Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2021 - 67

Field Production. For earlier cucumber production and higher,
more concentrated yields, use gynoecious varieties. A gynoecious
plant produces only female flowers. Upon pollination female flowers
will develop into fruit. To produce pollen, 10% to 15% pollinizer
plants must be planted; seed suppliers add this seed to the
gynoecious variety. Both pickling and slicing gynoecious varieties
are available. For machine harvest of pickling cucumbers, high
plant populations (55,000 per acre or more) concentrate fruit maturity
for increased yields.
Planting Dates. For earliness container-grown transplants are
planted when daily mean soil temperatures have reached 60°F but
most cucumbers are direct seeded. Consult the following table for
planting dates for transplants in your area. Early plantings should
be protected from winds with hot caps or row covers. Growing on
plastic mulch can also enhance earliness.
CUCUMBER SLICERS PLANTING DATES
Spring
AL North
AL South
GA North
GA South
KY East
KY Central
KY West
LA North
LA South
MS North
MS South
NC East
NC West
SC East
SC West
TN East
TN West
VA East (coastal)
VA West (mountains)
4/1-7/15
3/1-4/30
4/15-7/15
3/1-4/30
5/10-6/1
5/5-6/1
4/25-5/15
3/15-5/15
3/1-5/15
4/1-5/15
3/15-5/1
4/15-5/15
5/15-7/31
3/15-5/15
4/15-6/5
5/5-6/15
5/1-6/1
4/15-6/15
5/15-6/30
CUCUMBER PICKLING PLANTING DATES
Spring
AL North
AL South
GA North
GA South
KY East
KY Central
KY West
LA North
LA South
MS South
NC East
NC West
SC East
SC West
TN East
TN West
VA East (coastal)
VA West (mountains)
4/15-7/15
3/1-4/30
4/15-7/15
3/1-4/30
5/10-6/1
5/5-6/1
4/25-5/15
4/1-5/15
3/15-5/15
4/1-4/15
4/20-5/20
5/25-7/31
3/15-5/15
4/15-6/15
5/5-6/15
5/1-6/1
4/15-6/15
5/15-6/30
Fall
8/1-8/30
8/1-9/15
8/1-8/30
8/1-9/15
6/1-6/15
6/1-7/1
5/15-7/15
7/15-8/31
8/1-9/15
7/25-8/21
8/14-9/14
7/15-8/15
NR
8/1-8/30
8/1-8/30
7/1-8/10
7/25-8/25
7/1-7/31
6/15-7/31
Spacing. Slicers: Space rows 3 to 4 feet apart with plants 9 to 12
inches apart. Pickles: For hand harvest, space 3 to 4 feet apart; for
machine harvest, space three rows 24-28 inches apart on a bed.
Plants for hand harvest should be 6 to 8 inches apart in the row;
2 to 4 inches apart for machine harvest. Close spacing increases
yields, provides more uniform maturity and reduces weed problems,
but require slightly higher fertilizer rates. Seeding for slicers:
1.5 pounds per acre. Seeding for pickles: 2 to 5 pounds per acre.
Bitterness. Bitterness can be a common problem in cucumber.
Cucumbers (and all other cucurbits) produce a group of chemicals
called cucurbitacins which can cause bitterness to develop. As
cucurbitacin concentrations increase, the more bitter the cucumber
will taste. Generally, the amount of cucurbitacin in a cucurbit fruit
is low and cannot be tasted. Mild bitterness results from higher
levels of cucurbitacin often triggered by environmental stresses,
including high temperatures, wide temperature swings, or too
little water. Uneven watering practices (too wet followed by too
dry), low soil fertility, and low soil pH are also possible factors.
Over-mature or improperly stored cucumbers may also develop a
mild bitterness, although it is not usually severe.
Mulching. Fumigated soil aids in the control of weeds and soilborne
diseases. Black plastic mulch laid before field planting conserves
moisture, increases soil temperature, and increases early
and total yield. Plastic and fumigant should be applied on well-prepared
planting beds 2 to 4 weeks before field planting. Plastic
should be placed immediately over the fumigated soil. The soil
must be moist when laying the plastic. Fumigation alone may not
provide satisfactory weed control under clear plastic. Herbicides
labeled and recommended for use on cucumbers may not provide
satisfactory weed control when used under clear plastic mulch on
nonfumigated soil. Black plastic can be used without a herbicide.
Fertilizer must be applied during bed preparation. At least 50% of
the nitrogen (N) should be in the nitrate (NO3
) form.
Fall
8/1-8/30
8/1-9/15
NR
8/1-9/15
6/1-6/15
6/1-7/1
5/15-7/15
7/15-8/31
8/1-9/15
NR
7/15-8/15
NR
8/1-8/30
8/1-8/30
7/1-8/10
7/25-8/25
7/1-7/31
6/15-7/31
Foil and other reflective mulches can be used to repel aphids
that transmit viruses in fall-planted (after July 1) cucumbers. Direct
seeding through the mulch is recommended for maximum virus
protection. Fumigation will be necessary when there is a history
of soilborne diseases in the field. Growers should consider drip
irrigation with plastic mulch. For more information, see the section
on " Irrigation " .
SUGGESTED FERTIGATION SCHEDULE FOR CUCUMBER*
(N:K,1:2)
Daily
Days after
planting
Preplant
0-14
15-63
64-77
nitrogen
0.9
1.5
0.7
Daily
potash
(lb / A)
1.8
3.0
1.4
25.0
37.6
110.3
120.1
45.0
75.2
196.6
216.6
Cumulative
Nitrogen
Potash
2021 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
67
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2021

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