By Barbarak
North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Cucumber problems. I have 2 in the greenhouse. La Diva and Burpless. Both supposed to be F1. However. there are lots of male flowers on both varieties , more than the female which produce a baby cuc but then most seem to turn yellow and shrivel. They have regular daily watering so the compost is moist. Any idea what's causing the problems.
- 22 Jul, 2019
Answers
My La Diva have been growing outside since May along with Tomatoes. All in BIG pots and watered twice daily. In this 30+ today maybe a third time and tomato feed regularly too.
23 Jul, 2019
This is an issue that has always corrected itself in the past & I inevitably end up with loads of cucumbers/pickles.
23 Jul, 2019
Have you tried fertilizing the female ones with a male flower?Easy to do and nothing to lose
23 Jul, 2019
did you grow them from seed or buy them as 'ready plants' if already growing I wonder if they were miss labelled as they if all female they shouldn't have male flowers. irregular watering is the main cause of fruit fail. it has been very hot lately so try increasing the humidity in the gh.
23 Jul, 2019
I grew from seed. I though I might cut back the side shoots and just see if the babies that are left grow and keep picking off male flowers. Tomatoes and peppers are growing well in same greenhouse. I will place a bucket of water next to the cucumbers to increase humidity.
24 Jul, 2019
In pots? They can't get enough water so the upturned plastic bottle trickle feed tricks can help.
I've had similar problems with my outdoor courgettes, it seems to start in the flower end so regularly checking that the flowers will pull off easily seems to help. The male flowers thing may be a red herring? It seems more likely to me that small slugs or insects are spreading bacteria when they nosh on the tender flowers that then gets into the cukes. If you just keep removing flowers when they come away easily & cutting out any spongey cukes you should get a satisfactory crop for the year though
22 Jul, 2019