Cucumbers are a rewarding garden plant, making an excellent garnish for a salad, a side to a BBQ steak, or even your homemade pickles. Known for being prolific producers, cukes require prompt and frequent harvests.

Learn when and how to harvest cucumbers and tips for extending the cucumber season and storing them to ensure they last as long as possible after harvesting.

When to Harvest Cucumbers

While there are many varieties of cucumbers, there are two main types: slicing and pickling. Pickling cucumbers are shorter and wider, and slicing cucumbers are longer and thinner. Despite the names, each type is ideal for pickling or eating fresh.

Cucumber variety determines the length it should be when ripe and, therefore, when you should harvest it, so check the tag or seed packet when shopping. Pickling cucumbers should grow to about 2 to 4 inches long, and slicing cucumbers grow 6 to 8 inches long.

Many cucumbers are ready for harvest around 50 to 70 days after germination. Since you should plant them in the early spring, they will likely be ready for picking throughout the warm days of summer. Regardless of the size, ripe cucumbers should have firm, mid-to-dark-green skin.

If you are unsure if the cukes are ready for harvest, pick them when they are a bit smaller than expected, as they tend to become mushy and bitter if you let them grow too big.

If you notice issues with your plants, such as yellowing leaves, failure to grow properly, or deformed fruits, you may be dealing with overwatering, cucumber beetles, or powdery mildew.

Tools You Will Need

To properly harvest the delicious cukes growing in your garden, you will need just a few tools.

• Gardening gloves
• Sterilized pruning shears
• Collection container

How to Harvest Cucumbers

Now that you have compiled your tools and know when to pick your cucumbers, it is time to harvest. Fortunately, the process requires only a little time each day. But, before you dive in and begin pulling the cucumbers from the stems, remember that you should not twist or pull the fruit to harvest it, as this can uproot and damage the entire plant.

Instead, use sterilized pruning shears, holding the fruit in one gloved hand and snipping the stem about ¼ inch above the fruit with the shears. Harvest in the morning for the most flavorful, crisp cucumbers. Carefully place the cucumbers in your container or basket to avoid bruising. Continue to harvest cucumbers as they grow, repeating the process throughout the entire season, which ranges from mid-summer to the first frost. Once the first cucumbers are ready for harvest, picking them is usually a daily task.

Tips for Extending the Cucumber Season

While it can be tempting to leave your cukes on the vine and allow them to continue growing, they may not taste as good if they grow too large. Also, if you pick the cukes as soon as they are ready, the plant will usually produce longer into the season. If you want to get the most out of your cucumber plant, there are a few different methods worth trying.

• Consider sowing seeds indoors or in a cold frame. Since cucumbers are planted a little after the first frost, you can get a head start and transplant them into the garden once spring arrives.
• As the end of the season nears, consider pruning fruits that are less developed, allowing the plant to focus on producing the already developed, larger cukes.
• Remove all damaged fruit and leaves to ensure the plant does not waste energy.

Tips for Storing Cucumbers

Once you have collected your cukes, refrigerate them to get the most out of your harvest. Store the cucumbers in the crisper in perforated bags to ensure proper ventilation. Keep the temperature around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity around 90 to 95 percent. Temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit can result in pitting (small holes) and moisture collection.

Avoid stacking cucumbers or placing them next to other fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, since this may block airflow or cause them to rot quickly. Also, do not wash them until you are ready to eat, as this can cause them to rot or grow bacteria. Cucumbers will last about one to two weeks in the fridge. You can also pickle the cukes to further preserve them.

Dill With It!

Harvesting cucumbers requires a little time and attention each day, though actually removing them from the vine only requires a pair of pruning shears and a collection basket. Once the cukes reach the right size for their variety, they are ready for picking, though it is best to harvest sooner rather than later. By the end of the season, prune away small fruits to allow the last few veggies to reach fruition.

Do you know anyone whose cucumbers will be ready for harvest soon? Share this guide with them to lend a helping hand!