Beit Alpha

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Beit Alpha to a garden.

Crisp as fresh-cut glass, Beit Alpha Cucumber delivers a cool, clean snap with a subtly sweet, garden-fresh flavor and a tender, evenly textured bite.

At maturity it forms straight, well-filled fruits with a smooth, dark-green skin that stays pleasantly crisp for salads and quick pickling—ideal for gardeners who want dependable performance at about 50 days. Grow Beit Alpha for abundant, uniform harvests that shine in the bowl and hold their character when preserved.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Vine

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Beit Alpha Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 18th	Jun 1st	Jul 21st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 11th	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 4th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	May 5th	May 19th	Jul 8th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 29th	May 13th	Jul 2nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 24th	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 20th	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 17th	May 1st	Jun 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 11th	Apr 25th	Jun 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Apr 6th	Apr 20th	Jun 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 27th	Apr 10th	May 30th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 18th	Apr 1st	May 21st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 9th	Mar 23rd	May 12th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 20th	Mar 6th	Apr 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 26th	Feb 9th	Mar 31st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Beit Alpha keeps a tight, even crunch—more “refreshing snap” than watery filler—so it shines when served cold or pickled quickly. Its mildly sweet, clean flavor plays nicely with bright acid and creamy dairy, without needing heavy seasoning.

Best Uses

ice-cold cucumber salad where the slices stay snappy
quick pickling for fast vinegar-bright crunch
raw crudités with a thick, garlicky dip
topping for sandwiches that won’t collapse into wetness

Flavor Profile

cool, clean cucumber bite subtly sweet garden freshness crisp glassy snap tender, evenly textured flesh

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic yogurt feta white vinegar olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease issue with Beit Alpha (about 50 days) and how do I fix it quickly?

A frequent problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on leaves in warm, humid spells. Remove the worst affected leaves, then improve airflow by spacing plants and avoiding overhead watering. If it keeps spreading, spray a labeled sulfur or potassium bicarbonate product at the first signs and repeat as directed on the label.

How often should I water Beit Alpha during its main growth phase to get steady growth?

During active growth, keep the top 1 inch of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, which usually means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the surface dry slightly before the next watering. If leaves look limp in the afternoon and soil stays wet, cut back immediately to prevent stress and disease.

How can I tell when Beit Alpha is ready to harvest (around 50 days)?

Harvest when pods/produce reach their full color and size for your variety and the surface looks firm, not soft or shriveled. Check one plant a day earlier than the target if unsure—Beit Alpha is often quick to go from peak to over-mature. If they should be tender, pick when they feel crisp and easy to pierce with minimal pressure; if they’re meant to be firmer, wait until they hold shape fully.