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Return to the Seed Saving Forum | Post a Follow-Up

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?Bitter cucumbers

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Posted by busy_bee_7tn 7/8TN (My Page) on
Fri, Feb 27, 09 at 10:22

Having trouble! Last year I used saved seed from my Yamato Extra Long cucumbers of '07. All of the plants yielded short, plump and very bitter cucumbers. It was such a disappointment to go all summer without good cucumbers, and more so because I don't know why. Is there a special way I was supposed to handle the process of saving seed? Did they maybe cross with another variety and it end up affecting all the seed? If so, how should I keep that from happening? Am desperate because I am not finding that cucumber in the stores this year and it looks as thought Ferry Morse is no longer providing the seed. Thanks so much for any help! B.B.

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RE: ?Bitter cucumbers

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Did they maybe cross with another variety and it end up affecting all the seed?

Taken from the link below:
Separate two different cucumber varieties by at least 1/2 mile to ensure purity. Experienced, home, seed savers can grow more than one variety at a time in a single garden by using hand pollinating techniques.

I see Reimer's seeds has them for sale.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e e d S a v i n g I n s t i t u t e

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RE: ?Bitter cucumbers

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Or it may have just been the growing conditions. Bitter cukes, whenever it comes up for discussion on the vegetable gardening forum, are the result on insufficient water.

But the method of saving the seeds shouldn't affect the taste of the fruit they produce unless, as chemocurl said, they crossed with another variety.

Dave

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RE: ?Bitter cucumbers

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Rain was not a factor in this case and, the shape was consistently short and rounded- making it seem a cross had happened. I "seem" to remember having used the saved seed the year before and had no problems, thus the confusion on my part. I think the thing to do is just to start over and hand pollinate to be sure of seeds that are true. Since Sue's response, I have printed out the info on seed saving and expect to have some fun trying something new in the garden! Thanks to you both.

Bev

  
 

 

 


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