Cucumbers are known for being quite prolific, so you’re in for a big harvest if you’ve planted this crop in your garden! Cucumbers are vining plants that, when healthy, tend to take up a lot of space. To save space in a small garden, you may choose to trellis your cucumbers with something strong and sturdy, as the vines become heavy once they bear fruit.
While cucumbers ripen at different times on the vine, it’s important to pick each individual one when it’s ready in order to avoid the bitter flavor that develops in cucumbers left on the vine too long. Pickling varieties (such as Little Leaf) are ready for harvest when they are 2-4 inches long. Varieties that will be eaten fresh (like Marketmore) can be harvested when they are 7-9 inches long. If you don’t plan to eat your cucumber right away, be sure to leave a short bit of stem on the tip of the cucumber when you pick it to help prevent rot. Harvest is easiest with pruners or scissors for a clean cut, and also wear gloves because the plants can be prickly.
Happy growing!
