Determining when to harvest cucumbers can be challenging because harvest time depends on cucumber variety or heirloom, temperature, and sunshine hours. So, as we will see in this article, determining when to harvest cucumbers in Texas, Missouri, Florida, or Maryland will occur at different times, even if it is the same variety as Boston Pickling cucumbers and in all states, it was planted in the same week. Cucumber harvest times for different types, such as Straight Eight cucumbers, Boston Pickling Cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers, Lemon cucumbers, Spacemaster cucumbers, and Pickling Northern cucumbers, are suggested. In this article, I give you tips for knowing when to harvest cucumbers.
When to Pick Cucumbers? Find out the cucumber harvest time, why it is not always the same, and what circumstances may cause it to be earlier or later.
Table of Contents
When to Harvest Cucumbers (Boston Pickling, Pickling Northern, Straight Eight, Armenian, Lemon, Spacemaster Cucumbers)
When to Pick Cucumbers?
In the following paragraphs, you will find the days and weeks of growth from the moment of sowing that approximately every variety of cucumber needs until harvest. However, as mentioned above, keep in mind that the development of cucumbers depends on factors such as sunshine hours and temperature, particular heirlooms, and even the cucumber variety itself. Therefore, these cucumber harvest times are tentative, and you should check specific characteristics of the cucumbers to determine the exact harvest time.
When to Harvest Boston Pickling Cucumbers
When to Harvest Boston Pickling Cucumbers? Boston Pickling Cucumbers may be harvested between 55 and 60 days. When to Pick Boston Pickling Cucumbers? Between 8 and 9 weeks after planting seeds.
When to Harvest Cucumber Pickling Northern
When to Harvest Cucumber Pickling Northern? I found out that this excellent heirloom Cucumber Pickling Northern developed in Maine is ready to harvest in about 45 days. When to Pick Pickling Northern Cucumbers? It is fantastic for pickling when harvested on the seventh week counted from the sowing time. Pickling Northern cucumbers are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 9.
When to Harvest Straight Eight Cucumbers
When to Harvest Straight Eight Cucumbers? Straight Eight Cucumbers may be harvested for 58 days. When to Pick Straight Eight Cucumbers? In about 9 weeks after planting seeds.
When to Harvest Armenian Cucumbers
When to Harvest Armenian Cucumbers? Armenian Cucumbers may be harvested for 70 days. When to Pick Armenian Cucumbers? In about 10 weeks after planting seeds.
When to Harvest Lemon Cucumbers
When to Harvest Lemon Cucumbers? Lemon Cucumbers may be harvested between 60 and 75 days. When to Pick Lemon Cucumbers? Between 9 and 11 weeks after planting seeds.
When to Harvest Spacemaster Cucumbers
When to Harvest Spacemaster Cucumbers? Spacemaster Cucumbers may be harvested for 56 days. When to Pick Spacemaster Cucumbers? 8 weeks after planting seeds.
How to Know When to Harvest Cucumbers
Temperature Influences Cucumber Harvest Time
Temperature influences when to harvest cucumbers. Therefore, for the same cucumber planting date, cucumbers will not be harvested in Wisconsin and Florida in the same week.
Temperature is a significant factor in determining whether harvest time is earlier or later. Here’s why, and below are the keys to detecting when cucumbers are ready to be harvested.
Cucumbers depend on warm temperatures for good development and early entry into production.
In addition to air temperature, soil temperature is also essential for seed germination and root development of young plants. If the soil is too cold, it will take a long time for the seeds to germinate, and when they do, the cucumber seedlings will grow very slowly until the soil warms up.
Therefore, cucumber harvest time will be extended in low-temperature conditions (below optimum) due to slow plant development.
With optimum values between 73-77 F (23 – 25ºC), an entry into production can be expected approximately in the eighth week, i.e., between 50 and 60 days after sowing or even a little earlier.
Check out How to Grow Cucumbers and How to Grow Cucumbers in Florida
Brightness & Hours of Sun Influences When to Harvest Cucumbers
Brightness & Hours of Sun Influences When to Harvest Cucumbers. As with temperature, for the cucumber to develop quickly and shorten its harvest time as much as possible, it must have good light.
If there are many cloudy or foggy days at the beginning of the crop, the low light will delay the start of the harvest. On the other hand, a succession of very sunny and warm days has the opposite effect, i.e., it accelerates the entry into production.
That’s why the harvest time for cucumbers in Tennessee, Georgia, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Florida, Maryland, etc., may differ for about 1 or 2 weeks.
The above are perhaps the two most essential factors in shortening harvest time, but many others can also have an influence.
Other Factors That Affect Cucumber Harvesting Time
Other Factors That Affect Cucumber Harvesting Time. Nutrient deficiencies, drought conditions, intense competition with other plants, improper location (in the shade), pest and disease attacks, plant care, variety genetics, etc., can make a big difference in determining when cucumbers are ready to harvest.
Usually, when certified cucumber seeds are purchased, information regarding the harvest time, expressed in days to harvest, is generally printed on the package.
How to Know When Cucumbers Are Ready to Harvest
How to Know When Cucumbers Are Ready to Harvest. The above is very good for predicting the approximate dates when harvesting can begin, always considering the climate of each location and growing conditions.
But this information may not be necessary for small-scale family crops and expert home gardeners like our readers. At a glance, it is straightforward to tell whether the cucumbers are ready to be harvested or whether you still have to wait.
As this vegetable is consumed in an unripe or green state, once the cucumbers appear on the plant, they can be harvested.
How to Know When Cucumbers Are Ready to Harvest – Pickling Cucumbers or Salad?
How to Know When Cucumbers Are Ready to Harvest – Pickling Cucumbers. It all depends on how the cucumbers are to be consumed.
If you want to preserve them in vinegar, they are picked when they are small. Boston Pickling cucumbers and Pickling Northern cucumbers are the most commonly used for pickling, harvested when the fruit is 3 to 7 inches long. I would recommend no longer than 7 inches.
The lemon cucumber is an option for both pickling and salads. Lemon cucumbers are ready to harvest when they turn yellow and are between 2 and 4 inches long.
On the other hand, Armenian, Spacemaster, and Straight Eight cucumbers are the cucumber heirlooms consumed in salads, creams, etc. Measuring the size (length and thickness) of these cucumbers is an excellent way to determine when cucumbers are ready to be harvested.
With a mild and sweet taste, Armenian cucumbers should be harvested when they are 12” long and 2.5” thick.
Straight Eight cucumbers, with a mild and sweet taste and perfect for slicing, should be harvested when they are 8” long and deep green color.
Spacemaster cucumbers, perfect for salads, should be harvested when they are 7.5” long.
Why Cucumbers Should Not Be Harvested Late
Why Should Cucumbers Not Be Harvested Late? After the right harvest time passes, cucumbers continue to grow and fatten, but something happens inside them that is not at all convenient: seeds begin to appear and harden.
Once this happens, they are no longer suitable to eat. The cucumber pulp becomes less tasty or disappears altogether, and all the energy is concentrated on the seeds.
If you pick cucumbers often, as soon they come out, you may encourage an increase in cucumber plant production.
How to Harvest Cucumber Seeds for the Next Season
How to Harvest Cucumber Seeds for the Next Season. Keep a few cucumbers in the plant after harvesting for a few weeks. After this point, these cucumbers are not good for eating but are great for harvesting cucumber seeds for the following year.
If they are left a little longer on the plant and then harvested, their seeds can be used for planting the following year.
How to Harvest Cucumbers
How to Harvest Cucumbers. Harvesting cucumbers is easy if you know when cucumbers are ready. If you’ve read this entire article, I’m sure you’ve learned everything you need to know about when to harvest cucumbers. All that’s left for you to do is disinfect a knife and go to your cucumber plant to harvest the ready cucumbers. To harvest cucumbers cut the stem above the cucumber.
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