Cool cucumber varieties perfect for summer months

Cucumbers are the perfect summer snack. They’re mostly water and are great for rehydrating, which is part of why you want to be “cool as a cucumber.” Cucumber plants grow in two forms: vining and bush. Vines scramble along the ground or clamber up trellises, while bush types, such as Burpless Bush Hybrid, form a more compact plant. Check out these varieties from Bonnie Plants.

For more: www.bonnieplants.com

Production:

The Armenian Cucumber is an heirloom. High yields of mild-tasting cukes turn yellow when ripe. They’re used for slicing and pickling. These are also known as yard-long cucumbers or snake melon. Actually related to muskmelon, the cucumbers have a cantaloupe-like aroma when sliced. Although they grow to up to two feet long, they are best harvested when 12 to 18 inches long. The fruit will grow straighter if grown on a trellis; on the ground, the fruit is often crooked.

• Light: Full sun
• Fruit size: 24 inches long
• Matures: 55 to 70 days
• Plant spacing: 48 to 60 inches apart
• Plant size: Long vine
   

For more: http://bonnieplants.com/

The Boston Pickling Cucumber is an heirloom. The crop is known for high yields of short cukes with solid flesh. Cucumbers are thin-skinned, straight with full ends, and a nice green color. Vines bear continuously. Flesh is crisp and very receptive to pickling spices. They are used in pickling recipes – sweet or dill. Boston Pickling may be harvested at sizes from 3 to 7 inches, depending on pickling needs. Plants resist scab and are tolerant to cucumber mosaic.

• Light: Full sun
• Fruit size: 3 to 7 inches
• Matures: 55 days
• Plant spacing: 36 to 48 inches apart
• Plant size: Long vine

Burpless Bush Hybrid Cucumber is a space-saving form of the favorite Burpless Hybrid. Short vines grow about 2 feet long – long enough to trellis if desired. Fruit is straight and cylindrical for easy slicing. These can be eaten fresh, pickled, or in salads. The Burpless Bush Hybrid is good for small gardens and containers.

• Light: Full sun
• Fruit size: 8 to 10 inches long
• Matures: 50 to 60 days
• Plant spacing: 36 to 48 inches apart
• Plant size: Short vine, 2 feet long

Lemon Cucumber is an heirloom. “Round and yellow” describes this tennis ball-sized cucumber, which is a good serving for one or two people. Lemon cucumber does not have a lemon taste, only color, but has a thin skin with a flavor a little milder than a regular cucumber’s. Prolific plants are easy to grow and seem to need less heat to ripen than some cucumbers, making this a good choice for cooler climates. It is also less apt to develop bitterness. To save space, give the plants a fence to climb. Try hollowing out the cukes for a cold soup summer appetizer.

• Light: Full sun
• Fruit size: 3 to 4 inches long
• Matures: 65 days
• Plant spacing: 48 to 60 inches apart
• Plant size: Very long vine

Straight Eight Cucumber is an heirloom. Named for its straight, 8-inch long fruit, this slicing cucumber has quality, flavor, and a deep green color. They are well adapted throughout the United States. The plant features vigorous, productive vines that benefit from trellising. This classic cucumber earned an All-America Selections honor in 1935.

• Light: Full sun
• Fruit size: 8 inches
• Matures: 50 to 75 days
• Plant spacing: 36 to 48 inches apart

Did you know?
Tiberius, the Roman emperor, ordered slaves to wheel cucumbers in carts so they could get sunlight and grow fuller.