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Varieties
Ashley, Burpless, Dasher II, Diva, Poinsett 76, Slice Master, Spacemaster, Straight Eight, Suyo, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success
Soil Preferences
Will tolerate a wide soil range but prefers well-drained sandy loams with a pH of 6.3-7.5; will tolerate acid soils as low as 5.5.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Hot days (80-90°F) and warm nights (60-70°F). Growth favored by low humidity and dry conditions.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - Soil seed zone temperature 65-70°F Fall - approximately 75-80 days prior to first fall frost |
| Seeding rate | 1.5-2.5 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 1,100 |
| Seeding depth | 0.5 - 0.75" |
| Seedling spacing | 6-10" in-row on 40" raised beds. If needed, thin at 4 true leaves. |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 80 - 80 - 80 lb/acre | |
| N* | 60-100 lbs/acre; 2/3 pre-plant + 20 lbs/acre side-dress at thinning, vining and/or full bloom |
|---|---|
| P | 60-90 lbs/acre banded approximately 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 60-80 lbs/acre applied with the pre-plant nitrogen; normally not needed in most areas of Texas |
Water/Irrigation
20 - 25" uniform moisture supply. Key stress stages are at establishment, vining and fruit development.Pest Management
Cucumber Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Anthracnose | azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, mancozeb, maneb, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, thiophanate-methyl, | Bacillus subtillus, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, |
| Downy mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, cymoxanil, dimethomorph, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, mancozeb, mandpropamid, maneb, potassium phosphite, propamocarb hydrochloride, cyazofamid, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, trifloxystrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, potassium bicarbonate, |
| Fruit rot | mancozeb, potassium phosphite, | |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, ethoprop, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Powdery mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, kaolin, kresoxim-methyl, myclobutanil, paraffinic oil, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, polyoxin D zinc salt, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, sulfur, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, trifloxystrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, potassium bicarbonate, |
| Viruses | paraffinic oil, |
Cucumber Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Dinotefuran, Endosulfan, Fenpropathrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins |
| Cutworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Esfenvalerate, Flubendiamide, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Permethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Leafminer | Abamectin, Cyromazine, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, paraffinic oil, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Soybean Oil, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Spinosad, |
| Looper | Methomyl | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins |
| Melonworm | Acetamiprid, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorantraniliprole, Cryolite, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Endosulfan, Flubendiamide, Indoxacarb, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methomyl, Methoxyfenozide, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Spinosad |
| Mite | Oxydemeton-methyl, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil |
| Pickleworm | Acetamiprid, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorantraniliprole, Cryolite, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Endosulfan, Esfenvalerate, Indoxacarb, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Methomyl, Methoxyfenozide, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Garlic Juice Extracts, Spinosad |
| Whitefly | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Endosulfan, Fosetyl-Al, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Spiromesifen, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins, |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | clomazone, ethalfluralin, DCPA, bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | ethalfluralin, DCPA | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, halosulfuron, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 60-65; when fruit are:
|
|---|---|
| Normal method | Multi-hand harvest |
| Containers | 50 lb sacks or bulk bins |
| Grades | U.S. Fancy, U.S. #1, U.S. #2 based on uniformity of shape, size, color and defects |
| Processing | |
| Packaging/Handling | 47-55 lb or 26-32 lb waterproof cardboard cartons |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 250-400 bushels (50 lbs)/acre |
Transit Conditions
45-50°F and 90-95% RH; shelf life 10-14 days (subject to chilling injury if held 2 or more days below 45°F).Comments/Production Keys
- Most varieties produce predominately female flowers; bees are essential (one strong hive/acre containing at least 3-4 lbs of bees in 5 broods of varying stages).
- Place hives in groups around the field at first bloom, preferably on the windward side
- Avoid spraying between 8 - 11 a.m. (period of greatest bee activity); preferably spray at night
- Rainy or windy weather can reduce bee activity and cause yield and quality reductions
- Collapsed or misshapen fruit is an indication of poor pollination
- Excessive nitrogen or water can delay maturity
- Irrigating every other bed can aid harvest scheduling
- 2-4 day harvest schedule required to keep up with fruit set
- Good weed control and vine training on beds are a must for efficient harvest (avoid deep cultivation)
- Temperatures > 95 - 100°F or other plant stresses can cause sex reversion in flowers and a subsequent yield reduction
- Temperature < 60°F can delay maturity as much as 15 days; <50°F, severely stunted plants and reduced yield
- Fruit subject to shriveling (waxing and storage under high relative humidity reduces severity)