My parthenocarpic cucumber project version 3.0
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 7:19 pm
All,
I'm beginning my 3rd summer growing Row7's 7082 Experimental Cucumber. This is a gynoecious and parthenocarpic variety intentionally bred to bring some natural bitterness back to the fruit (although I find these cukes far from bitter if grown well).
Year one: Decided to use laundry baskets and a small gravity fed irrigation system through the lower 1/3 of each barrel. Barrels were filled with coco coir (mostly), layered with worm casings, had large holes in the bottom with real earth down there and the whole barrel sunk a couple inches into the ground.
8 barrels, 3 plants each, outdoors in a wooden framed structure (being outdoors defeats the purpose of going seedless, but in this high volume many cukes do not get pollinated). I also had a small netted raised bed with several plants so I could observe how those did (and they were better).
Year two: Same barrel setup, irrigation, growing media.
24 barrels, 2 plants each, in hoophouse in specially constructed net house. Also 12 in-ground plants in hoophouse. This resulted in significant waste. I could not keep up, I could not harvest and sell and give away enough cucumbers.
Year three:
Same barrel setup, irrigation, growing media.
17 barrels, 2 plants each, in hoophouse in specially constructed net house.
I have a 5 lb per week commitment to provide cucumbers to a fine restaurant here in the village, a half mile from my hoop. This should leave some for neighbors and ourselves. The first restaurant harvest was today. These are all today's pics.
Happy to answer any questions! (I've learned a little bit about gynoecious and parthenocarpic cukes in this process!). Take care!
o
I'm beginning my 3rd summer growing Row7's 7082 Experimental Cucumber. This is a gynoecious and parthenocarpic variety intentionally bred to bring some natural bitterness back to the fruit (although I find these cukes far from bitter if grown well).
Year one: Decided to use laundry baskets and a small gravity fed irrigation system through the lower 1/3 of each barrel. Barrels were filled with coco coir (mostly), layered with worm casings, had large holes in the bottom with real earth down there and the whole barrel sunk a couple inches into the ground.
8 barrels, 3 plants each, outdoors in a wooden framed structure (being outdoors defeats the purpose of going seedless, but in this high volume many cukes do not get pollinated). I also had a small netted raised bed with several plants so I could observe how those did (and they were better).
Year two: Same barrel setup, irrigation, growing media.
24 barrels, 2 plants each, in hoophouse in specially constructed net house. Also 12 in-ground plants in hoophouse. This resulted in significant waste. I could not keep up, I could not harvest and sell and give away enough cucumbers.
Year three:
Same barrel setup, irrigation, growing media.
17 barrels, 2 plants each, in hoophouse in specially constructed net house.
I have a 5 lb per week commitment to provide cucumbers to a fine restaurant here in the village, a half mile from my hoop. This should leave some for neighbors and ourselves. The first restaurant harvest was today. These are all today's pics.
Happy to answer any questions! (I've learned a little bit about gynoecious and parthenocarpic cukes in this process!). Take care!
o