County Fair

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Crisp as a cool morning, ‘County Fair’ pickling cucumbers deliver a bright, snap-forward bite with a clean, refreshing flavor and a tightly textured interior.

Bred for uniform, small-to-medium fruits, they’re ideal for preserving and also shine fresh for snacking—staying pleasantly firm rather than turning soft. Grow a row for that classic, garden-to-jar satisfaction, with fruits that mature in about 50 days and keep coming as the vines climb.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Leesburg (Zone 7a).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 20th
Last Frost	Apr 20th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	May 4th
Harvest Begins	Jun 23rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 20th

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

County Fair is a pickling-market cucumber with a tight, high-crisp texture—perfect when you want pickle brine to add tang without the interior turning mushy. Slice thick for a satisfying snap or jar for that immediate crunch that holds in the fridge.

Best Uses

quick pickles with vinegar, sugar, and garlic
classic refrigerator pickles for week-long crunch
snack-slicing with flaky salt and a squeeze of lemon
chopped cucumber salad where the pieces must stay crisp

Flavor Profile

clean, bracing cucumber freshness bright, tangy pickling notes snappy, tightly textured flesh that resists softening

Kitchen Pairings

white vinegar garlic cracked black pepper fresh dill (unless you’re avoiding it) plain Greek yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on Cucumis sativus (cucumber) in a home garden?

Powdery mildew shows up as a white, powdery coating on cucumber leaves, often starting on older leaves as the plants thicken. Remove badly infected leaves early, improve airflow by spacing plants and using trellises, and water at the base so foliage stays dry. If it’s spreading, use a labeled fungicide or a potassium bicarbonate product and repeat according to label timing until new growth stays clean.

How often should I water Cucumis sativus during the main growing phase (after flowering)?

During flowering and fruit set, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 deep waterings. Water more frequently in hot weather or containers, checking that the top 1 inch of soil doesn’t dry out completely. Uneven watering can cause misshapen fruit and bitter cucumbers, so maintain a steady schedule once the first cucumbers start growing.

What signs tell me my Cucumis sativus cucumbers are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach the expected size for your plant training (often about 50 days from sowing), with firm skins and a crisp snap when bent. Pick regularly—typically every 1–2 days during peak production—before cucumbers turn yellow or start to look puffy. If seeds begin to look mature through the skin or the fruit becomes dull and soft, it’s past peak and will reduce future yield.