Recs for producing cukes, seedless and not bitter?

luigiwu · August 19, 2014

We had good success last year with a Korean hybrid but its not producing for us this year. Poor hubby has no pickles going into 2015. So... don't want to make the same mistake twice. Looking for a better breed to grow for next year's garden. Recs?

kath · August 19, 2014

I've been having really good luck for the past few years with Burpfree which was a Burpee variety that's open-pollinated. Grew it next to lots of other varieties and this was the winner hands down. Never been bitter here yet and produces like crazy. Last year I saved seeds and this year they're growing true so send a PM if you'd like to try it next year.

kath

Tracydr · August 20, 2014

Armenian cucumber ( actually a melon) is very sweet, never bitter and the skin is tender. Unless you let them get big, they are almost seedless.
I've had some grow 10 pounds when missed on the vine. The meat is still delicious but the seeds are tough like a cantaloupe and the skin is a little tougher. Chickens love them, though.

**Lee** · August 20, 2014

Diva is my favorite. Thin skins are also a nice benefit.

Lee

August 20, 2014

General Lee is great for slicing & pickling- has a real old fashioned crunch, and not watery like some of the burpless ones. And Armenian is wonderful-

joseph · August 20, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

We had good success last year with a Korean hybrid but its not producing for us this year. Poor hubby has no pickles going into 2015. So... don't want to make the same mistake twice. Looking for a better breed to grow for next year's garden. Recs?

Allowing cucumber plants to get dry can greatly increase the amount of bitterness in the fruit. Since the bitterness tends to concentrate around the stem, I often cut off 1" close to the stem before eating fresh. The bitterness doesn't seem to survive the pickling process.

Any cucumber is "seedless" if picked small enough... I prefer to use Marketmore as picking cucumbers because they produce larger pickles that are still seedless.

troad · August 20, 2014

Marketmore produced early for me then Spacemaster took over. Neither one was bitter. Constant water is vital.However, I thought the Marketmore was susceptible to being over watered. my only regret was not starting a replacement plant to takeover for late summer picking. Both plants seemed to tire out. Perhaps a late dose of fertilizer may have helped?

Tracydr · August 20, 2014

Oh. For pickling? Armenian cucumbers are very good fresh. I've never done any vinegar pickles but I used my huge ones for fermented Kosher style. I just scooped out the seeds when they got that big and started a big crock with salted water, garlic and spices.
I didn't catch the pickle part. I never had luck with real cucumbers due to high temperatures and alkaline soil. I'm now living in a different state with acidic soil and more moderate summers. Looking forward to growing real pickling cucumbers next spring!

Cole_Robbie · August 21, 2014

A normal pickler variety like Boston Pickler is fine, as long as you pick them every day so that they don't get too big. That's the key.

August 19, 2014	#1
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	Recs for producing cukes, seedless and not bitter? We had good success last year with a Korean hybrid but its not producing for us this year. Poor hubby has no pickles going into 2015. So... don't want to make the same mistake twice. Looking for a better breed to grow for next year's garden. Recs?

August 20, 2014	#4
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,185	Diva is my favorite. Thin skins are also a nice benefit. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

August 20, 2014	#7
troad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Des Moines, WA. Posts: 358	Marketmore produced early for me then Spacemaster took over. Neither one was bitter. Constant water is vital.However, I thought the Marketmore was susceptible to being over watered. my only regret was not starting a replacement plant to takeover for late summer picking. Both plants seemed to tire out. Perhaps a late dose of fertilizer may have helped? __________________ There's a fine line between gardening and madness.

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August 19, 2014	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I've been having really good luck for the past few years with Burpfree which was a Burpee variety that's open-pollinated. Grew it next to lots of other varieties and this was the winner hands down. Never been bitter here yet and produces like crazy. Last year I saved seeds and this year they're growing true so send a PM if you'd like to try it next year. kath

August 20, 2014	#3
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Armenian cucumber ( actually a melon) is very sweet, never bitter and the skin is tender. Unless you let them get big, they are almost seedless. I've had some grow 10 pounds when missed on the vine. The meat is still delicious but the seeds are tough like a cantaloupe and the skin is a little tougher. Chickens love them, though.

August 20, 2014	#5
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	General Lee is great for slicing & pickling- has a real old fashioned crunch, and not watery like some of the burpless ones. And Armenian is wonderful-

August 21, 2014	#9
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	A normal pickler variety like Boston Pickler is fine, as long as you pick them every day so that they don't get too big. That's the key.