How to Grow Ridge Cucumbers

Cucumbers
Growing cucumbers is slightly more complicated compared to some other vegetables, to say otherwise would not be telling the truth. However, the whole subject is made over-complicated because there are two distinct variety of cucumber which require very different treatment.

There is the traditional cucumber (the long slim variety) and the ridge (or outdoor) variety. This article is concerned with ridge varieties which can be grown outside of a greenhouse.

Cucumbers are very high-yielding. Just three plants should provide all the cucumbers needed by a small family.

RIDGE CUCUMBER QUICK GUIDE

Latin Name
Cucumus sativus

Type
Half hardy annual producing edible fruit.

Site and Soil
Tolerant of most soil conditions. Full sun

Plant to Harvest Time
12 to 14 weeks.

Yield
Average of 12 fruits per plant

Varieties of Ridge Cucumber
Ridge (or outdoor) cucumbers are sold by most seed merchants. We have had the best success with two varieties which are listed below:

Variety	Type	Comments
Mini Petita	Slicing	This worked well for us outdoors in the Midlands as the picture testifies (click on the name to the left. Juicy, delicious flavour.
Marketmore	Slicing	A great choice for growing outside in cooler climates. Fruits are 20 cm (8 in) long and very tasty. Combine this with good disease resistance and you have a great cucumber.
Burpless Tasty Green F1	Slicing	If you suffer from indigestion after eating cucumbers then this is the indigestion-free solution! Fruits are around 20 cm (8 in) long and are crisp and green.

Pollination
Ridge (outdoor) cucumbers produce both male and female flowers. The female flowers need to be pollinated by the male flowers for cucumbers to develop. With ridge cucumbers, insects will do the job for you. Don't remove any flowers from ridge cucumbers. If the plants are being raised under cloches or poly tunnels make sure they are opened up in the warmer parts of the day to let insects get at the flowers.

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