Did you know that the cucumber plants grown in modern production facilities are all female F1 hybrids - apparently females will crop earlier and support intensive production methods.
The plants are also more tolerant to plant pathogens such as mildew and cut down the use of fungal sprays.
To get cucumber fruit to the table the plants are propagated through November and December before being moved greenhouses in December and January - the fruit can then be picked from January onwards until the plant is exhausted.
With continual cropping and replacement plants, growers are able to maintain their cucumber harvest from January through to October. The environment needed for production is carefully controlled; utilising top quality greenhouses.
The atmosphere inside the greenhouse is enriched with carbon dioxide which increases plants growth and crop yield. Temperature is is not allowed to drop below 21ºC - the heating system is via hot water pumped around pipes. When the temperature reaches 23 – 24ºC, automatic vents open to allow air circulation.
Traditional growers should look away now because the cucumber plants are not grown compost but in artificial, inert materials such as rockwool. Growers are looking for sterile media that is free from disease. Feed is applied as a liquid through a controlled irrigating system.
Cucumbers are usually grown by training the main stem up a vertical string (Cordon) to a height of 2 metres. The grower will remove side shoots until the plant has reached the full 2m horizontal support - after which three of the strongest lateral shoots are selected and the main leading shoot is removed.
The side shoots are not tied in and are allowed to fall naturally for approximately one metre and the too will have their leading shoot removed to encourage further 'sub lateral' shoots.
As the cucumbers mature, they are removed ever seven to fourteen days - at the same time, side shoots are removed to maintain an efficient system.
A couple of good points to consider if you want to pick the best. Don't let cucumbers grow too large - small and succulent make the tastiest fruit. Avoid stressing the plant by cutting the fruit instead of twisting off.
The Cucumber Growers Association says: Cucumber growing in the UK is concentrated in two geographical areas –
• The North East of England (especially in the area surrounding Hull in East Yorkshire)
• The South East of England (just North of London in the Lea Valley in Essex/Hertforshire)
• The total area of glasshouses cropped with cucumbers is estimated at around 120 hectares.
• An analysis of CGA membership (covering most UK growers) indicates that 60% of members are located in the South East and account for 36% of the hectarage.
• 31% of members are in the North East with 61% of the hectarage. The balance are scattered throughout the country.
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