Cucumis sativus
Botanical Name
Cucumis sativus
Hardiness
Annual
Height
1 to 6 feet
Width
1 to 6 feet
Flowers
Mid summer to early fall: yellow
Fruit
Wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors
Light
Full sun
Soil
Moist, well-drained, fertile
Planting and Care
Direct sow when danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed or start indoors and transplant. Space transplants 1 to 2 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart. Trellis to save space and improve air circulation. Adequate moisture is important to cucumber growth. Mulch the soil to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Successive plant every 2 to 3 weeks until about 3 months before the first frost date for a continual harvest.
Harvesting
Harvest cucumbers based on their use. Pick for sweet pickles when they are 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. Allow those for dill pickles to reach 3 to 4 inches in length, and pick slicing cucumbers when they are firm, bright green and 6 to 9 inches long. Harvest burpless cucumbers when they are 10 to 12 inches long.
Problems
Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash vine borer, bacterial wilt, powdery mildew, cucumber mosaic virus
Varieties to Consider
'Burpless' - long fruit, good for trellising
'Straight 8' - AAS winner, 8" straight fruit
'Fanfare' - AAS winner, good disease resistance, high yield
'Straight 8' - AAS winner, 8" straight fruit
'Fanfare' - AAS winner, good disease resistance, high yield