ABOVE,One of 4 types of Cucumber Variety I am growing, this is a National Pickling Cucumber and perfect for the types of cucumber you want for making Pickles.
On a typical Cucumber plant, on average, there are 10-15 Male Cucumber Flowers for every ONE female. It's like living in Alaska. The ladies are busy. Also, typically, male flowers open about 10 days earlier than female flowers, so, getting the timing right is sometimes difficult, early on. Later, during mid summer, you should have enough of each open that pollination happens, naturally (thank you Bees!)
Above: The Male Cucumber Flower, skinny, and thin.
Below: The Female Cucumber Flower, curvy, and with a little mini Cucumber (technically, the cucumber 'ovary')
@dreemsteem?)The 4 varieties of Cucumber I planted are, Spacemaster 80, Straight 8, Muncher, and National Pickling. Spacemaster 80 and Straight 8 are similar and produce 8 inch (20cm) cucumbers, typically straight, and I chose two different kinds to guard against a bad batch of seeds, different disease, and also, they mature and come to fruit at different times. The Muncher is slightly smaller at 6 inches (15 cm) also straight, slightly thinner skin and less seeds. The National Pickling(shown above) is smaller, and produces more fruit, with less seeds. Perfect for Pickling, or making relish.
Above: In the beginning, I had to train the vines to travel up. now, the plant finds it's own way, and little tendrils find something to grab onto,
to help it climb up the trellis.
Gardening To DO:
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Leave me a comment, below... and a link to your garden!
Happy New Planting and Cheers,
BluefinStudios
All Photos by Bluefin Studios unless specified.
