self pollinating cucumbers

[BigVanVader]

I tried Sweet Success this year after reading many good reviews here. I have them in my mini-tunnel and they have produced insanely well. Unfortunately I was dumb and planted a non hybrid pickling cuke in there as well and they crossed. Next year I'm doing all seedless cukes. The one Carolyn posted looks like a good pickler, might try it.

[Gerardo]

Earlier today I gently potted up two Sweet Success and two Manny F1. Succession planting has really helped, as has setting them under shade.


Calypso, Monika, Super Zagross, Manny and Sweet Success are still in the game for me.

[ddsack]

Originally Posted by NewWestGardener

Ddsack,
I checked the cukes today. The F2s are doing surprisingly well-- i already have a 2" fruit on a 9" vine. More importantly, there are multiple flowers, both male and female forming on every leaf node, starting from the first true leaves all the way up, 3-4 flower buds per node. It looks like the vines are going to be small but loaded. I will try to save seeds from the best again.

That's great to hear! Early, prolific and short vines are what I'd be searching for too! Hope my success will mirror yours.

[bower]

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

Some time ago a poster showed photos of a cucumber that he/she was growing indoors under lights during the winter. I don't think it was hand pollinated. The poster had a few cucumbers produced during the winter, which attracted my attention. It sounded like a pretty amazing feat to me. I'm not certain but I think it was Diva.

For me cucumbers are feast or famine due to the cucumber beetle or if powdery mildew sets up residence.

- Lisa

That was me, actually. The name of it finally came to me - it was Passandra F1. They were good but I hope Diva is even better. Nice to see it was bred at Johnny's, they do a great job of selecting good varieties.

[Nematode]

Diva is a good fresh eater, super productive too.
Nice to hear alibi is a good one have those and northern pickling going for pickles.
Quick pickles are one of my favorite things from the garden. Especially with garlic and hot peppers thrown in.

Sounds like super zagross and sweet success are pooular.

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by NewWestGardener

A bit off topic here. Last fall, i found a mature old Picolino F1 cucumber in the greenhouse with a belly full of seeds, it must have been pollinated by some other variety, so i saved some and planted some this year. The seedlings came up nicely and transplanted well, so we'll see what i'll get out of them. The F1 production was impressive.

How did you save the seeds? I've tried several ways - fermenting, just getting off the gel and the seeds are mostly flat vs the ones you buy.

[peppero]

Please keep the information coming in.

Jon

[BigVanVader]

Yes and I am very interested in hearing reviews on seedless pickling cukes.

[NewWestGardener]

You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2 offsprings from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse now, so no more cross pollination with others. There are both male and female flowers on the same plants, and a real cumcumber growing, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.

Originally Posted by Barb_FL

How did you save the seeds? I've tried several ways - fermenting, just getting off the gel and the seeds are mostly flat vs the ones you buy.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by NewWestGardener

You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2s from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse, they have both male and female flowers on the same plants, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.

I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?

[NewWestGardener]

I thought the concern was about seeds being "flat"-- underdeveloped seeds.
Otherwise, yes, fermentation works well.

Originally Posted by ginger2778

I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?

[jillian]

Great thread, I will be trying some of the recommendations in next year's garden. Am growing Diva for first time this year and so far am not impressed. My NON parthenocarpic is pumping them out however, but I know it will just be a matter of time before it succumbs to powdery mildew.

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

I think she might actually be asking by what tecnique does a person save cucumber seeds? Ferment? Dry?

+1 Thank you Marsha.

I tried saving seeds from a Snow (pickling cucumber) that grew way TOO large; I let it yellow, but must of not gave it enough time.

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by jillian

Great thread, I will be trying some of the recommendations in next year's garden. Am growing Diva for first time this year and so far am not impressed. My NON parthenocarpic is pumping them out however, but I know it will just be a matter of time before it succumbs to powdery mildew.

I've found the non-parthenocarpic do produce tons more flowers and would guess at least the same # of female flowers. But if you are in a greenhouse, parthenocarpic is the way to go.

I'm growing Alpha Beit right now; I wrap in tulle at night to avoid the pickle worm moth but in the AM when I take the tulle off, bees are waiting to buzz and seem like they stay there all day. I haven't sprayed at all. The leaves of mine usually get really cripsy near the end.

Three seeds - 2 in EB, 1 in RP - 27 cucumbers in the first week of production (Sunday 6/26 - 7/2). Third pic is this AMs harvest not counted in the 27.

I'm interested in this thread and parthenocarpic types because I want to grow year round and while I'm away I need to keep the tulle on 24/7 to keep the moths away.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by NewWestGardener

You don't actually save seeds from a parthenocarpic cucumber, they are not developed. The ones i saved must have been pollinated by another regular cucumber that had male flowers, so it produced viable seeds, they were plump and full, not flat, that's why i saved some.
The f2 offsprings from this cucumber are the only variety i am growing in the greenhouse now, so no more cross pollination with others. There are both male and female flowers on the same plants, and a real cumcumber growing, so now they become regular cucumbers. Can i save seeds again? Likely.

Just repeating what you posted in post #7

(A bit off topic here. Last fall, i found a mature old Picolino F1 cucumber in the greenhouse with a belly full of seeds, it must have been pollinated by some other variety, so i saved some and planted some this year. The seedlings came up nicely and transplanted well, so we'll see what i'll get out of them. The F1 production was impressive)

With parthenocarpic varieties,tomatoes included, at first they have just wisps of undeveloped seeds but as they mature fully formed viable seeds are formed and that's great since how else are parthenocarpic varieties going to be perpetuated?

For sure they are going to rebreed them as I see it and just my opinion,perhaps,after being up close and personal with all the parthenocarpic tomato ones that Dr. Baggett bred and feedback from those who grew them.

Carolyn