Socrates

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Cool, crisp snap leads the way with Socrates—an elegant Beit Alpha cucumber prized for its clean, refreshing flavor and tightly textured flesh that stays pleasantly firm.

At maturity it forms long, straight fruits with a bright, even skin and a refined, tender bite, ideal for slicing into vivid platters and for showcasing in fresh, vibrant preparations. Grow Socrates for a steady, garden-to-table harvest that tastes as bright as it looks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Vine

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Socrates 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	Direct Sow	Jun 15th	Aug 4th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	Jun 8th	Jul 28th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 29th	Jul 18th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Jul 18th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	Jun 2nd	Jul 22nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Jul 18th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 27th	Jul 16th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 22nd	Jul 11th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 18th	Jul 7th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 4th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	May 9th	Jun 28th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 13th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 15th	Jun 4th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Apr 6th	May 26th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 20th	May 9th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 23rd	Apr 14th – 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)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Socrates is built for the bite: tightly textured flesh stays pleasantly firm, so even after slicing it won’t collapse into wet shreds. Use it cold and naked—salt, citrus, yogurt, or a swift pickle—to let that clean, refreshing snap do the talking.

Best Uses

paper-thin slices on sourdough or rye with a quick hit of salt—no weeping
chilled cucumber crudo with citrus zest and olive oil
tzatziki-style mash where the flesh holds a crisp bite
briny, fast-pickled rounds for sandwich crunch

Flavor Profile

clean, cool cucumber juiciness tight, snappy crunch that stays firm subtle sweetness with a lightly grassy snap thin-skin tenderness without a watery mushy finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil yogurt garlic feta cheese black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Cucumis sativus (cucumber), and what should I do first?

Cucumber beetles are the most frequent early problem and can quickly spread bacterial wilt. Check plants in the morning and remove any heavily affected leaves, then use floating row cover until flowering if possible; once flowering starts, switch to targeted hand-removal and a cucumber-safe control per the label if beetles persist. If you see wilting with tan/brown streaks in stems, remove the affected plant immediately to prevent spread.

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

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings during hot weather. Water at the base early in the day and avoid wetting leaves to reduce disease risk (powdery mildew and downy mildew). If the top 1 inch of soil dries out, irrigate again the same day to prevent bitter, undersized fruit.

How can I tell when Cucumis sativus is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach the variety’s typical size for fresh eating and the skin is still firm and glossy, usually around 50 days from sowing. Use a fingernail to lightly scratch the skin—if it dents easily, it’s ready; if it’s hard or looks overgrown, pick it sooner for best flavor and to keep vines producing. Check daily once fruits start forming.