Count on Cucumbers for a Fresh Summer Treat
By Zac Hoppenstedt
Just a few weeks after Memorial Day and it’s easy to feel like you missed the boat when you look at recommended seeding dates for favorite summer vegetables. Where do these recommendations come from anyway? Typically, they are based on the seed’s ability to germinate in certain soil temperatures and the plant’s cold hardiness which is relative to the last spring frost and first fall frost in our area (typically mid-April and mid-October respectively). Likewise, recommended seeding dates are based on the ideal time when growers want to be harvesting/eating the edible plant parts, i.e. days to maturity.
For example, cucurbit crops like cucumbers, watermelon, squash, cantaloupes, etc., are native to the Middle East and are suited to grow during warm, dry Kansas summers. But most watermelon varieties, take ‘Crimson Sweet’ for example which was famously bred at K-State in the 1960s, can require 80-90 days to produce fruit. So growers opt to seed these plants earlier in the spring, around mid-May, so they can be biting into a fresh slice or enjoying a frozen melon ball during the peak of summer.
And while there is still time to seed a watermelon or a honeydew if you have space and patience for September harvest, might I interest you in a similar relative? We’re talking a smaller footprint (perfect for container growers and vertical trellising), diverse varieties to choose from and faster days to harvest—as little as 50 days. Yes, if you read the title you know I’m talking about cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)! Many growers start their first crop in May, but also make a second planting in mid- to late summer. This helps avoid insect pressures by planting between pest life cycles, all while ensuring a late summer harvest. Cucumbers are refreshing and great to have freshly picked and on hand. They can be used in salads or pickled for longer shelf life. See Preserve it Fresh, Preserve It Safe Cucumbers (MF1184) for more information on pickling.
Figure 1: Slicing cucumbers are the most commonly grown in home gardens, they have a tougher skin and produce seeds
Slicing and pickling-type cucumbers are likely the categories most gardeners are familiar with. These include heirloom and many new hybrid varieties with disease resistance. Slicer cultivars include Burpee Hybrid II, Dasher II, Diva, General Lee, Raider, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success, and several excellent small-vined cucumbers great for containers such as Bush Champion, Salad Bush, Spacemaster, and Patio Pik. If you’re growing in a container, select a pot roughly 10-14” in diameter. Pickling cucumbers are firm, blocky, and mild in flavor. Pickling types include Alibi, Bush Pickle, Pioneer, and Liberty.
There is another category of cucumbers that’s worth noting which is more mild-flavored and great for snacking. “Burpless” types, named for being low in cucurbitacin, the compound responsible for bitterness and burping when consumed, usually produce long, slender fruit and thin skins (sometimes referred to as Seedless, English, European and Asian types). They are typically more sprawling and can be difficult to grow in containers or exposed areas where heat and wind can damage the vines, but they offer great fresh eating quality. Recommended varieties include Suyo Long, Armenian, Summer Dance, Sweet Success, Diva, Tasty Green, Nokya and Japanese Climbing
Figure 2: Burpless types are usually seedless and great for snacking!
Figure 3 Asian types like 'Tasty green' can produce long fruit up to 15"
And last but not least, if you’re interested in more experimental varieties, consider planting miniature specialty cucumbers like the pictured Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra), or Lemon varieties which are great for fresh eating and pickling. And there are even white flesh cucumbers, look for Salt and Pepper, Quirk and Itachi if you’re feeling adventurous.
Figure 4 The Mexican Sour Gherkin, sometimes called the Mouse Melon, looks like a miniature watermelon (1" long) and has a slightly tart flavor.
No matter what variety you select, make sure to read K-State’s Cucumbers and Melons growing guide for best cultural practices, recommended varieties, and integrated pest management or contact garden.help@jocogov.org for tips on growing your best cukes ever, starting in mid to late-June no less!
