Wargarden is an occasional poster and his manner is certainly the exception rather than the rule.
Please don’t let him put you off joining in and asking whatever you want … we were all beginners once and we’re all still learning … the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.
There are ‘conversational’ threads in The Potting Shed where we say hello and make friends and talk about this, that and sometimes the other 😉 Please feel welcome to join in … 😊 ☕️
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If its any consolation I've been growing cucumbers for a few years and this year is my worst year ever. I've had a lack of pollination when using a standard Varity. You can improve your chances by buying F1 all female Varity seed for next year which are basically self pollinating.
I've linked to a seed supplier for two F1 variety's below.
The reputation of this company is not that great for live plants , but for seed supply I would use them.
@DARCY1, as other posters have mentioned it's been a challenging year. I've grown the same variety Passandra in 3 different locations, with varying results. The best turned out to be in a large cold frame growing 2 in a grow bag. I think they benefitted from not getting as hot as the ones in the greenhouse which finished producing a couple of weeks ago. Things to consider are what size pots you're using, or are they planted in the ground? My courgettes have done well( growing in the ground) but others have struggled with growing in pots and raised beds because it's been so hard this year to stop plants drying out. We all start out on a huge learning curve and to be honest nearly every year nature throws a curve ball to take us back to square one. There are a couple of regular posters on here that have amazing crops from their cucumbers, hopefully they'll see this thread and share their methods.
I plant mine in garden tubs, one cucumber per tub, both in a greenhouse and outside. Passandra have about finished, but Beth Alpha ( seeds from any GC) have produced 35 from three plants, and are still going strong. Good flavour, thin skinned, and never problems with pollination. My problem is keeping up with them @DARCY1 .😆
My cucumbers - Beth Alpha in GH and Bedfordshire Prize ( ridge type ) outside have done well this year. Courgettes - Gold and Green - outside in large dustbins have been disappointing. Produced plenty to begin with but very wimpish now.
@DARCY1 please don't be put off by the occasional rude poster, we really are a friendly bunch. It's been very challenging for us down here in France this summer, my courgettes haven't been good this year...lack of pollinators. I always grow an all female F1 cucumber which has been very good but now has mildew. @Dovefromabove has just had a new kettle delivered so I'm sure there will be a cup of tea or coffee in the offing.
I also seem to have a problem with " corgettes " despite trying different varieties , I may give them a miss next year. The cucumbers are fine but have just developed a bit of mildew.
My cucumbers are in pots in a GH. I normally grow crystal lemon but it’s been really slow to get going this year, I think I’ve only had 2! My friend gave me a mini munch plant though and I have had loads and it’s a good taste. It’s just running out of steam, but I’m hoping the Crystal lemon will pull its socks up.
Courgettes are outside in the ground, not sure on variety but one plant has given me enough for a glut. 2 others aren’t doing well. I use a lot of both courgettes and cucumbers as it’s the main diet of my fish.
Darcy, if your plants are undercover, still flowering and Summer hangs on a bit longer then you may still have chance to salvage something. Next time use a small brush to take the pollen from the male flower (it's on a long thin stalk) to the female flower (this has the courgette behind it) to pollinate it.
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If its any consolation I've been growing cucumbers for a few years and this year is my worst year ever. I've had a lack of pollination when using a standard Varity. You can improve your chances by buying F1 all female Varity seed for next year which are basically self pollinating.
I've linked to a seed supplier for two F1 variety's below.
The reputation of this company is not that great for live plants , but for seed supply I would use them.
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/cucumber-carmen-f1-hybrid/538TM
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/cucumber-mini-munch-f1-hybrid/tr01092TM
Good luck with your growing.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
The best turned out to be in a large cold frame growing 2 in a grow bag. I think they benefitted from not getting as hot as the ones in the greenhouse which finished producing a couple of weeks ago.
Things to consider are what size pots you're using, or are they planted in the ground?
My courgettes have done well( growing in the ground) but others have struggled with growing in pots and raised beds because it's been so hard this year to stop plants drying out.
We all start out on a huge learning curve and to be honest nearly every year nature throws a curve ball to take us back to square one.
There are a couple of regular posters on here that have amazing crops from their cucumbers, hopefully they'll see this thread and share their methods.
Courgettes - Gold and Green - outside in large dustbins have been disappointing. Produced plenty to begin with but very wimpish now.
@Dovefromabove has just had a new kettle delivered so I'm sure there will be a cup of tea or coffee in the offing.
I use a lot of both courgettes and cucumbers as it’s the main diet of my fish.
Next time use a small brush to take the pollen from the male flower (it's on a long thin stalk) to the female flower (this has the courgette behind it) to pollinate it.