Cucumber size !

[earthakitten]

I am a virgin cucumber grower. Have got my mini variety 'Petita' to about six inches long. None of my current info tells me exactly when to pick. Does anyone know how long they should be before harvesting ?
Also I am growing radish, lettuce, carrots to name but some. If you don't have to wait for obvious ripening, does picking young impair the taste ? Any help appreciated. xx

[Clanad]

Firstly, congratulations on your virginity... though not familiar with the variety you're growing, if it's a 'slicer' rather than a 'pickler' then they should be picked at about 6 to 8 inches long although they can go to 10 inches or so and still be platable. A tip... if you are growing table or salad cucumbers, try raising them on stakes. Just tie them up to good stout stakes that are at least 5 feet tall. I use brown twine to tie them as they grow. The cucumbers will grow straighter and I believe taste better. They're also easier to pick. Picking young or early samples of the other vegetables you mention won't impair the taste. In fact, the young carrots have a more intense taste than older ones. Good luck!

[WendyS]

Well done ! Pick them now. Don't let them get longer than six inches because this variety will turn thick and stubby and the skin will grow thick and bitter. I've grown this mini variety for two or three years. They're very prolific and very crisp and crunchy when eaten this small. There should be plenty more coming alone so enjoy them now when they're at their best.
As for your other vegetables, they're also better when picked before they get too big as they will be more tender when picked small.

[earthakitten]

Thank you both so much. I'm of to harvest as soon as I've done this. I can't believe I'm getting this excited about a few veg, but I am. I have an ordinary cucumber aswell and I have them up five foot bamboo canes against the side of the greenhouse, outside, climbing up some netting so it looks like I'm not far off the mark.

Do you think I could extend the growing period. When it gets cold could I try in an unheated greenhouse ? xx

[YvonneM]

Welcome to superb taste that you get from home grown veg. We have had new potatoes, strawberries and raspberries out of the garden today. Next week we will be into the carrots and beetroot

[WendyS]

You might be able to extend the cucumber growing period if you keep them well fertilised and move them into the greenhouse by the end of August when the nights start getting cooler. Sounds like you've caught the vegetable growing bug which has already entrapped many of us !. You can't put a price on just popping out into your garden and picking your own food. I'm sure your mini cucumbers will taste 100 times better than anything you can buy in a supermarket. They are almost like biting into crunchy little apples !!

[earthakitten]

Afternoon all... Great advice from you. I had home grown lettuce and mini cucumber for tea last night. Wonderful, the cucumber smell was devine!
I did notice this morning that my large cucumber had a mis-shapen flower and inside there was, I can only describe it as looking like three green cloves of garlick stuck together and the stalk didn't look like the beginnings of another cucumber. Do I have a dreadful disease or have I come across a male flower. None of my books show a picture of a male / female flower. The plant does have fruit on it and they are about 7'' long now so well on the way.
The excitment of waiting for my radish is almost unbearable ! xx

[WendyS]

I shouldn't worry too much about your misshapen flower. Sometimes you get the odd one but I've never really had any specific diseases affect my outdoor cucumbers. The leaves will tend to go very rough and yellow if they're getting insufficient water or nutrients, or even if they're scorched by too hot sunlight. I've been misting mine morning and evening in this heat to try and stop the leaves becoming too shrivelled.

[earthakitten]

Thanks WendyS
I removed it anyway as a precaution, I don't think I'll miss it. I'm new to this topic site but I've been looking at previous postings and the advice given is great, I wish I'd visited sooner.
Just come back from Wilkinson's and have stockrd up on loads of things ready for next year, how sad does that make me. Loads of stuff 75% off, fantastic. I will just have to remember what I've got now won't I !
Thanks for being so helpful. xx