[Growster...]

We managed to get six plants from nine seeds this year (a record - they usually die the moment we ask them the favour of actually growing and doing something for a change), and they're in good growbags (Levingtons), in the greenhouse.

They've taken over  the length of one side of the greenhouse and have started about fifty tiny cuces in all directions, which is never a bad thing, but there is a need to nip off the male flowers, otherwise they get a bit randy, then bitter! (Not unlike a prog like Eastenders I suppose, although I wouldn't know - lets make it more like The Archers' latest foray then...;0)

Has anyone tried to consider the odds of one turning sharp, as it's very difficult getting to these little male blighters, without crawling around on my hands and knees on the concrete slabs, which is not really a pretty sight..;0)

[3759allen]

this year i have pinched off the side shoots to try and save the ravenous mess that i had last year.

so i won't find out if thats better and more controllable. i didn't take off the male flowers last year, i didn't really notice any bitterness.

does anyone else remove the male flowers? i will listen to others views, it may be worth nipping them off.

[Growster...]

this year i have pinched off the side shoots to try and save the ravenous mess that i had last year.

so i won't find out if thats better and more controllable. i didn't take off the male flowers last year, i didn't really notice any bitterness.

does anyone else remove the male flowers? i will listen to others views, it may be worth nipping them off.

Thank you 3759, there are several cuces about eight inches long, so I think a slaughter may be on the cards at some stage!

This may be a perennial question anyway, so someone else may intervene!

[Headgardener22]

I grow Burpless Tasty Green and don't take off the male flowers. I think its a bit of an "old gardener's tale". I think that the varieties that we grow these days have had the bitterness bred out of them.

[MrsPea]

We managed to get six plants from nine seeds this year (a record - they usually die the moment we ask them the favour of actually growing and doing something for a change), and they're in good growbags (Levingtons), in the greenhouse.

They've taken over  the length of one side of the greenhouse and have started about fifty tiny cuces in all directions, which is never a bad thing, but there is a need to nip off the male flowers, otherwise they get a bit randy, then bitter! (Not unlike a prog like Eastenders I suppose, although I wouldn't know - lets make it more like The Archers' latest foray then...;0)

Has anyone tried to consider the odds of one turning sharp, as it's very difficult getting to these little male blighters, without crawling around on my hands and knees on the concrete slabs, which is not really a pretty sight..;0)
We managed to get six plants from nine seeds this year (a record - they usually die the moment we ask them the favour of actually growing and doing something for a change), and they're in good growbags (Levingtons), in the greenhouse.

They've taken over  the length of one side of the greenhouse and have started about fifty tiny cuces in all directions, which is never a bad thing, but there is a need to nip off the male flowers, otherwise they get a bit randy, then bitter! (Not unlike a prog like Eastenders I suppose, although I wouldn't know - lets make it more like The Archers' latest foray then...;0)

Has anyone tried to consider the odds of one turning sharp, as it's very difficult getting to these little male blighters, without crawling around on my hands and knees on the concrete slabs, which is not really a pretty sight..;0)

I also grew this one never again I've got one large cue on plant it seems as though all the other flowers are males I never thought it was such a thug, I've also got growing a small variety not sue which one but that seems a lot better 

[engineer]

Have tried BTgreen in the past but found it to have a short season, this is the one i shall be trying next year.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/salad-seeds/cucumber-carmen-f1-hybrid/538TM

[Growster...]

We slaughtered the first one this evening, and it was superb!

Have to admit that because it was an early one, the males (as usual), were slow in the uptake..;0)

About seventy to go then..:0[

[crh75]

I grew Telegraph last year and a few were very bitter. I struggled to get all the male flowers!

[Headgardener22]

Have tried BTgreen in the past but found it to have a short season, this is the one i shall be trying next year.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/salad-seeds/cucumber-carmen-f1-hybrid/538TM

From a personal point of view, I try to avoid F1 hybrids. The problem I have is that the suppliers seem to make a big fuss of it one year and then they're never available again even if they've been really good.

[Growster...]

Have tried BTgreen in the past but found it to have a short season, this is the one i shall be trying next year.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/salad-seeds/cucumber-carmen-f1-hybrid/538TM

From a personal point of view, I try to avoid F1 hybrids. The problem I have is that the suppliers seem to make a big fuss of it one year and then they're never available again even if they've been really good.

Thank you, HG. I don't think these are F1 actually, but to pay several quid for the sort you describe, is actually  a bit of a menace, so we just didn't this year!

They're motoring away as we speak, but I do feel that a visit to the greenhouse a couple of times each day is worthwhile - even if the bees think otherwise!