Cucumbers are a garden favorite--and we at Gurney's are always on the lookout for the best varieties for slicing and pickling. At Gurney's we grow a lot of cucumbers in our test gardens, and our cucumber seeds for sale represent the best in flavor, garden performance, disease resistance and yields.
Cucumber Seeds from Gurney's
Choosing the Right Cucumber Seeds
When selecting cucumber seed, choose between slicers, picklers or dual purpose varieties. Slicers generally grow about 8 inches long and have tender, non-bitter skins, a sweet flavor and small seed cavities. Pickling cucumbers are usually short and blocky with thin skins. Dual purpose varieties are cucumbers than can be picked for pickling at the small stage or picked at a larger stage for slicing. Most cucumbers grow on large vines. If you have limited space, buy cucumber varieties that have a compact habit or are bush cucumbers.
Getting Started with Cucumber Seeds
Like other vegetables, cucumbers like well-drained soil and lots of direct sunlight (about 6-8 hours a day). Because they are a vine crop, they can take up a lot of room. To save space, you can choose a bush variety or grow cucumbers on a trellis.
How to Grow Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be grown in most parts of the United States. Cucumber seeds can be started indoors or directly sown into the garden.
How do Cucumbers Grow
Cucumbers are a vine crops and can be planted in hills, in rows with a trellis, and even in containers or Grow Tubs.
How to Plant Cucumber Seeds
Cucumber seeds need a soil temperature of at least 60 degrees to germinate. If direct sowing cucumber seeds outdoors, wait until the soil warms. Whether planting indoors or outdoors, plant cucumber seeds at a depth of 1 in.
How Far Apart to Plant Cucumbers
If planting in hills, plant 4 or 5 seeds per hill and space the hills about 6 ft. apart. If planting in rows with a trellis, space rows about 3 ft. apart and space plants about 1 ft. apart.
When to Plant Cucumbers
Wait to transplant cucumber seedlings or to sow cucumber seeds outdoors until all danger of spring frost has passed. Cucumbers can also be grown as a fall crop.
When to Pick Cucumbers
Depending on the variety, cucumbers are ready for harvest about 50-70 days after planting. When harvesting cucumbers look at their size. They are tastier and have a better texture when picked at the immature stage. Pickling cucumbers are usually harvested when they are 3-4 in. long while slicing cucumbers are 6-10 in. long. Harvest cucumbers before they start to yellow. Harvest cucumbers when the plants are dry because it reduces the chance of spreading disease.
