Cucumbers

Cucumbers

Marketmore 76 Cucumber

 

·        The Marketmore 76 cucumber is an heirloom cucumber that is open-pollinated.

·        It is a very tender plant that is not frost hardy.

·        Marketmore cucumbers grow 8 to 9 inches long and are resistant to many cucumber diseases.

·        Seedlings need a minimum of 6 inches between each plant.

·        Dig a 3-inch-deep hole for each seedling.

·        Do not disturb the root structure.

·        Brush the soil back into the hole around the seedling. Gently press down on the soil around the seedling so that the seedling is firmly in place.

·        Push in one vegetable cage around each cucumber seedling. The bottom of the cage should sit 6 inches underground and be sturdily supported so it does not tip over very easily. The cucumber seedling should be at the center of the cage.

·        Water each seedling using the watering can after putting in the cage.

·        Cut pieces of nylon rope into 3-inch segments using scissors. Gently tie the cucumber vine to the side of the vegetable cage. Do not tie too tightly as this chokes the cucumber plant. 

·        Wrap the cucumber vine around the vegetable cage as it grows. Use nylon rope to secure or provide additional support to the vine as the plant grows.

·        Water the cucumber plant daily, either early in the morning or just before sunset.

         Armenian Cucumber

                                                                     

·        Armenian cucumbers are often referred to as snake melon for their distinctive skin.

·        Armenian cucumber is a variety of muskmelon native to western Asia and the Middle East.

·        Growing to only 12 inches in height, Armenian cucumbers vine and spread over an area of 6 feet and produce numerous 12- to 30-inch-long fruit along their vines.

·        The plants are very easy to grow if they are provided with full sun and draining soil, plus they harbor little susceptibility to diseases or pests.Suggest Edits

·        Hill Method Growing:

·        Choose a spot with full sun and good drainage. Avoid areas where water pools and does not drain after a heavy rain shower.

·        Spread a 4-inch layer of compost over the bed.

·        Run a rotary tiller over the bed to incorporate the amendments and aerate the soil.

·        Water the newly cultivated soil to a depth of 7 inches.

·        Form a small hill measuring 3 feet in diameter and 10 inches tall using a hoe and your hands. Mound the soil with the hoe, then gently firm and shape it with the flats of your palms.

·        Harvest the fruit when they are no longer than 10 inches in length.

·        Trellis Method Growing

·        Choose a spot with full sun and good drainage. Avoid areas where water pools and does not drain after a heavy rain shower.

·        Spread a 4-inch layer of compost over the bed.

·        Run a rotary tiller over the bed to incorporate the amendments and aerate the soil.

·        Water the newly cultivated soil to a depth of 7 inches.

·        Install a trellis along the north side of the bed. Use a sturdy wooden trellis or a 2-inch, open-weave wire trellis installed between two posts. Do not use tomato cages, since the wire is too thin and damages draping vines.

·        Train the vines to the trellis when they reach 12 inches tall. Tie a portion of nylon or other non-degradable fabric loosely around the vine and trellis to guide their growth. Avoid weaving the vines through the mesh; doing so may damage them.

Early Russian Cucumber

·        First offered in 1888, this pickler starts producing early and keeps going until autumn frosts.

·        Mild and never bitter, these stocky, medium green, fruits are perfect for short seasons.

·        Grows in all climates - especially well-adapted to Northern, short-season climates.

·        Planting Depth: 3/4-1 inch

·        Soil Temp. for Germ.: 65-95°F

·        Days to Germ.: 3-6

·        Plant Spacing: 1-2 inches

·        Days to Maturity: 50-55

·        Partial Shade to Full Sun

·        Moderate Water

Boothby’s Blonde Cucumber

                                                       

·        'Boothby's Blond' is an heirloom variety, best harvested when it is 3 inches long.

·        The vegetables have black spines and turn bright orange-yellow when ripe.

·        The plants begin yielding fruit about 60 days after sowing.

·        Cucumbers are known space hogs in the garden, but can be managed quite easily if grown on a trellis. There are bush varieties that take up less space too.

·        Plant in full sun and maintain an even moisture level for even-sized fruit. Warm temperatures are needed for germination and pollination.

·        With a growing season of only 55 to 65 days, it can be grown just about anywhere.

·        Cucumbers seem to do best when night temperatures are around 60 degrees and day temperatures around 90 degrees.

·        Plant no sooner than 3 or 4 weeks after your last average frost date.

·        Cucumbers can tolerate partial shade and love rich soil that is high in organic matter and well drained.

·        Work in 1 lb. of well balanced fertilizer/100 SF when preparing soil.

·        Plant 3 to 5 plants in an inverted hill that is about 12 inches across. This will protect seedlings from heavy rains that could wash soil away from their shallow roots.

·        Once seedlings are up, thin to 3 plants.

·        Mid-season fertilization will benefit plants.

·        Keep plants well watered. If watered well, do not worry if leaves wilt on the hottest days. This is the plants way of conserving as much water as possible.

·        Be sure to plant varieties of cucumbers that are scab and mosaic resistant.

·        Important Info: Time from planting to harvest is about 60 days. Keep cucumbers picked, as the vine will stop producing if seeds are allowed to mature. Cucumbers do not do well where air is polluted.

 

Dragon’s Egg Cucumber

                                                      

·        Dragon's Egg is part of the Cucumis genus and is a Cucumber variety. Its scientific name is Cucumis sativus 'Dragon's Egg'. 'Dragon's Egg' is considered an heirloom cultivar.

·        Interesting cream-colored fruit are about the size and shape of a large egg.
Mild, bitter-free and sweet-tasting, this little cucumber has very good yield potential.

·        It is a vegetable that typically grows as an annual, which is defined as a plant that matures and completes its lifecycle over the course of a single year.

·        Normally reaches to a mature height of 11.70".

·        Look to ensure a distance 11.70" between seeds when sowing.

·        Bury at a depth of at least 0.47" deep.

·        Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water often.

·        Keep in mind when planting that Dragon's Egg is thought of as tender, so it is really important to ensure that the outside temperature is well above freezing before planting or moving outdoors.

·        The USDA Hardiness Zones typically associated with Dragon's Egg are Zone 3 through Zone 14.

·        Dragon's Egg tends to grow best in a soil PH of between 5.5 and 6.8 meaning it does best in acidic soil.

·        Croatia is believed to be where Dragon's Egg originates.

·        By our calculations, you should look at sowing this variety about 14 days after your last frost date.

Lemon Cucumber

                                                     

·        Once a mainstay of 19th century gardens, lemon cucumbers are now making a comeback due to their sweet, mild taste and attractive appearance.

·        The 2- to 3-inch-long fruit possess a roughly round shape with solid yellow skin covered in small prickles, but the skin is nonetheless tasty and lacks bitterness unlike most other strains of cucumber.

·        Like most cucumbers, lemon cucumbers grow readily from seed and will produce a large volume of fruit 65 days after planting if they are provided with adequate water and some shelter from direct sunlight in hot areas.

·        Select a planting site for the lemon cucumber with southerly exposure and full sun. Avoid areas with heavy shade and boggy, hardpan or rocky soil.

·        Break up the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches using a rotary tiller or cultivating fork. Incorporate a 4-inch-thick layer of compost into the bed if your soil is very sandy or heavy. Water the bed to a depth of 5 inches to settle the soil.

·        Sow the lemon cucumber 18 to 24 inches apart. Place a wire cage or trellis over the planting site, or allow the vines to spread out along the ground.

·        Water the lemon cucumber every other day to maintain moisture to a depth of 1 inch. Avoid overwatering since they are prone to rotting.

·        Maintain light but constant moisture in the bed by watering to a depth of 2 inches every three or four days after sprouting.

·        Feed the lemon cucumber plants once a month with organic 20-20-20 ratio fertilizer. Follow the label directions when applying the fertilizer to ensure good results.

·        Hang 30-percent shade cloth along the southern edge of the bed on especially hot, cloudless days since lemon cucumber leaves scorch easily under intense sunlight.

·        Harvest the fruit once they turn a pale to medium-yellow shade and no longer have a greenish tinge near the stem. Scrub off the small prickles and eat them raw.

Japanese Long Cucumber

                                                                      

·        Tasty Jade variety produces early, slender, sweet tasting cucumbers.

·        They have few seeds and grow to 11-12" long.

·        These are best grown on a trellis to keep the fruit straight and dry. Vines grow to 6 feet or more!

·        Plant after the danger of frost has passed, and the soil has warmed in the spring. Warm soil is necessary for germination of seeds and proper growth of plants.

·        Plant transplants 1 to 2 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart when they have two to four true leaves. Do not allow transplants to get too large in containers or they will not transplant well.

·        Cucumbers are large vines that are grown best in rows and trained on a trellis, pole, fence or other support making sure they get plenty of sunshine.

·        Sometimes, if the weather is very moist and cool, you may see some white powdery substance on the leaves of the plant. This is called Powdery Mildew which is a fungus. While it is not good for the overall health of the plant, there is very little that you can do except wait for warm sunny weather. The good news is that it is not likely to damage the fruit.

·        Always water low to the ground and never use sprinklers to water your vegetable garden.

·        Cucumber roots will grow to a depth of 3-feet if the soil is good, so water slowly and deeply. If the plant is under stress from lack of moisture, it just stops growing. It will pick up again when water is supplied.

·        Leaves often wilt in the middle of the day during hot spells, but check the soil for moisture below the surface. If your summer heat is extremely hot, you may want to shade the plants some during midday.

·        If the first early flowers fail to set fruit, don't worry. The male flowers open first, and about a week later you'll see the female flowers with-baby cucumbers at their bases.

·        Pick fruits when they are young for best flavor.

·        Each plant can produce up to 20-30 fruits.