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Cucumber 'Apple'

PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
in Fruit & veg
I'm growing this cucumber variety for the first time, just one plant bought very small at a garden centre but now very healthy and on route to world domination in the greenhouse. Its full of flowers and the start of tiny fruits. However, I've just harvested the first fruit and the taste is very disappointing - really quite bitter and not 'refreshing' as per label. Is it likely that further fruits will have a better flavour / can I do anything to improve flavour? Or do I give up and accept its not worth the huge space its taking up and the effort of watering? Thanks

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    No idea tbh, but I vaguely recall that if an all female cucumber gets pollinated with something they shouldn't they may taste bitter.
    I recall a thread on the forum a year or so ago about the same problem, but I think on that occasion it was due to a large batch of dodgy seeds, and I think it was courgettes not cucumbers

    Also came across this -
    https://hub.suttons.co.uk/gardening-advice/how-to-avoid-bitter-cucumbers


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    Thanks for that link @Pete.8! I didn’t know about male and female flowers. I’m just going to look now and see if it’s not too late to remove the male flowers. Cheers
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Thanks for the link @Pete.8.  I haven't grown cucumbers for literally decades, I forgot about removing the male flower. Just rushed into the garden to do just that. Removed 2 male flowers, and can see there're two female flowers with very tiny cucumbers - just hope I'm not too late.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    edited June 2023
    I grew crystal apple last year in a pot. It was so bitter I pulled it up. Not sure if it was the heatwave combined with the pot that stressed it as they do need a fair bit of water, or something else. I dont think crystal apple has an issue with male/female floweres but happy to be told otherwise. I am back to growing la diva this year.
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    I have grown apple cucumbers.  I don't like them as I deem them bland and slightly bitter.  
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    Oh dear. We’ll I couldn’t see any male flowers but lots of tiny swellings / early fruits behind each flower. Maybe I’m too late but I’m also hoping that the first fruit could be an anomaly as it was so much earlier than the others. But if the next ones are still bitter I’ll put this down to experience and not grow this variety again. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've grown Mini-Munch for the last few years in my g/h and had no problems with them - they're extremely prolific. 
    I'm picking 3-4 a day atm and it often goes up to 10 or more a day when it's full-on :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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