It's hard to wait for those first tastes of your summer harvest, and cucumbers are no exception. You should know when to pick a cucumber in order to experience the crisp, juicy flesh perfect for salads, pickling, and many other uses. But when and how do you harvest them? There are two main types of cucumber. Slicing varieties are meant to be eaten fresh, while pickling types are bumpy, rough, and require blanching and pickling for the best flavor. Whichever variety you choose to grow, you need to know how to tell when cucumbers are ready to pick.
When to Pick a Cucumber
Cucumbers need a long growing season and are ready for harvest in 50 to 70 days. Harvesting ripe cucumbers at the right time ensure sweet fruits that have no bitterness. Cucumbers left on the vine too long have a bitter taste that ruins the fresh flavor. The fruits ripen at different times on the vine, so it is essential to pick them as they are ready. Harvest when the fruit is the right size, which is usually eight to ten days after the first female flowers open. Cucumbers must be picked before they show the first signs of yellowing, which indicates the fruits are past their prime.
How to Tell When Cucumbers are Ready to Pick
The question, "Do cucumbers ripen after you pick them", must be met with a resounding, “no.” Unlike some fruits, cucumbers do not continue to develop after harvest. Ripe cucumbers have a firm, green flesh. The exact size depends on the use and variety. Pickling fruits may be two to six inches (5-15 cm.) long. Slicing cucumbers are best at 6 inches (15 cm.) and the “burpless” varieties are best harvested at 1 to 1 ½ inches (2.5-4 cm.) in diameter. During the peak of the season, you'll be harvesting ripe cucumbers every day or two. The optimum time for picking is early in the morning when the vines are cool. Now that you know when to pick a cucumber, it's time to learn how to harvest cucumbers.
How to Harvest Cucumbers
Remove fruits that are stunted and not growing, have rotten ends, or are past their prime. This prevents the plant from focusing energy on fruits that are a waste anyway. Use garden shears or pruners when harvesting ripe cucumbers. Removing the fruit with a sharp implement will prevent injury to the vine by twisting or pulling. Cut the stem ¼ inch (6 mm.) above the fruit. The long burpless cucumbers are sensitive to bruising. Lay them gently in a basket or box as you gather ripe fruit.
Storing Cucumber Fruit
Cucumbers are best fresh but they may be stored in the crisper for up to three days. You can just place the fruits in loose plastic or perforated bags. Avoid stacking them and keep them from smashing against the side of the crisper drawer. Commercial growers use wax coatings when storing cucumber fruit to prevent moisture loss. Pickling cucumbers will keep a bit longer and do not necessarily need to be refrigerated. Store them in a cool, dark place for up to five days before preserving them.
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FAQs
Harvest cucumbers when they attain at least six to eight inches in length. Keep a watchful eye out for dark green skins and firm fruits. It is best to harvest these beauties on the earlier side to reap the rewards of their sweet flesh and tender seeds.
What is the harvesting procedure of cucumber? ›
To hand-harvest cucumbers, fruit should be cut or twisted from the vine, not pulled. Pulling fruit can result in damaged vines and pulled up plants. Cucumber fruit can bruise easily, so fruit should be handled with care to avoid damage.
What season are cucumbers harvested? ›
Cucumbers fresh from the garden are a summer treat! Harvesting them frequently (e.g. every other day, or even daily) not only helps keep the plant producing new fruit, but it also helps ensure that you are picking them at their optimal flavor and tenderness.
How do you grow and harvest cucumbers? ›
Cucumbers like full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Water 1 inch per week. Water consistently, because inconsistent watering watering can create misshapen cucumbers. To maximize the amount of cucumbers and decrease leaves, use a trellis or tomato cage to grow the cucumbers.
How long should cucumbers stay on the vine? ›
Cucumbers left on the vine too long have a bitter taste that ruins the fresh flavor. The fruits ripen at different times on the vine, so it is essential to pick them as they are ready. Harvest when the fruit is the right size, which is usually eight to ten days after the first female flowers open.
What happens if you pick a cucumber too soon? ›
If you are desperate to try your cucumbers and can't wait for them to reach perfect ripeness, it is safe to harvest and eat cucumbers early. It is also best to pick cucumbers slightly earlier than usual to prevent any fruit from going to waste or being taken by birds and other garden critters.
What months are best for cucumbers? ›
Cucumber seeds should be sown in a propagator between March and April. But you can get started in February if your greenhouse is heated, and in May to June if you plan to sow the seeds directly outdoors. Sow the cucumber seeds on their sides at a depth of 1cm in 7.5cm pots of free-draining, seed sowing compost.
What month is cucumber in season? ›
When Are Cucumbers In Season? Although you can find cucumbers at your market year-round, peak cucumber season is from May through August.
How long to harvest cucumber after flowering? ›
Cucumbers typically take anywhere from 50 to 70 days after planting seeds until your first harvest. Another way to look at it is that it takes about 1 to 2 weeks after the female flowers appear for the fruits to ripen fully. Keep an eye on the cucumber fruits as you're waiting to harvest them.
How long after flowering do cucumbers appear? ›
Cucumbers produce flowers very soon after germination. It's approximately 35 days until the first flower appears, which will be a male flower. Soon after, you'll see the second flower, which will be female. A week or so after the female flower is seen, it will begin to produce a cucumber.
Basically outdoor cucumbers are the tough guys, they develop a thicker, prickly skin so they can withstand the low temperatures, compared to their softer skin friends that are grown indoors and have a more delicate skin with no prickles.
How do you know when cucumbers are too ripe? ›
Avoid cucumbers with shiny skin, as they are likely unripe. Ripe cucumbers will also have slightly soft skin. You can pick them when they're still green. Once the yellowing begins, cucumbers are past their prime.
Do cucumbers ripen on the counter? ›
Cantaloupes, watermelons, and cucumbers are examples of fruit that will not ripen further when removed from the vine. You know this if you have ever purchased a cantaloupe that doesn't seem ripe, but was a great price so you decided to see if it would ripen further on the kitchen counter. Sorry, no.
