Cucumis sativus
Heavy yields of delicious slender fruits.
- Like most vegetables, cucumbers are tender and tastiest when harvested young before their seeds are fully developed.
- Slicing cucumber varieties are generally ready for harvest when about six to eight inches long; pickling cucumber types at three to five inches- both in about 50-60 days from seeding.
- To avoid damage cut fruit from the vine rather than pull
- Don’t allow the fruits to become overripe on the vine as this signals to the plant that the seed-development process is nearly complete and it will shut down.
- Keep mature cucumber fruits picked to encourage further production. During hot weather cucumbers grow very fast, you may need to harvest every day.
- Harvest the cucumber fruits early in the morning before the sun hits them for the best flavor and texture.