Cucumber when to pick

[Bren In Pots]

I'm growing Tanja cucumber in my greenhouse the packet says they grow to 35cm anyway I cut an 18cm one the other day but the skin was tough could it be because I picked it too soon?

[rustylady]

I wouldn't have thought so. Have they had enough water? Cucumber fruits are around 80% water, I believe.

[Bren In Pots]

I'm growing them in the greenhouse border so there's plenty of water and I've fed them with Tomato feed.

[Bren In Pots]

The Marketmore I'm growing outside are much nicer tasting, so I was wondering has anyone else grown Tanja cucs ?

[Alison]

Not grown that variety but if you're picking them smaller than they should be whilst they're still nice and brightly coloured (the skins often go dull when they're past their best) then they should be tender. When you sliced it did it look OK inside or had the seeds separated out?

[janeyo]

I normally skin my homegrown ones from the greenhouse as the skins are always a bit on the tough side, normally grow= crystal lemon, emily, marketmore or the mini ones.

[Bren In Pots]

Alison it tasted more like a melon than a cuc I'll cut another one today and see what that ones like.

Janeyo I've read good things about crystal lemon so i'll give them a go next year.

[gojiberry]

Homegrown cucumber do tend to have tougher skins than supermarket ones. Just peel the skin away.

Ian

[Nykied]

I'm growing greenhouse cukes, petitia ones but I can't remember the name. I cut one last week but the skin was fairly tough. I can't cut the skins off as they're for the budgie and he only eats the skins.

I'm thinking I cut it when it was too short, as the seeds were very close together.

[SarzWix]

You should pick them as soon as the sides are parrallel. I've grown 'Tiffany' from T&M for the last 3 years and find the skins quite edible. Also have grown 'Superbel' a few times, they're a 'snack size' type and have nice soft skins.

Apart from feeding mine with tomato feed, I also give them a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets on the surface of the pots because I've read that cucs use a lot more nitrogen than tomatoes (possibly due to the very green skins?) so maybe that's worth a try?

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for that I'll give them some nettle tea at their next watering, that's if I'm brave enough to use it inside the greenhouse.

[SarzWix]

You might need a peg!