[Epona_4]

oooh never occured to me to do that, but im ready for them this year! lol  :blink:

[DD.]

Lol DD

and the kit kept him busy for an afternoon

A quid well spent then!

Better have the foil ready!

[Brassica Blaz]

size is not that important really,as long as there crisp,juicy & full of flavor.not watery & tasteless ,like in the shops.why is there a chance that they taste bitter? is it that there harvested at the wrong time?

[DD.]

Bitterness could be due to a pollination issue. It is different for outdoor and indoor cucumbers, which is why it's best not to grow ridge cucumbers inside.

I can do not better that point you to this link from "Garden Organic".

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=74

[Kristen]

Cucumbers need to be kept at at least 10C - which is hard to do if you start them now and only have a cold greenhouse - they will probably be 3' to 4' tall by the time it is safe to put them in the greenhouse!

I put mine in a plastic mini-greenhouse in the (unheated) conservatory to start with.  Th zip-up mini greenhouse is enough to keep them 10C+, and on very cold nights I can easily carry the plants into the utility corridor for the night.

[DD.]

Pollination is what you DON'T want with greenhouse cucumbers as it can cause bitterness.

From shopoftheworld.com instructions for growing Telegraph Improved:

An improved strain of this well known and reliable variety with smooth-skinned, good-sized fruits. Recommended for exhibition. Long variety. Greenhouse or Frame. Maturing time approximately 12 weeks from sowing. Sow singly on edge in pots under glass at 18-21C (65-70F) February-May. Pot on plants into large pots (about 25cm 10 size) or plant them out in a frame or greenhouse. Do not plant in cold frames until May. Maintain night temperature of 16-24C (60-75F). Remove male flowers leaving the female ones (distinguished by swelling on the stem behind the petals) from which cucumbers will be produced

[sunshineband]

That's the variety I've got for this year 

I shan't be starting them off for another three or four weeks, as otherwise I won't have space indoors for them until it is safe to put them in the greenhouse 

[Trikidiki]

I agree with the previous posters that you want to avoid pollination by reoving the male flowers to avoid bitterness.

Its locking the door after the horse has bolted but you can tell when a cucumber has been pollinated as the fruit will swell more at the flower end a bit like butternut squash. Unscrupulous commecial growers or sellers would cut the swollen end off and sell the top part as a half cucumber to unwitting buyers.

[DD.]

Just so that my post 3 up about "Telegraph Improved" and removing male flowers makes some sort of sense, I'd like to point out that a post has been deleted by someone. This makes it a little random!

Previously the post prior to that advised growing flowers just inside the greenhouse to attract insects to pollinate the cucumbers.

Perhaps  should have quoted it, but I don't normally do that when immediately replying to a post.