Hokus

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Hokus cucumber brings an unmistakably crisp, cool snap with a clean, subtly sweet flavor that feels luminous from the first bite.

The fruit is slender and gracefully curved, with a smooth, dark-green skin and a tender, juicy interior that stays pleasantly firm as it matures. Grow Hokus for fresh garden salads and vibrant Asian-style dishes, where its bright crunch and refined taste shine in quick tosses, quick pickles, and silky sauces.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Vine

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Hokus 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	Jun 15th	Jun 29th	Aug 23rd – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Jun 8th	Jun 22nd	Aug 16th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	May 29th	Jun 12th	Aug 6th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	May 29th	Jun 12th	Aug 6th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Jun 2nd	Jun 16th	Aug 10th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	May 29th	Jun 12th	Aug 6th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	May 27th	Jun 10th	Aug 4th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	May 22nd	Jun 5th	Jul 30th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	May 18th	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	May 15th	May 29th	Jul 23rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	May 9th	May 23rd	Jul 17th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	May 4th	May 18th	Jul 12th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Apr 24th	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Apr 15th	Apr 29th	Jun 23rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Apr 6th	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Mar 20th	Apr 3rd	May 28th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Feb 23rd	Mar 9th	May 3rd – 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	55
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)	12

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Hokus is all about the first-bite crunch: its slender fruit stays snappy and watery without turning bitter, so it shines in anything that doesn’t need cooking. Use it where you want a cool, lightly sweet edge—especially quick pickles and sesame-soy salads—because it won’t collapse into mush under sharp acid.

Best Uses

quick pickles (fast vinegar soak; hold the snap)
Asian-style cucumber salads with sesame/soy dressing
thin slicing for cool, high-crunch garnishes
blended cucumber sauces or quick raita-style coolers

Flavor Profile

icily crisp snap clean, subtly sweet cucumber flavor tender juicy interior with low bitterness fresh, faintly vegetal crunch

Kitchen Pairings

soy sauce rice vinegar sesame oil garlic chili (fresh or crisp flakes) yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and how do I control it at home?

Cucumis sativus is frequently hit by powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, dusty coating on leaves and reduces fruit set. Water the soil (not the foliage), space plants for airflow, and remove the worst infected leaves early. If it keeps spreading, use an approved sulfur-based fungicide or a potassium bicarbonate spray, following label directions.

How often should I water Cucumis sativus during its main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruiting, keep the root zone evenly moist—typically about 1–2 inches of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot. Let the top inch of soil dry slightly between waterings to avoid soggy conditions, then water deeply so moisture reaches the main roots. Inconsistent watering can cause bitterness and misshapen cucumbers.

How can I tell when Cucumis sativus (Hokus/Japanese-type cucumber) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are firm and glossy and reach their target length for the variety—often around 7–10 inches for Japanese-style cucumbers. Check daily once they start producing: if they yellow or bulk up past the desired size, they become seedy and less flavorful. Use scissors or pruning shears to cut the fruit with a short stem to avoid tearing the vine.