Cucumber

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vining vegetable

Crisp as cool glass, Cucumber delivers a refreshing snap with a clean, gently sweet flavor that stays bright from garden to jar.

Its firm, straight fruits develop a classic pickling-and-slicing character—tender enough for quick pickles, yet sturdy with a satisfying crunch for fresh plates and hearty relishes. Grow it for dependable results in about 50 days, and enjoy the kind of harvest that feels as invigorating as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	May 9th
Harvest Begins	Jun 28th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This cucumber is all about temperature and texture: icy-cold slices and fast cures keep the glassy crunch instead of going soft. Its gentle sweetness and clean finish make it a natural match for sharp acid and dairy, so it behaves beautifully in quick pickles and cooling yogurt sauces.

Best Uses

quick refrigerator pickles that hold a crisp snap
cold cucumber salad with an aggressive squeeze of salt to draw moisture
slicing for raw plates—stacked, salted, and dressed fast so it stays snappy
chopped cucumber relishes and tzatziki-style sauces where the crunch matters

Flavor Profile

cool, watery crunch clean, gently sweet taste subtle cucumber tang with a fresh grassy finish tough-snap skin for quick pickling

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic black pepper yogurt salted butter feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common cucumber disease/pest issue, and how can I stop it?

Powdery mildew is very common on Cucumis sativus, showing up as a gray-white powdery coating on leaves. At the first spots, remove heavily infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid wetting foliage during watering. If it persists, use an approved fungicide labeled for cucumbers and reapply according to the label interval.

How often should I water cucumber plants during peak growth, and what soil moisture level do they need?

During the main growing/fruiting phase, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week, then adjust so the top few inches of soil don’t dry out completely. Mulch helps prevent the day-to-day swings that cause bitterness and blossom-end problems.

How do I know when Cucumis sativus is ready to harvest?

Harvest cucumbers when they reach their typical size for your type and feel firm—usually about 50 days from sowing/transplanting, with fruits forming earlier as plants mature. Look for glossy, well-developed skin and cut them off with a knife or pruners, leaving a short stem. Pick every 1–2 days during peak production to keep new cucumbers coming and prevent oversize, seedy fruit.