Cucumbers
By: Laura Pauley
Description
- Cucumbers come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes and textures.
- White, yellow, and even orange-colored cucumbers.
- short, slightly oval, or even round in shape.
- Some cucumbers are naturally seed less
- The burp-less cucumber is genetically modified to keep you from burping it back up
- Grow manly in tropical and temperate temperatures
Top five producing states
- Georgia
- Florida
- North Carolina
- California
- New Jersey
Growing and Harvesting
Planting
- extremely susceptible to frost damage when planting
- Start seeds indoors for 3 weeks then transplant them
- plant seedlings 1 foot apart when transplanting
Growing
- Water consistently
- Spray vines with sugar water to attract bees for pollination
Harvesting
- Cut off vine when 6 to 8 inches long
- Any left too long will become tough and lower plant productivity
- They keep for 7 to 10 days when stored properly
Pest Problem
Cucumber Beetles
- Larvae feed on roots and Adults feed on emerging and emerged stems
- Till in fall and cover plants to help remove problems
- Soldier beetles will eat the pest.
Uses
- Pickles- pickled cucumbers
- Cucumber Jelly- pureed cucumbers
- Cucumber Lotion- juiced cucumber
Facts
- Require 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit to grow
- Cucumbers originated in Asia.