Japanese Climbing
Cucumbers will grow all year in the Kihei climate.
And, it's easy to get them to grow up a 6 foot trellis.
Marketmore
Japanese Climbing is the earliest cucumber I've grown and Marketmore is almost always a straight and picture perfect cucumber. Marketmore is promoted as being disease resistant but I haven't found it to be any more disease resistant than any of the others.
Suyo
The cucumber that was the most productive in the late fall and early winter months was Suyo, an Asian variety. The vines grew a good deal longer than regular salad cucumbers and seemed to be less sensitive to the diminishing daylight.
I've trailed a number of other Asian/Japanese cucumbers but it was too hot to grow them in Kihei, even during our cooler months. I plant Suyo exclusively from October through December as they've never failed to grow and produce beautiful fruit during the late fall and early winter.
I've trailed a number of other Asian/Japanese cucumbers but it was too hot to grow them in Kihei, even during our cooler months. I plant Suyo exclusively from October through December as they've never failed to grow and produce beautiful fruit during the late fall and early winter.
Not all cucumber seeds will grow year round. Some varieties are much more sensitive to increasing and decreasing daylight. Empereur Alexandre seeds germinated but wouldn't grow during the late fall but grew prolifically when seeds were planted in the winter and early spring.
Cucumbers are very susceptible to the ever present powdery mildew in the air here. Even the varieties I've grown that were noted as resistant were affected.
Melon fruit flies and pickleworms are a problem predominately during the spring and summer months. The melon flies don't bother the cucumbers as often as the melons and squash. I put white paper lunch bags around the pollinated females to protect the fruit. Wilted vines or leaves could be evidence of pickleworm activity as pickleworm larvae will tunnel into the vines as well as the fruit. For more information, see my post on Pickleworms.
Cucumbers are very susceptible to the ever present powdery mildew in the air here. Even the varieties I've grown that were noted as resistant were affected.
Suyo
Melon fruit flies and pickleworms are a problem predominately during the spring and summer months. The melon flies don't bother the cucumbers as often as the melons and squash. I put white paper lunch bags around the pollinated females to protect the fruit. Wilted vines or leaves could be evidence of pickleworm activity as pickleworm larvae will tunnel into the vines as well as the fruit. For more information, see my post on Pickleworms.
a parthenocarpic cucumber
If the melon fly larvae and pickleworms become a serious problem parthenocarpic varieties of cucumbers can be grown under a light row cover. They're F1 hybrid cucumber seeds that produce only female flowers and don't require pollination. These types of cucumbers are seedless and are commonly grown in greenhouses. I also recommend these seeds if you don't have any bees or bees that that will pollinate cucumber flowers.
Diva and Katrina are the only parthenocarpic seeds I've grown - they produce smooth, dark green fruit. These seeds are available from Johnny's Selected Seeds. Johnny's has a variety of parthenocarpic cucumber seeds available. I've also found Diva seeds on etsy and ebay.
Parisian Pickling
Cornichon is French for gherkin, a miniature cucumber that's used to make a small pickle that's very popular in France. The Parisian Pickling are the smallest cucumber I've grown and they can be used for this type of pickle.
The cucumbers in the photo are around 4 inches long but they can be cut from the vines when they're smaller. When harvested at 4 inches or less, they're seedless and crunchy and they make great pickles.
The cucumbers in the photo are around 4 inches long but they can be cut from the vines when they're smaller. When harvested at 4 inches or less, they're seedless and crunchy and they make great pickles.
I plant cucumber seeds in regular or self-watering 15 inch containers. I amend the potting soil with n organic or natural all purpose fertilizer and add additional fertilizer twice per month. When the vines begin to grow the need for water increases significantly. In the summer, if you use self-watering containers, it's a good idea to check the reservoir twice per day.
Unfortunately, self-watering containers are an ideal breeding place for mosquitoes. To control this activity, I block the reservoir opening with a rolled up/compressed plastic bag.
Cucumbers are delicious when juiced. Sometimes I juice them with other vegetables like celery, carrots and tomatoes when I have an abundance of these vegetables in my garden. And of course they make wonderful pickles.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Seed Savers Exchange. Sometimes Baker Creek has parthenocarpic cucumber seeds - search "greenhouse cucumbers" on their site.
Etsy is also good source for reasonably priced heirloom seeds.
I've fallen in love with a parthenocarpic cuke from Johnnys too. It is Diamant. I like it because it will produce even in our bad cold summer years - not as well as good years but I still get a harvest. Probably not as good for your area as you don't need something for the cold.
ReplyDeleteHi Daphne! I still haven't gotten around to planting a pickling type cucumber.I'll have to check out Diamant.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to figure out how you keep everything watered. SWCs!, of course. I'm starting to feel alot more confident about cucumbers, thanks Jane ; )
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! I struggled with cucumbers at first too. They've done really well in the SWCs. I think the hardiest are the foot long Japanese type and they woof the most water! They seem the more tolerant of the hot summer sun - the vines will grow up onto the roof of my lanai. And, they were more productive than the salad types in the late fall/early winter months.
ReplyDelete