The reason for removing male flowers is bees pollinate the female from them and the resultant cucumber tastes bitter. Grow all female F1 varieties as suggested and your cucumbers will be delicious.
Thanks Shropshire Rat, as I mentioned in a previous post I will next year but these were seeds I had in that I didn't want going to waste. Removing the flowers isn't a problem I just need to know it was the right ones
I am currently growing melons in my GH and wondered if the same applies with male and female flowers as for cucumbers. Can anyone advise please, flowers are already forming.
I'm growing courgettes and I think with them I need to remove the male and take it to the female to do their thing and make baby courgettes......who'd have thought it in gardening That's just in case the bees don't do it for me I think. I'm now starting to understand why my mum always referred to bedroom activity as the birds and the bees
Scroggin, whereabouts are you? I'm just asking because I have read conflicting info regarding courgettes so have decided to put some outside and some in the GH....just to be on the safe side
OL courgettes. Mine germinated in the house, went into GH to grow on and have been on patio last 2 weeks, they are almost ready to plant into garden (S.Yorks) I'm just waiting until the soil isn't quite as wet. I've never had to hand pollinate. You might find the first few flowers are all male, but female flowers will follow & bingo courgettes for tea.
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Thanks Shropshire Rat, as I mentioned in a previous post I will next year but these were seeds I had in that I didn't want going to waste. Removing the flowers isn't a problem I just need to know it was the right ones
I am currently growing melons in my GH and wondered if the same applies with male and female flowers as for cucumbers. Can anyone advise please, flowers are already forming.
Green Thumb
No, don't remove male flowers on melons - you need these to pollinate the females.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/melons
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Many thanks will give it try after I have checked out the link
I'm growing courgettes and I think with them I need to remove the male and take it to the female to do their thing and make baby courgettes......who'd have thought it in gardening
That's just in case the bees don't do it for me I think. I'm now starting to understand why my mum always referred to bedroom activity as the birds and the bees 
Scroggin, whereabouts are you? I'm just asking because I have read conflicting info regarding courgettes so have decided to put some outside and some in the GH....just to be on the safe side
OL courgettes. Mine germinated in the house, went into GH to grow on and have been on patio last 2 weeks, they are almost ready to plant into garden (S.Yorks) I'm just waiting until the soil isn't quite as wet. I've never had to hand pollinate. You might find the first few flowers are all male, but female flowers will follow & bingo courgettes for tea.