Cucumber
Varieties include the slicer or fresh salad type, the pickle type (which can also be used fresh), and dwarf-vined or bush varieties. New varieties of cucumber are being released which are advertised as gynoecious, or all-female types. On a normal cucumber plant, the first 10 to 20 flowers are male. For every female flower which produces fruit, 10 to 20 male flowers are produced. Plant breeders realized that production could be greatly increased if more female flowers were produced. Some new varieties produce plants which have only female flowers, while others have a greater proportion of female to male flowers. These plants tend to bear fruit earlier with a more concentrated set and better overall yields. Parthenocarpic cucumbers are all-female, seedless fruit produced without pollination They are usually grown in greenhouses because pollination will occur, and seeds will form if they are planted near others. Burpless cucumbers are long and slender with a tender skin. Through plant breeding, the bitterness associated with the burp has been removed. Other causes of bitterness in cucumbers include temperature variation of more than 20 degrees, moisture stress and storage of cucumbers near other ripening vegetables. Most varieties of cucumber vines spread from row to row. Training on a cage, trellis or fence along the edge of the garden will correct this and will also lift the fruit off the soil. If trellised, plant four to five seeds per foot in rows spaced 30 inches apart. Untrellised rows may need to be spaced 4 to 6 feet apart. When plants are 4 to 5 inches high, thin so they are 9 to 12 inches apart. There are many excellent bush varieties of cucumber now available. Most of these produce well in a limited amount of space and may be a desirable alternative in small gardens if trellising is not possible. In order for the flower to develop into a fruit, it must be pollinated. Bees carry pollen from male flowers on the same plant or on different plants to the female flower, which has a tiny swollen pickle behind the bloom. Gynoecious cucumber flowers are pollinated by male flowers from other plants, the seeds of which are usually included in the seed packet. Poor cucumber set is common during rainy weather when bees are inactive. If it is necessary to use pesticides, do so late in the afternoon to avoid harming the bee population. For earlier harvest, mulch plants in spring. Organic materials are useful in summer to return moisture and keep the fruit clean in non-trellised plantings. Working in the vines when leaves are wet may spread diseases. Therefore, wait until morning dew or rain evaporates. With trellising, leaves are off the ground and dry faster. Trellising also helps the gardener avoid stepping on vines; there is no need to move the vines for weeding or other purposes, thus reducing potential vine damage. If vines are not trellised, avoid destroying blossoms or kinking vines by gently rolling the vines away rather than lifting them when searching for harvestable fruit. There has been a significant increase in disease resistance in cucumber varieties in recent years. Select resistant varieties when possible. Common Problems
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