Straight Eight

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Crisp as cool glass, Straight Eight cucumbers unfurl with a fresh, clean flavor and a tight, tender bite that stays pleasantly snappy.

The fruit is characteristically straight and uniformly sized, with a dark green skin and a lightly bumpy, satiny surface that invites slicing for everyday freshness. Ideal for market-style slicing—grow a row for steady harvests and enjoy the garden’s cool, cucumber-scented abundance from early summer through the season’s peak.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 56 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Straight Eight

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Straight Eight 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 27th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 11th	May 25th	Jul 20th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 10th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 10th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	May 5th	May 19th	Jul 14th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	May 1st	May 15th	Jul 10th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 29th	May 13th	Jul 8th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 24th	May 8th	Jul 3rd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 20th	May 4th	Jun 29th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 17th	May 1st	Jun 26th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 11th	Apr 25th	Jun 20th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Apr 6th	Apr 20th	Jun 15th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 27th	Apr 10th	Jun 5th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 18th	Apr 1st	May 27th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 9th	Mar 23rd	May 18th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 20th	Mar 6th	May 1st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 26th	Feb 9th	Apr 6th – 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	56
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

Straight Eight cucumbers are built for that first bite—tight, crisp, and refreshingly clean, with enough water to cut through fat. Slice them thick for crunch, or quick-pickle to keep the snap while the vinegar sharpens the flavor.

Best Uses

raw slicing for sandwiches where it won’t collapse
quick-pickles for a crisp, vinegar-bright crunch
cool cucumber salads dressed lightly (holds texture)
topping for tacos with lime and salt-forward seasoning

Flavor Profile

cool, clean cucumber snap lightly vegetal freshness subtle sweetness with watery juiciness tender bite without rubbery toughness

Kitchen Pairings

lime kosher salt garlic white vinegar feta cheese chili powder

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely to hit Cucumis sativus (Straight Eight) and how can I stop it?

Watch for powdery mildew, which commonly shows up on cucumber leaves as a white, dusty coating and can spread quickly during humid periods. At the first signs, remove the most affected leaves, improve airflow by spacing vines and pruning only lightly, and spray with a labeled fungicide for cucumbers if conditions stay wet/humid. Also avoid wetting foliage—water at the base—because leaf moisture helps the problem escalate.

How often should I water Straight Eight cucumbers during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep the soil evenly moist with about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, increasing if you’re getting hot, dry weather. Water deeply at the base so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the top 1 inch of soil begin to dry slightly before the next watering. Inconsistent watering can cause bitter or misshapen cucumbers, especially once the plants are producing.

How do I tell when Straight Eight cucumbers are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are firm, deep green, and about 6–8 inches long (roughly finger to hand length) and still have small, tender seeds. Check daily during peak production—if they turn yellow or grow larger than the typical picking size, the seeds toughen and the plant slows new fruit formation. Use a knife or snip to cut the cucumber from the vine to avoid tearing the plant.