Cucumber

Growing

Since cucumbers are heavy climbers, provide a sturdy trellis or netting to support the vines as they spread. This vertical training keeps the fruit off the damp ground, which helps prevent rot and keeps the skin clean. When you sow your seeds once the soil has warmed, use well-drained ground with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

Check your fruit often to determine when to harvest. For slicing varieties, pick them when they are firm and the skin is smooth. For those intended for pickling, such as gherkins or cornichons, harvest them while they are still small and bumpy. Because these fruits do not continue to ripen once they are removed from the vine, frequent picking encourages the plant to keep producing new cucumbers.

If you have an abundance of harvest, you can preserve it by pickling in a brine of vinegar, sugar, and spices, or by blanching before freezing. To maintain quality during storage, keep your cucumbers unwashed in the refrigerator to prevent moisture buildup that leads to spoilage.