Cucumber harvesting?

[green fingers]

I have container grown cucumbers that have 3 large, 6 inchish sized fruit on them. How do I know when to harvest them? They seem to be getting fatter rather than longer.

[Lesley Jay]

All varieties are different. The variety I like growing gets to about 7 inches (ish) so they are probably ready to eat! If you let the cucumbers grow too fat the centres tend to split, although this doesn't stop you eating them.

They will be lovely and really juicy!! Enjoy!!

[green fingers]

Thanks again Lesley. I harvested the first one this evening and it is lovely. The skin is a bit tough and bitter but the flesh is so sweet and juicy.

[Lesley Jay]

Whoops! Sorry, I should have added that the skins can be bitter so I always peel the cucumbers first.

[paul]

Hi GreenFingers,

The skin on mine were a tad bitter. My oppo on the allotment next to mine said that 'male' seed fruits are bitter, but the female ones, which are a bit more expensive, are much sweeter. I'll try female seeds next year.

[malcolmx]

f1 cucumbers are all female but best grown in greenhouse they are expensive
bitter skins are not male plants but fertilized female plants so pick off any male plants they are the ones with no small fruit behind the flower you can grow outdoor varieties under cover such as burpee and this gives a lot of smallish fruits

[Lesley Jay]

When growing outdoor cucumbers both the male and female flowers need leaving on the plant for pollination.

[DunDiggin]

I find the outdoor varieties, the spikey ones, have a skin which is more bitter than the greenhouse ones. As to when to pick, as Lesley says its down to variety. Outdoor ones such as Marketmore I pick at about 6" long and 1-2" in diameter, whilst greenhouse ones such as Telegraph (which can also be grown outdoors) and Bella I pick at about 10" long and 2" in diameter.

[malcolmx]

thanks for that point re outdoor cues Lesly i had forgotten that
spiky out door cues are the probably the older varieties and may be more suitable for pickling(cut smaller) . i find telegraph grown out doors to be disappointing . i cut telegraph at about 12-15 inches i now use f1 in the green house and not bother too much outdoors slugs and weather usually ruin the crop

[jlottie]

I tried out gherkins this year and found that they were just the right size at around 10cms for picking. The flavour was excellent and lots of fruit produced over a long period - they are still going strong

[DunDiggin]

Certainly, outdoors the weather makes a huge difference. Last year was a disaster for the outdoor crop. They're doing much better this year - so far, but nothing like two years ago.