Cucumis sativus

Cucumber

A favorite in cuisine worldwide, cucumbers possess health benefits too numerous to mention. Incorporate cucumbers in your diet to aid with weight loss, as they are exceptionally low in calories (only about 8 calories in 1/2 cup), aid digestion, and rid toxins from the body. Among the more unusual qualities of the humble cuke is its ability to ease skin irritations. Use a piece of cucumber skin to soothe burns.

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The Growing Guide

Soil Temp for Germ 65–90°F
Seed Depth ½"
Seed Spacing 4–6/hill
Days to Emergence 4–13
Thin Plants to 1–2/hill
Row Spacing 3–4'
Fertilizer Needs High
Minimum Germination 80%
Seeds per Gram ≈ 25–30
Seed Life 3 years

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More About The Seeds & Plants

Cucumber Disease Resistance Key

Anthracnose Fungal disease causing dark, sunken lesions on plants.
Watermelon Mosaic Virus Viral disease causing mosaic patterns, stunting.
Target Spot Fungal disease causing concentric, dark leaf spots.
Papaya Ringspot Virus Viral disease causing ring spots, distorted cucurbits.
Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus Viral disease causing yellowing, stunted cucurbit growth.
Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus Viral disease causing yellow veins, stunted cucumbers.
Cucumber Mosaic Virus Viral disease causing mottled, distorted cucumber leaves.
Scab & Gummosis Bacterial disease causing scabby lesions, gummy exudate.
Corynespora Blight & Target Spot Fungal disease causing target-like spots, blight.
Angular Leaf Spot Bacterial disease causing angular, water-soaked spots.
Alternaria Leaf Blight Fungal disease causing dark, concentric leaf spots.
Cercospora Fungal disease causing leaf spots, yellowing.
Scab | Cladosporium cucumerinum A fungus that causes scab disease which appears as water-soaked spots on leaves and sunken, corky lesions on fruit.

* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

More About

Cucumis sativus

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Cucumbers perform best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH 5.5-7.0
• Consistent, even watering is critical for best plant growth and fruit development
• Raised beds, plastic mulch, and trellising can improve yields, keep fruit straight and scab free
• Incorporate a shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer per hill

Direct Sowing
• For best germination, keep soil evenly moist but not too wet
• Cover hill with Kozy-Coats, Victorian Bell Cloches, or a row cover to speed up germination
• Thin to the strongest 1-2 plants when first true leaves emerge

Transplanting
• Start indoors in 4 inch pots, 3-4 weeks before anticipated transplant date
• Avoid letting starts get root bound; transplant carefully as to not disturb roots

Pests & Diseases
• Common pests: Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs, stink bugs
• Pest control: Pyrethrin
• Common diseases: See chart below
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation

Harvest & Storage
• Consistent harvest will keep plants productive
• Store at 45°F and 95% relative humidity
• For pickling, harvest cukes when small, before seeds form

KEY TO FLOWERS AND FRUIT SET
GY | Gynoecious - Has nearly all female flowers.
HE | Hermaphrodite - Flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts.
MO | Monoecious - Has separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
PAT | Parthenocarpic - Has the ability to set fruit without pollination.

KEY TO CUCUMBER DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
A | Anthracnose*
ACu | Alternaria Leaf Blight
ALS | Angular Leaf Spot
C | Cercospora
CCa | Corynespora Blight & Target Spot
CCu | Scab & Gummosis
CMV | Cucumber Mosaic Virus
CVYV | Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus
CYSDV | Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus
DM | Downy Mildew
PM | Powdery Mildew
PRV | Papaya Ringspot Virus
R | Common Rust
S | Scab
TSP | Target Spot
WMV | Watermelon Mosaic Virus
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

From Our Garden Team

Employee Favorite Cucumbers You’ll Love to Grow

Mini‑Me Cucumber is our employee favorite for its snack-sized, ultra-crisp fruits and effortless production. Its 2½" - 3" nearly spineless cucumbers mature in just 45 days, deliver high yields, and offer a mild, sweet flavor. Mini-me ideal for snacking, salads, or pickling.

MINI-ME

Vegetable | cucumber | beit alpha

From $4.75

Delightfully tempting baby snacking cukes!
45 days. Be the first to the market with these extra-early mini (2 ¾‒3 ¼") cukes. Bushels of uniform, thin-skinned, tender fruit from productive plants. PAT. CVYV, PM.