CUCUMBER, PICKLING
VARIETY: Alibi, Boston Pickling, Homemade Pickles, National Pickling, Parisian Pickles (gherkin size)
BLOOM COLOR: yellow
FOLIAGE COLOR: green
VEGETABLE COLOR/SIZE: green; up to 4 inches long and 1.5 inches around
BOTANICAL NAME: Cucumis sativus
ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL?: annual
WARM SEASON OR COOL SEASON?: warm season; not frost-tolerant
PLANT SIZE: 2 to 6 feet tall, 1 TO 3 feet wide
LIGHT NEEDS: at least 6 hours of full sun per day
WATER NEEDS: normal (about an inch of water total per week, more in very hot weather) - keep soil consistently moist and apply water below the leaves for best results
FERTILIZER NEEDS: heavy (either a balanced or a higher phosphorus content fertilizer about twice a month)
IDEAL SOIL CONDITIONS: fertile, well-drained soil
PLANT SPACING FOR TRANSPLANTS: about 8 to 12 inches apart in rows that are 3 feet apart, or 18 to 36 inches apart in beds - 12 inches apart if plants are trellised (Square Foot system = 2 plants per square)
PLANT SUPPORTS NEEDED?: optional; supports such as trellises or netting that promote upright growth of plants can help save space in the garden
TO START FROM SEED - WHEN?: Indoors = 4 to 6 weeks before last frost date; Direct sow = at least 1 to 2 weeks after last frost date, soil temperature should be above 70 F
SEED DEPTH: 1/2 to 1 inch deep
SEED SPACING: 1 per cell in a 72 cell tray - transplant to garden when plants have 2 true leaves
TIME TO GERMINATION: 7 to 14 days
WHEN TO PLANT OUT: after all danger of frost has passed - flowers begin to set fruit when night temperatures are between 55 F and 75 F
CAN IT BE PLANTED IN A CONTAINER?: not optimal for container planting
DURING GROWTH: frequent, even watering can help prevent bitter flavor in fruit; harvest often to encourage continuous production
WATCH FOR THESE PESTS/DISEASES: downy mildew, powdery mildew, bacterial or viral issues, squash vine borers, squash beetles, cucumber beetles, slugs, aphids
TIME TO HARVEST: 56 to 72 days
HARVESTING: check plants for ripe cucumbers every day and harvest fruit when ripe to encourage continuous production;
POLLINATOR FRIENDLY?: many varieties require pollinator insects to pollinate flowers in order to produce fruit