my cucumbers are ripe but do i cut off the prickles before i eat them because they are very prickly

My mother-in-law came to my house to watch my daughter while I went on vacation. She ask me if I wanted her to pick all of my ripe vegetables while I was away, sure I said. She picked ALL of my cucumbers before they were ready. They are very tart and I have no idea what to do with them. They were supposed to be pickling cucumbers so can I still do this? Should I just toss them all in the compost and put them under lock and key next year?

What great advice, I built a lean too this year and have grown a regualr size cue and a mini cue plant. The mini I picked yesterday and tried, it was bigger than I thought and slightly bitter. The full size I picked today and it was pretty much perfect. Having read this tomorrow I will pick off two more minis while slightly smaller so not so bitter and maybe try picking a slightly smaller full size in a few days. If I can have more smaller ones then I will have a happy daughter who just wants to eat them off the plant. Many thanks for your help.

When you wash the cucumber under water, you can rub off the prickles. They come off very easy this way.

Hi Harriet – are any of the leaves on the plant turning yellow at the bottom, too? If so, it could be too much water that’s causing the light green cucumbers. It could also be a case where the plant tag was accidentally switched or something at the garden center.

My cucumbers had a tag with a regular dark green vegetable. But mine have been light green from start to finish. Is it possible my soil is lacking something that would change the color?

When do the prickles go? should i wait till they have gone before picking or do they just go once picked?
I have no knowledge of growing anything!!!

Hi Lauren – The cucumbers will not taste any different on the ground. The thing you have to watch for is that they will be more susceptible to rotting on the bottom side when laying on the ground. You will need to keep a close eye on them and harvest before they start rotting, especially during rainy periods.

Hi Susan – it sounds like your cucumbers are growing deformed due to pollination issues. When you find some that are growing strangely it is best to go ahead and pick it. It isn’t going to get any better. You can read more about what causes this to happen here – What Causes a Deformed Cucumber?

I’m growing cucumbers, and not using a trellis. there are a few that are growing while laying on the ground. Are these just as good as the ones that are growing in the air?