SproutSmart
SproutSmart™ Intelligent Garden Sowing

Bush Slicer

Cucumber
Zone 8b Save Garden

Planting Schedule

Add Bush Slicer to your garden to build a schedule and get reminders.
Botanical illustration of Bush Slicer
55d to harvest

Crisp as glass and bursting with cool, garden-fresh snap, Bush Slicer delivers slender cucumbers with a clean, bright flavor and a pleasantly firm, juicy bite. The fruits develop a smooth, dark-green skin and a straight, slicer-friendly shape that stays crisp from the first harvest through steady picking. Ideal for fresh slices and vibrant batches of pickles, Bush Slicer brings dependable, compact growth to the home garden while keeping flavor front and center.

Sowing Tips

Transplant Conditions

Wait until soil reaches 65°F and nights stay above 55°F before moving outdoors. Harden off for 10 days first.

Direct Sow Preferred

Sensitive roots — does not transplant well. If starting indoors, use biodegradable pots and disturb roots as little as possible when moving outdoors.

Expert Note

For bush-type slicers in pots, keep soil consistently warm and evenly moist, and transplant with minimal root disturbance once nights are reliably warm.

Crop Dates

MilestoneDate
Start IndoorsMar 23rd
Last FrostMar 23rd
Transplant / Sow OutdoorsApr 6th
Harvest BeginsMay 31st
Harvest EndsNov 12th

Crop Details

TraitValue
Days to Maturity55
Sun RequirementsFull SunFull sun
Growth HabitVine
Support NeededTrellis
Planting DepthNormal
Germination Temp (°F)70
Min Soil Temp (°F)65
Min Night Temp (°F)55
Harden Off (days)10

Today's Conditions

Outdoor planting for Bush Slicer in Zone 8b typically begins around 2026-04-06. Wait until soil reaches at least 65°F before transplanting Bush Slicer.

Garden Alerts

In Zone 8b, the average last spring frost is around March 23. Watch soil temperature before transplanting Bush Slicer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Bush Slicer leaves yellowing with tiny webbing, and what should I do?
Yellow stippling with fine webbing on the underside is often spider mites, especially in hot, dry weather. Rinse plants with a strong stream of water, then spray insecticidal soap (or horticultural oil) thoroughly every 5–7 days for at least 2 treatments, targeting leaf undersides.
How often should I water Bush Slicer during the main growing phase?
During the peak growth and fruiting period, keep soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot or windy. Water at the base and stop before the soil stays soggy; Bush Slicer roots perform best when the top 1 inch of soil dries slightly between waterings.
When is Bush Slicer ready to harvest?
Harvest when fruits are firm, reach the expected full size, and the skin is glossy with good color for your variety (typically around 55 days from sowing). Pick early in the day; if the fruit feels overly soft or seeds look swollen through the flesh, harvest has likely passed its prime—pick promptly to encourage more production.

Sowing Tips

Transplant Conditions

Wait until soil reaches 65°F and nights stay above 55°F before moving outdoors. Harden off for 10 days first.

Direct Sow Preferred

Sensitive roots — does not transplant well. If starting indoors, use biodegradable pots and disturb roots as little as possible when moving outdoors.

Expert Note

For bush-type slicers in pots, keep soil consistently warm and evenly moist, and transplant with minimal root disturbance once nights are reliably warm.

Botanical illustration of Bush Slicer

Crisp as glass and bursting with cool, garden-fresh snap, Bush Slicer delivers slender cucumbers with a clean, bright flavor and a pleasantly firm, juicy bite. The fruits develop a smooth, dark-green skin and a straight, slicer-friendly shape that stays crisp from the first harvest through steady picking. Ideal for fresh slices and vibrant batches of pickles, Bush Slicer brings dependable, compact growth to the home garden while keeping flavor front and center.