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'hourglass' cucumbers

21 years ago

Most of my cucumbers are "pinched" in the middle, heavy on the top and bottom ends, like an hourglass. Does anyone know what causes that? My first thought was not enough water but I've been diligent about that especially since we're in a drought here. These are the "hothouse, Oriental" burpless cukes...and of course I didn't have one this morning that was as pronounced as they have been. I understand how they can curve, when they touch a leaf or the ground, but these are hanging free and should be straight and even like storebought. Also, when I cut them they're not evenly filled out at the center section where it's pinched.

[IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/Kim1947/131_3152.jpg[/IMG]

Comments (11)

  • 21 years ago

    Your pic didn't come up, but I know exactly what you mean. I have had it happen before too. I believe it's from inconsistent watering. Not that it's your fault, especially if you're in a drought, there's not that much you can do. If it makes you feel better it doesn't affect the quality of the cuke all that much.

  • 21 years ago

    thanks! inconsistent watering, that sounds right. ::::now back to the drawing board with Photobucket:::: :-)

  • 21 years ago

    Kim
    Try using the 2nd address called "TAG". There is also a trial forum at the bottom of the forum page in the instructions. You can go there and fool around and practice posting anything until you're confident.

    Hope this helps
    Shauna

  • 21 years ago

    {{gwi:760246}}

  • 21 years ago

    There you go. Perfect picture. : )

    Shauna

  • 21 years ago

    thanks Shauna! I wrote that down, it wasn't clear in the instructions.

  • 21 years ago

    Kim now that I see your pic it really isn't that bad at all. Some pickling varieties have a bit of that shape naturally. I'm sure if that's how most of yours look they were probably a little dry at some point but they will taste fine.

  • 21 years ago

    I just found out recently about aphid damage causing deformed strawberries. Quite a few of my strawberries this year had the bottom part of the strawberry have too many seeds and the berry doesn't fill out. It wasn't a big concern of mine as I would just cut off the hard bottom anyway. But earlier this month when my cousin was raiding the patch, he said(he used to work at a large strawberry farm) that was due to aphid damage on either the bloom or the just forming berry. I wonder if this could be the case in your cucumbers too? Just a theory anyway. :)
    Laurie

  • 21 years ago

    a lot of my strawberries have that problem too, I researched and they're called "nubbins" and supposedly caused by a boron deficiency. supposed to add granite dust or rock phosphate to soil but I'll get mine tested first. I haven't seen any aphids anywhere. My only problem is cutworms, really bad here!

  • 21 years ago

    Hmm, interesting, I'll have to look around for that. It seems the more I learn about gardening, the less I know!

  • 21 years ago

    I think your cucumbers look fine and tasty. I have grown GH 'Holland' cucumbers and ran in the same problem but it was due to insect damage. Curled cucumbers can be a result of thrip and aphid damage. Cucumbers with bulbish ends is mostly found in greenhouse cucumbers that have been cross pollenated by a different variety.
    Andre

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