[sodaspop]

The website has a page about bitter cukes and says remove male flowers, leaving just female flowers.  Hard to believe, but the article doesn't seem to tell how to identify the male/female cucumber flowers.  So how is one to know?

[John]

Easy - look closely at the flower. Behind female flowers you will see a tiny cucumber but not behind the male flowers. The male flowers just have a stalk connecting them to the plant, often thinner than the female. The males sometimes grow in a group but females are always on their own.
Most popular varieties nowadays are 'all female' so avoiding the problem.

[Mr Dog]

Unlike the modern all female (usually F1) varieties 'real' cucs, such as Marketmore, need pollination to occur otherwise you won't get fruits. Check what variety you're growing before you start removing male flowers.

[Aunt Sally]

[JayG]

To add to the confusion, sometimes all-female cukes produce male flowers too (this year being no exception, variety 'Diva'.)

I tend to leave them to get on with it, and haven't had any bitter fruits as yet, although I can't be sure whether or not pollination took place as they are greenhouse grown so not many insect visitors.

If in doubt, it's probably best to remove the male flowers from these particular varieties.

[mumofstig]

To add to the confusion, sometimes all-female cukes produce male flowers too (this year being no exception, variety 'Diva'.)

I tend to leave them to get on with it, and haven't had any bitter fruits as yet, although I can't be sure whether or not pollination took place as they are greenhouse grown so not many insect visitors.

My Divas always do the same thing, and like you I just leave them to get on with it and never had a bitter fruit either