Lacking flowers on Persian cucumbers - Ask Extension
I have a plethora of Persian cucumber vines that I have trellised as they’ve spread. They seem healthy and happy, but I don’t have any flowers yet...
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Lacking flowers on Persian cucumbers #874536
Asked June 24, 2024, 8:42 PM EDT
I have a plethora of Persian cucumber vines that I have trellised as they’ve spread. They seem healthy and happy, but I don’t have any flowers yet. I think the vines have been thriving for 2-3 weeks. How long does it usually take for flowers to appear? All my vegetables near the cucumbers have fruited (zucchini, squash, peppers, tomatoes). Could this be a pollination issue?
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- if the plants are healthy they will begin to produce flowers and fruit soon. If you know the variety you can look up the expected maturity date- time from seed sowing to first harvest.
Most Persian or Beit Alpha cucumber varieties produce only female flowers and do not require cross-pollination to produce fruit. It's possible that flowering occurs a little bit later with this type of cucumber.
Jon
Most Persian or Beit Alpha cucumber varieties produce only female flowers and do not require cross-pollination to produce fruit. It's possible that flowering occurs a little bit later with this type of cucumber.
Jon
Hi here is some photos of the vines. They seem healthy to me but no flowers. Is there a chance this could be a weed instead of cucumbers? I have had violet in the plot, but the leaves are shaped different and my plant ID app says this is cucumber. It aligns with here I planted it. 
Hi- these appear to be cucumber plants. Depending on the variety and soil and weather conditions, plants should begin flowering 4-5 weeks after planting seed.
Plants should be spaced at least 12 inches apart. Crowding will reduce flowering and fruiting.
Jon
Plants should be spaced at least 12 inches apart. Crowding will reduce flowering and fruiting.
Jon
It’s probably been about 8 weeks since planting seeds. These are Persian cucumbers.
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 1, 2024, at 10:19 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hi- the only weeds that come close to resembling the plants in the photos are morningglories and bindweeds:
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/morningglories
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/bindweeds
They would have white or purple flowers. Cucumbers have yellow flowers.
Jon
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/morningglories
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/bindweeds
They would have white or purple flowers. Cucumbers have yellow flowers.
Jon
Hi, I emailed about a month ago to ask about my cucumber plants vining everywhere but not flowering. They started flowering recently and are producing these oblong super spiky fruits. I thought I purchased a version of Persian cucumbers, so this is surprising. We inherited the garden plots from the previous owners and I cleared them. However, also wondering if something they planted regrew and it’s not a cucumber at all or is a toxic fruit. The plant ID app I use lists it as an African-horned cucumber. 
Hi- the fruits appear to be jelly melons, aka African horned cucumber- Cucumis metuliferus.
Jon
Jon
