Cucumbers: what length before I can harvest them

[kt.]

I have Carmen cucumber that is about 6" long already.  What size do they need to grow to before being ready for pulling to eat?

Same question for Marketmore cucumbers too please.

[kt.]

[manicscousers]

ours are burpless, we pick 'em when we feel like..we never let them get bigger than 12"

[caroline7758]

Mine are about 1" ;D

[davyw1]

I have Carmen cucumber that is about 6" long already.  What size do they need to grow to before being ready for pulling to eat?

Same question for Marketmore cucumbers too please.

I cant say for Marketmore as i have never grown them.

Carmen i grow and you can expect some choice Cucumbers. They grow quite big so i would look at 10" to 12" but dont judge them so much on the length also look at the girth. I think you will find that if you leave it another week it will have reached 10"

[STEVEB]

Dont try to grow monsters as their tasteless i pick at 8/10 "

[northener]

Different varietys different lengths i reckon. Read somewhere, when the sides are parrarell.

[djbrenton]

Marketmore aren't a particularly long cuke. I pick them when 6-8 inches long.

[Stevens706]

Basically I go to the greenhouse when I need a cucumber and pick the largest one, seems to work.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I pick outdoor cucs like Marketmore at about 6-8 inches, but I haven't grown the greenhouse variety.

[Suzanne]

I haven't got a greenhouse so just have only just planted my outdoor cuc's (marketmore, green fingers, mini-white and lemon) 10 days ago - I won't get a cuc to pick for a while yet - so really jealous.

However, marketmore i generally pick at 8" long, the rest are mini cucs (or round) so picking when they look ready! But generally <6 ".

[tim]

Carmen? 14" is the typical time.

Marketmore? Agree - 8".

Pick when & if may be fine if you have nothing else, but a Cucumber ripens like all fruit. Best when just right.  Parallel sides (as said) & even dark green are good indications. Certainly don't leave them to overgrow, or too many on the plant, whatever size, or many embryos will abort.

DO watch out for Red Spider!!

[kt.]

DO watch out for Red Spider!!

Does it demolish cucumbers and the plant? Treatment please?

[allaboutliverpool]

It does not matter, pick when you need as more will grow!

I am lucky to have a patient who is a vegetble expert and he judges at shows.

He was telling me the other day that if you cut off half a cucumber and put clingfilm over the end of the half left on the plant that it keeps fresh for a week or two!

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html

[Hyacinth]

(do hope that this thread runs and runs, cos I'm a cuke newbie)....and as such, can I please ask if something I read in a '50 Top Tips' book at Christmas is right....that is, if only 1/2, say, of a cuke is needed, you can cut the bottom off the plant & seal the cut end with clingfilm 'til you want to eat the rest ???

apols for butting in ...

PS I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! Ans. came as I was about to post  ;D

[tim]

Yes - I suppose I would cut one of these if I was desperate, but I'd much rather wait 2 days more. They are not ripe. They should be 8-9" long.

Half a cuke? I only grow 1/2 cukes. Problem solved!

[northener]

Glad to here from Marketmore growers its my first time with them. Do you remove male flowers? Do you train up a single cane? Anytips?

[davyW]

DO watch out for Red Spider!!

Does it demolish cucumbers and the plant? Treatment please?

They suck the life out of the plant. 
Red Spider Mite does not like humid condition so i always keep a couple of buckets of water next to the plants to try and increase the humidity.

QUOTE( He was telling me the other day that if you cut off half a cucumber and put clingfilm over the end of the half left on the plant that it keeps fresh for a week or two!)

Whats the point they last longer in the fridge also you are taking feed away from the you cucumbers.

[tim]

Not ripe. Another inch to go before it's 8.5",  parallel & wholly green.