Parthenocarpic cucumber - Diva - Ask Extension
I planted my Diva cucumbers in the garden about mother's day and the vines are now a.little over 4 feet long. While there are a few flowers there don'...
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Parthenocarpic cucumber - Diva #759780
Asked July 03, 2021, 8:51 AM EDT
I planted my Diva cucumbers in the garden about mother's day and the vines are now a.little over 4 feet long. While there are a few flowers there don't seem to be many and they are dropping the inch long fruits like they would if they hadn't been fertilized on a regular cucumber plant. Since these do not require pollination to set fruit, it's not what I expected. There are no other cucumbers planted in my yard or my neighbor's yards nearby. Am I just being impatient or is there something I should add to increase blooms and fruit set?
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- Diva is supposed to be self-pollinating although it may produce some male flowers and seeds. Stressful growing conditions- things like compacted, infertile soil, less than 7 hours of direct sunlight, inconsistent watering, crowded plants, heat stress, etc- could cause young fruits to drop.
It might help us figure out the problem if you send us photos of the plants and the dropped fruits. You could also contact the seed company and explain the issue. Gardeners sometimes report this issue with parthenocarpic cucumber varieties.
It is not too late to plant a second crop of a different cucumber variety. You could plant through the end of July.
Jon
