Market More cucumbers

Hi, my son has just given me two 'Market More' cucumber plants which I have put in a largish pot. As I know very little about growing cucumbers are there any tips and/or suggestions as to how to cultivate these? I have read somewhere that the flowers need to be removed until the plant has grown to a certain size.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Brian

 

Hi Meddyliol
From what I understand of it you need to remove just the male flowers as they grow or the cucumbers will be bitter when eaten. The female flowers will have a small cucumber behind the flower leading to the plant stalk and leave all these on. Feed with tomatoe fertiliser as soon as the fruits start to form.
I am sure others will have other information to help you, good luck you should have nice fruits (cucumbers) quite soon I am always amazed how quickly they grow.

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Dave

 

Brian - I've grown Market More for the last few years. I've never bothered removing flowers and have always had a decent crop. If they are in a pot you'll have to be pretty religious about watering and ensure you keep them moist (but not saturated).

Just had a quick look at the seed packet it says - " Leave all flowers on....to ensure good pollination and fruit set."

 

Thanks for your answers, my son has just informed me that the male and female flowers should be left on. I always thought that the male flowers caused the cucumbers to be bitter.

Thanks again

Brian

 

I have four small HB cucumber plants about 4 inches tall. They all have several yellow flowers with small cucumber growing behind them. I am amazed they are doing this when so small, is this normal?

 

How do you know which are male and which are female flowers. Will they survive as they so small?

 

"I am amazed they are doing this when so small, is this normal?"

Yup, Cucumbers, Melons, Courgettes ("Cucurbits") all have female flowers that start out with a baby fruit behind the female flower. Male flowers just have thin stalks.

Edit: Pictures on my blog of Female Cucumber Flower and Male Melon Flower (which is similar to male cucumber flower)

 

Thank you Kirsten, I will persevere

 

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