Grown under ideal conditions all female varieties of cucumber will only produce female flowers however, a number of factors can result in the production of male flowers and this usually occurs early in the growing season.

Acute temperature variations, too high or too low, unbalanced feeding and/or irregular watering, can all bring about conditions which result in the production of some male flowers.

Any male flowers should be removed as soon as they are identified. Female flowers have a swollen area behind the petals which is the immature fruit. This swollen area is absent on male flowers.