more knowledgeable can correct me or elaborate, but I believe in Chinese Medicine, "bitter" food is considered an important element in balancing your diet and your body's Chi. (Hmm... that didn't sound right -- should Chi be considered "body's" or should Chi be considered independent but integral part of your body?)
I'm growing Marketmore, Burpless, Northern Pickling, and Diva, 4 plants of each. I'm overwhelmed by cucumbers right now as the heat finally hit us the past few weeks, mostly picking all varieties pickle sized. I'll be eating pickles all winter. One thing I found to be strange though was according to johnnyseeds.com Diva is seedless and this Diva of mine has seeds, but looks like a Diva cucumber should.
Some varieties like Sweet Success and possibly Diva have only female blossoms and are supposed to be seedless unless the blossom is pollinated. If you planted other varieties along with the Diva, it was pollinated from one of the other varieties. I haven't checked the Diva and don't know if it is female blossom only, but if it is supposedly seedless; it probably is.
Ted
Ted
The seed you plant is hybrid seed. It was the result of a cucumber, bred with a different variety which results in a hybrid variety which only produces female blossoms. There are some "female only" hybrid varieties which do require pollination in order to produce fruit. Typically in packets of those seed, the vendor will include the seed from a variety which also has male blooms. You have to plant the entire packet of seed to insure a male blossom will be available to pollinate all of the female blossoms on other vines. The variety I grow "Sweet Success", produces only female blossoms which do not require pollination.
Ted
Ted
This year I'm branching out a bit with the cucs. I already have General Lee Pickling Cucumbers in the ground along with some Straight 8's and Armenian Cucumbers. I love bread and butter style pickles so I have about 12 ft. of trellis devoted to them and the rest of the trellis to the other 2 varieties.
Unlike Gary350, I eat them almost daily in the summer in salads or just by themselves with a bit of salt. I know I'll have more than I really need so the neighbors and relatives will once again benefit.
Unlike Gary350, I eat them almost daily in the summer in salads or just by themselves with a bit of salt. I know I'll have more than I really need so the neighbors and relatives will once again benefit.
That cucumber from Applestar is amazing I want to try something like that.
I will have to investigate, never sure if it is too hot here for some varieties.
Last year I was not too adventurous. I tried Burpee Sweeter yet Hybrid
and they look and tasted - like a cucumber. I also used one from Gurneys
Hybrid Miss Pickler. Now they looked just like the others.
These are the Sweeter yet Hybrid
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/IMG_0066.jpg[/img]
These are the Miss Pickler
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/IMG_0053.jpg[/img]
The second didn't last long, aphids nearly destroyed that healthy plant in no time.
This year I am trying some Johnny's Hybrids. (3) different kinds actually, I saw alot of mention of the Straight 8 and may get those as well since alot of people mentioned it.
I will have to investigate, never sure if it is too hot here for some varieties.
Last year I was not too adventurous. I tried Burpee Sweeter yet Hybrid
and they look and tasted - like a cucumber. I also used one from Gurneys
Hybrid Miss Pickler. Now they looked just like the others.
These are the Sweeter yet Hybrid
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/IMG_0066.jpg[/img]
These are the Miss Pickler
[img]https://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc119/Avonnow/IMG_0053.jpg[/img]
The second didn't last long, aphids nearly destroyed that healthy plant in no time.
This year I am trying some Johnny's Hybrids. (3) different kinds actually, I saw alot of mention of the Straight 8 and may get those as well since alot of people mentioned it.
Jal,
I always grow lots of cucumbers because we enjoy them and our friends and family who receive bags of them also appreciate them.
I always grow "Sweet Success" because they are burpless and grow to about 16" long and remain tender and sweet. They are also all female blooms and produce a lot more fruit than other varieties. I also always grow a second crop of a different variety. Last year, the experimental variety was "Armenian" and they did great producing lots of long tender fruit and when the weather warmed a lot, they started producing melon sized fruit.
This year, my experimental bed is seeded with "Diva" which is supposed to be a heavy producer of burpless cucumbers about eight inches long. It is also an all female variety which should double the production. Since it doesn't have any of the natural chemicals which sometimes make cucumbers bitter, it is less attractive to cucumber beetles and is supposed to be resistant to common cucumber diseases like powdery mildew.
Ted
I always grow lots of cucumbers because we enjoy them and our friends and family who receive bags of them also appreciate them.
I always grow "Sweet Success" because they are burpless and grow to about 16" long and remain tender and sweet. They are also all female blooms and produce a lot more fruit than other varieties. I also always grow a second crop of a different variety. Last year, the experimental variety was "Armenian" and they did great producing lots of long tender fruit and when the weather warmed a lot, they started producing melon sized fruit.
This year, my experimental bed is seeded with "Diva" which is supposed to be a heavy producer of burpless cucumbers about eight inches long. It is also an all female variety which should double the production. Since it doesn't have any of the natural chemicals which sometimes make cucumbers bitter, it is less attractive to cucumber beetles and is supposed to be resistant to common cucumber diseases like powdery mildew.
Ted
-
jal_ut
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 7447
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:20 pm
- Location: Northern Utah Zone 5
Thanks for the ideas. I am sitting here this afternoon watching it snow.
Grrrrr!
Cuke planting time here is June 1, but I am thinking of buying seed soon.
I have planted Armenians for many years, and usually put in a few, You are right, they can get huge. This is actually a muskmelon. Cucumis melo.
Cucumbers are Cucumis sativus
Grrrrr!
Cuke planting time here is June 1, but I am thinking of buying seed soon.
I have planted Armenians for many years, and usually put in a few, You are right, they can get huge. This is actually a muskmelon. Cucumis melo.
Cucumbers are Cucumis sativus
-
hendi_alex
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
- Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina
I have three mixed packs of cucumber seeds. They are marked pickling, sweet slice hybrid, Asian. I buy various seeds which fit the three categories and mix the seeds together. What I get each season is the pure chance of the draw. My wife and I love cucumbers and strive to have a continuous supply from late May through November or December.
In my opinion, that is the only way to grow them. They do grow nicely on a trellis and it helps keep the fruit off the ground and easier to pick. I have 2 trellises in my garden, 1 for cucs and the other for pole beans of different varieties. All of my trellises are made of 2x4 pressure treated lumber with 8 ft. posts in the ground by 2 ft. deep and a series of three 2x4's stretched between the uprights, one on the bottom, one on the top and one in the middle to which hog wire is stapled to. To help support the thing and keep it nice and straight, I'll drive a 2x4 about 18 inches long into the ground about 12 in. from the base of the uprights and use a 1x4 at an angle to the sides of the upright 2x4 and the ground stake.tedly wrote:Total newbie question here. I didn't realize cukes could be grown on a trellis. I see chicken wire in some of the pics, is it a fill frame or just stretched between 2 posts? How big should it be? Thanks for any info.