[Rampant_Weasel]

my first year of cucumber growing and was wondering when to pick for best flavour? pick em young or leave em on the plant?
never found something so easy to grow, bit surprising when i search for cucumber info and find loads of ppl saying they are difficult to grow. i must have picked a good year....

[Headgardener22]

Like most things cucumbers will benefit from the first one being picked smaller than the rest of the crop as it encourages the plant to continue setting fruit.

However, there's no point in picking it when its too small to eat.

I tend to pick my first cucumber when its about six inches long. No other cucumber ever tastes as nice. (But they're all better than shop bought).

[boddy]

Remember a small cucumber can be a monster in a few days and doesn't taste quite so good. I agree with the above post, 6 inches or more and they are good to go.

[Totty]

As soon as they have filled out, when the pointy end becomes round, is the time to pick em. Some varieties won't ever get to 6 inches, some will be nowhere near ready at six inches, so a lot depends on variety.
If you don't need a whole one, you can cut off as much as you need, and leave the rest still attached to the vine. The cut end will heal up and the remainder will stay fresh.

Totty

[tangojulie]

If you don't need a whole one, you can cut off as much as you need, and leave the rest still attached to the vine. The cut end will heal up and the remainder will stay fresh.
Totty

Well you learn something new every day - thanks for that!

[adri]

Didn't know that!!!

Would it be OK in a hot humid environment?  I'd have thought rot would set in.

[snowdrops]

No it callouses over, it will drip 'fluid' that will dry & harden, carries on growing too 

[Rampant_Weasel]

thanks all, any recomendations for  a tasty variety? im using marketmore atm

[adri123]

Ours are Femspot and Passandra.  Both very nice and a bit different from each other.  If they're doing well in the Peak District they'll do well anywhere...

Adri

[Totty]

Carmen for full size, Cucino for small ones and melotherie for tiny cucumber like fruits.

Totty