Latin name:Cucumis sativus Linn.
Small, elongated fruit on low growing vines. Has a shorter shelf life once harvested compared to hard skinned gourds.
Cucumbers
CULTURE: A warm, rich, limey ground is best but any well-drained, fertile soil will do.
PARTHENOCARPIC: Plants can set fruit without pollination.
GYNOECIOUS: Plants have all female flowers resulting in higher yield potential.
TRANSPLANTING: Sow indoors in 2" plug trays, 3 seeds/cell, 4-5 weeks before weather is warm and settled. Keep temp. above 70¡ãF (21¡ãC) day and 60¡ãF (16¡ãC) night. Transplant 12" apart in rows 5-6' apart. Do not disturb roots when transplanting. Cucumber plants cannot survive frost.
DIRECT SEEDING: Wait until soil is warm, at least 70¡ãF (21¡ãC), usually at least a week after last frost. Cucumber seeds will not germinate at a soil temperature below 50¡ãF (10¡ãC) and germinate slowly at 68¡ãF (20¡ãC). Sow 3 seeds/ft., 1/2" deep, rows 5-6' apart. Thin to 8" apart.
POLY MULCH AND ROW COVERS: Protect plants from insects and increase warmth for earlier and heavier yields.
DISEASES: Choose disease-resistant varieties, provide favorable growing conditions, plow in or remove and compost plant refuse, and control insect pests.
INSECT PESTS: Protect against cucumber beetles with floating row covers at planting, or control with pyrethrin or azadarachtin. (See index)
HARVEST: Once bearing begins, pick daily.
STORAGE: Hold cucumbers at 45-50¡ãF (7-10¡ãC) and 90% relative humidity for up to 2 weeks.
GREENHOUSE CROPPING: Plants can be pruned and string-trellised. Use only parthenocarpic varieties.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From direct seeding; subtract about 10 days if transplanting.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 30 seeds sows 10', 100 seeds/33', 250 seeds/83',500 seeds/166', 1,000 seeds/333', or 22M/acre at 3 seeds/ft. in rows 6' apart.
TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 350 cells or pots/oz. at 3 seeds/cell.
SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB.: 16,000-21,000 (avg. 17,000).
PACKET: 30 seeds unless otherwise noted.
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