Pickling Cucumber — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Cucumis sativus |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 3–10 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 21.1–32.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 48–60 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 30.5–45.7 |
| Mature height (cm) | 45.7–91.4 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 45.7–91.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–11 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Direct sow seeds 1 inch deep in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun 1–2 weeks after last frost, thinning to 12–18 inches apart; pickling varieties such as National Pickling, Calypso, and Boston Pickling bear shorter, blockier, thinner-skinned fruits than slicing types and set fruit more uniformly over a compressed harvest window — ideal for making dill pickles and bread-and-butter chips in a single session. Harvest at 2–4 inches for gherkins, 4–5 inches for standard dills; leaving even one overripe fruit on the vine significantly slows further production. Keep soil evenly moist — irregular watering causes bitter fruits. Succession-plant every 3 weeks for a season-long supply.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · pickling-cucumber
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0