self pollinating cucumbers
 

Due to poor numbers of female flowers and resulting cucumbers I thought it might be time to try the self pollinating varieties. Would any of you be willing to share your experiences?.

Jon:yes:

The only self pollinating cucumber that I've grown is Sweet Success plus Parks All Season; Both set fruit on every flower.

But I don't have issues with the bee pollinating kinds either. I'm growing as a test now - to see if bees will come in the heat, etc (they do) and probably have > 10 to 1 male flowers but still getting a lot of cucumbers. My first picked was Sunday and was up to 19 as of Thursday. I have 3 seeds planted.

What are you growing?


There is a recent thread re: pruning cucumbers and AKMark has posted pictures of Tasty Jade. Excellent results as usual.

[QUOTE=peppero;574077]Due to poor numbers of female flowers and resulting cucumbers I thought it might be time to try the self pollinating varieties. Would any of you be willing to share your experiences?.

Jon:yes:[/QUOTE]

[url]https://www.jungseed.com/P/02002/Alibi+Hybrid+Cucumber[/url]

The one above has been superb for me, self pollenizing ,never stops producing,great taste and relatively disease tolerant.

Carolyn

Monika wins for me. Sweet success is also strong.

[url]http://www.rareseeds.com/monika-cucumber/[/url]

I grow Picolino F1 hyb in pots so I can have early salad cucumbers before the other in-ground cukes get going. It's a baby English type like you get in 6 pks at the store. Wouldn't be that useful if what you are needing is a lot of pickling type cukes, but it sets very well and they grow to eating size quickly. The seeds are a bit expensive, but I haven't had any trouble with germination, and I only grow a couple each season for earlies.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/MizTortuga/GardenNonTomato/picolino3cukespot_zps2asyd8rx.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=ddsack;574115]I grow Picolino F1 hyb in pots so I can have early salad cucumbers before the other in-ground cukes get going. It's a baby English type like you get in 6 pks at the store. Wouldn't be that useful if what you are needing is a lot of pickling type cukes, but it sets very well and they grow to eating size quickly. The seeds are a bit expensive, but I haven't had any trouble with germination, and I only grow a couple each season for earlies.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/MizTortuga/GardenNonTomato/picolino3cukespot_zps2asyd8rx.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Dee, I've grown this one as well as the one I gave a link to above and I think both are great.

Not cheap,so true, but whatever.:lol:

Carolyn

A bit off topic here. Last fall, i found a mature old Picolino F1 cucumber in the greenhouse with a belly full of seeds, it must have been pollinated by some other variety, so i saved some and planted some this year. The seedlings came up nicely and transplanted well, so we'll see what i'll get out of them. The F1 production was impressive.

I'll be waiting to hear what you get, NewWest!

I was going to check for any possible seeds late in the season last year after I moved them out to the garden, but time got away from me and by the time I remembered, the weeds had swallowed the dried up vines and any cucumbers had long turned to mush. I had another potted variety in the area too, so any dried seeds scraped off the ground would have been unidentifiable.

If you find you like your F2's, I'll try to find a Picolino to save this fall.

I love Sweet Success. It's the only cuke I like to eat.

[QUOTE=Cole_Robbie;574235]I love Sweet Success. It's the only cuke I like to eat.[/QUOTE]

You're gonna dig the Super Zagross. Smooth, refreshing, crisp.

Thanks for so many replies. I really appreciate it. This year I am growing five varieties. My yield has been five with three not yet picked and none to brag about I will try sweet success. Thanks again

Jon :)

Ddsack,
I checked the cukes today. The F2s are doing surprisingly well-- i already have a 2" fruit on a 9" vine. More importantly, there are multiple flowers, both male and female forming on every leaf node, starting from the first true leaves all the way up, 3-4 flower buds per node. It looks like the vines are going to be small but loaded. I will try to save seeds from the best again.




QUOTE=ddsack;574220]I'll be waiting to hear what you get, NewWest!

I was going to check for any possible seeds late in the season last year after I moved them out to the garden, but time got away from me and by the time I remembered, the weeds had swallowed the dried up vines and any cucumbers had long turned to mush. I had another potted variety in the area too, so any dried seeds scraped off the ground would have been unidentifiable.

If you find you like your F2's, I'll try to find a Picolino to save this fall.[/QUOTE]

I have one called "Diva" this year - never grown it before. Seeds were not expensive - it was a two dollar packet from Halifax Seed with I think 20 seeds in it..
I've grown Carmen before and one other whose name I forget, paid a dollar per seed for those.

Some time ago a poster showed photos of a cucumber that he/she was growing indoors under lights during the winter. I don't think it was hand pollinated. The poster had a few cucumbers produced during the winter, which attracted my attention. It sounded like a pretty amazing feat to me. I'm not certain but I think it was Diva.

For me cucumbers are feast or famine due to the cucumber beetle or if powdery mildew sets up residence.

- Lisa

[QUOTE=bower;574501]I have one called "Diva" this year - never grown it before. Seeds were not expensive - it was a two dollar packet from Halifax Seed with I think 20 seeds in it..
I've grown Carmen before and one other whose name I forget, paid a dollar per seed for those.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5540-diva.aspx[/url]

Above is a link to Johnny's Selected seeds and the company was started by Rob Johnston,and it was his wife,I forget her name right now,who bred Diva.

Yes,I've grown this one as well.

All of the self pollinating ones I know of are parthenocarpic.

Which reminds about a prior post by I think gorbelly,who found lots of seeds in an overripe fruit, I forget which variety.The same thing happens to the parthenocarpic ones that Dr.Bagget bred,tomatoes,for the PNW.Few immature seeds while the fruits are young,but when overmature,lots of seeds.

Carolyn

I tried Sweet Success this year after reading many good reviews here. I have them in my mini-tunnel and they have produced insanely well. Unfortunately I was dumb and planted a non hybrid pickling cuke in there as well and they crossed. Next year I'm doing all seedless cukes. The one Carolyn posted looks like a good pickler, might try it.

Earlier today I gently potted up two Sweet Success and two Manny F1. Succession planting has really helped, as has setting them under shade.


Calypso, Monika, Super Zagross, Manny and Sweet Success are still in the game for me.

[QUOTE=NewWestGardener;574458]Ddsack,
I checked the cukes today. The F2s are doing surprisingly well-- i already have a 2" fruit on a 9" vine. More importantly, there are multiple flowers, both male and female forming on every leaf node, starting from the first true leaves all the way up, 3-4 flower buds per node. It looks like the vines are going to be small but loaded. I will try to save seeds from the best again.

[/QUOTE]

That's great to hear! Early, prolific and short vines are what I'd be searching for too! Hope my success will mirror yours.:cute:

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;574542]Some time ago a poster showed photos of a cucumber that he/she was growing indoors under lights during the winter. I don't think it was hand pollinated. The poster had a few cucumbers produced during the winter, which attracted my attention. It sounded like a pretty amazing feat to me. I'm not certain but I think it was Diva.

For me cucumbers are feast or famine due to the cucumber beetle or if powdery mildew sets up residence.

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

That was me, actually. :lol: The name of it finally came to me - it was Passandra F1. They were good but I hope Diva is even better. Nice to see it was bred at Johnny's, they do a great job of selecting good varieties.

Diva is a good fresh eater, super productive too.
Nice to hear alibi is a good one have those and northern pickling going for pickles.
Quick pickles are one of my favorite things from the garden. Especially with garlic and hot peppers thrown in.

Sounds like super zagross and sweet success are pooular.

[QUOTE=NewWestGardener;574175]A bit off topic here. Last fall, i found a mature old Picolino F1 cucumber in the greenhouse with a belly full of seeds, it must have been pollinated by some other variety, so i saved some and planted some this year. The seedlings came up nicely and transplanted well, so we'll see what i'll get out of them. The F1 production was impressive.[/QUOTE]

How did you save the seeds? I've tried several ways - fermenting, just getting off the gel and the seeds are mostly flat vs the ones you buy.

Please keep the information coming in.

Jon

Yes and I am very interested in hearing reviews on seedless pickling cukes.

You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2 offsprings from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse now, so no more cross pollination with others. There are both male and female flowers on the same plants, and a real cumcumber growing, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.

[QUOTE=Barb_FL;574627]How did you save the seeds? I've tried several ways - fermenting, just getting off the gel and the seeds are mostly flat vs the ones you buy.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=NewWestGardener;574679]You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2s from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse, they have both male and female flowers on the same plants, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.[/QUOTE]

I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?

I thought the concern was about seeds being "flat"-- underdeveloped seeds.
Otherwise, yes, fermentation works well.
[QUOTE=ginger2778;574680]I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?[/QUOTE]

Great thread, I will be trying some of the recommendations in next year's garden. Am growing Diva for first time this year and so far am not impressed. My NON parthenocarpic is pumping them out however, but I know it will just be a matter of time before it succumbs to powdery mildew.

[QUOTE=ginger2778;574680]I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?[/QUOTE]

+1 Thank you Marsha.

I tried saving seeds from a Snow (pickling cucumber) that grew way TOO large; I let it yellow, but must of not gave it enough time.

[QUOTE=jillian;574684]Great thread, I will be trying some of the recommendations in next year's garden. Am growing Diva for first time this year and so far am not impressed. My NON parthenocarpic is pumping them out however, but I know it will just be a matter of time before it succumbs to powdery mildew.[/QUOTE]

I've found the non-parthenocarpic do produce tons more flowers and would guess at least the same # of female flowers. But if you are in a greenhouse, parthenocarpic is the way to go.

I'm growing Alpha Beit right now; I wrap in tulle at night to avoid the pickle worm moth but in the AM when I take the tulle off, bees are waiting to buzz and seem like they stay there all day. I haven't sprayed at all. The leaves of mine usually get really cripsy near the end.

Three seeds - 2 in EB, 1 in RP - 27 cucumbers in the first week of production (Sunday 6/26 - 7/2). Third pic is this AMs harvest not counted in the 27.

I'm interested in this thread and parthenocarpic types because I want to grow year round and while I'm away I need to keep the tulle on 24/7 to keep the moths away.

[QUOTE=NewWestGardener;574679]You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2 offsprings from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse now, so no more cross pollination with others. There are both male and female flowers on the same plants, and a real cumcumber growing, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.[/QUOTE]

Just repeating what you posted in post #7

(A bit off topic here. Last fall, i found a mature old Picolino F1 cucumber in the greenhouse with a belly full of seeds, it must have been pollinated by some other variety, so i saved some and planted some this year. The seedlings came up nicely and transplanted well, so we'll see what i'll get out of them. The F1 production was impressive)

With parthenocarpic varieties,tomatoes included, at first they have just wisps of undeveloped seeds but as they mature fully formed viable seeds are formed and that's great since how else are parthenocarpic varieties going to be perpetuated?

For sure they are going to rebreed them as I see it and just my opinion,perhaps,after being up close and personal with all the parthenocarpic tomato ones that Dr. Baggett bred and feedback from those who grew them.:)

Carolyn