Odd growth pattern on cucumbers

auntij 7/21/2010, 7:06 pm

Ok let me start by saying it has been a very long time since I have grown cucumbers. So my little babies may be doing just what cukes do, but they seem odd to me. They are growing on one end but then seem to stop and the other end stays small. So far I have only had one pickling cuke grow to full size. Is this something I should be concerned about? Do I need to fix something?

SFG in Chicago 7/21/2010, 8:00 pm

Is the small part on the flower end? I had that problem several weeks ago with my yellow squash. The squash looked like it was growing but the flower end stayed skinny and would eventually start rotting from that end. Later I got some growing normally and I realized the abnormal ones weren't getting pollinated. The problem seems to have corrected itself for me. You could hand pollinate and see if it helps.

L&K-IL 7/21/2010, 11:49 pm

hmm...I'm interested to hear more opinions on this...
My cucumbers are doing the same thing. Well, the tasty greens are...the streamliners seem to be fine.
I'll get a couple photos tomorrow...

quiltbea 7/22/2010, 1:07 pm

Thanks for the info provided about pollination.
Mine are only in blossoms right now so I'm taking a q-tip with me and touching the center of all the blossoms with it, hoping to pollinate mine.
I use a different q-tip for each different variety so that those that are not hybrids and which I plan so save for next year's seed. I can save without worrying that they have been cross-pollinated.
Odd growth pattern on cucumbers 07-18-11

Odd growth pattern on cucumbers 07-18-11

Here's a closeup of my Northern Pickling cucumbers.

L&K-IL 7/22/2010, 9:38 pm

so can you still eat them if they're not pollinated?
I have some that are....and some that are not...

Odd growth pattern on cucumbers 10_07_37

Odd growth pattern on cucumbers 10_07_40

Odd growth pattern on cucumbers 10_07_39

lisaphoto 7/23/2010, 9:17 am

I ate my zucchini that had a pollination problem, and they tasted fine. I just cut off the shriveled end, and a little into the fat area.

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Odd growth pattern on cucumbers

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