Outdoor cucumbers

[sticks]

I am going to have a go at outdoor cucumbers for the first time this year and I have a few questions. I have two different varieties to try - Marketmore and Burpless Tasty Green.

Firstly, do I need to grow the two varieties in separate locations? - I read something about cucumbers cross-pollinating and producting bitter fruit but I can't find where I read this info or recall the details of it.

And finally, what do cucumbers like to grow up? A single cane/wigwam/trellis/mesh frame?

[sticks]

[small]

To answer just a little bit of your question...I always grow Marketmore, now I just let them mound and sprawl. I get more cucumbers than I know what to do with, they are such easy reliable plants. The skins are terribly prickly though!

[Dopey]

I got this heirloom variety
   
CUCUMBER - CRYSTAL LEMON - 80 FINEST SEEDS from this guy on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280852240374?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 it will be mice to take an apple sizes q cumber and just have a snack while pottering about on the loty they grow up a trellis and outside too, meant to be a very nice taste, and not a very heavy veg so can climb easily, its unusual being round and the colour

[Alex133]

Burpless is very reliable. Have grown up trellis and wigwams successfully.

[compostbin]

have never before,...grown cucumbers,....had recently,...a plastic greenhouse,...erected,..by a friend,...koz i'me dis-abled,...but have been "potty",.......about growing,..for over 20 years,..but,.....have never tried cucumbers,....so,.......would they,...be happy,....in growbags,....like some tomatoes?,.......& is it still too soon,...to sow some?

[strawberry1]

I tried outdoor cucumber for the first time last year, marketmore, it was useless but I am not giving up. It will be burpless this year, seeds just sown a few days ago, in a very large planting bucket with a trellis and I have access to a decent garden trellis, if by some miracle, I get some decent growing plants. Everything else I grew was 100% successful so I am pretty determined. Next year it will be that lemon one on a mound on the allotment, much more natural than a bucket

[ed dibbles]

Hello sticks,

Outdoor cucumbers need to pollinate to produce fruit so there is no problem with growing two varieties together. I've planted Marketmore and Crystal Lemon this year.

You can let them trail on the ground or train them up a support the choice of the type of support is yours.

compostbin - I think you could plant them in a growbag, probably just one plant though. But don't let the compost get waterlogged as your cucumber plant is likely to rot off, something they are prone to.

Hope this helps.

[pigeonseed]

yes I think the cross pollination would only be a problem if you wanted to save seed. I've grown both those kind and found them straightforward.

[Ninnyscrops.]

Yes, agree with pigeonseed, curcubits will cross very easily, so if they are new seed and not saved, you should have no problem.

I too have grown both Crystal Apple (courtesy of Cefer) and Crystal Lemon as they are just about the right size for a single salad. I tried Burpless once, and it was a great success in the greenhouse. I still have a few seed left so might try it on the plot this year.

My favourite outdoor is Befordshire Prize though  :)

If you can erect a small A-framed tent shape, high enough off the ground so the fruits can hang out of the way of nibblers, you can underplant with lettuce and other low growing salad plants.

Ninny

[pigeonseed]

oh yes nibblers! They have tough skins, but any lying on the ground tend to get the top of the skin taken off by snails, and they don't look great after that. Little wigwams of canes seem to do the job.

[Susiebelle]

Just like to add my fav' outdoor cucumber 'La Diva' it's a smooth skin small cucumber, soft skin and sweet tasting - gets my vote every time.