By Steragram
Pembrokeshire,
United Kingdom 
Cucumbers: I was given a plant this year for the first time -an outdoor one. Please can you tell me how big they grow before ready to eat, and do you peel them or eat the prickles? I picked the first one today and it was a bit on the crunchy side.
11 Jul, 2017
Answers
Some outdoor varieties--i.e. practically all heirloom kinds--need to be fertilized to bear cucumbers. Only the few parthenocarpic kinds can have the male flowers removed, and only the greenhouse ones need it.
11 Jul, 2017
I missed the bit that said it was an outdoor one.
12 Jul, 2017
Well it obviously doesn't need the male flowers removing as I haven't fertilized it and its growing cucumbers...
Maybe the first one wasn't quite ready when I picked it because the prickles didn't rub off. I'll wait a bit longer for the next one.
12 Jul, 2017
Picked it, ate it - wow - best one I ever tasted!
19 Jul, 2017
that's brilliant stera :o)
20 Jul, 2017
Hi Stera,
they can produce stems 6-8ft long. the prickles on the skin rub off if you wear rubber gloves when you pick them. pick them when they are about 9-12" long.
if there are male flowers take them off as soon as you see them. the female has a small 'cucumber' behind the petals, the male doesn't. prevents them becoming fertilized and bitter.
you can leave the skin on or peel it is personal taste. I tend to leave the peel on.
11 Jul, 2017