So you’ve added cucumbers to your vegetable garden. You’re on top of the mulching and watering and weeding—but when do you get to enjoy the fruits of your labors? Here are three signs that will tell you when to harvest cucumbers!
Can you pick a cucumber too early?
Not really! A cucumber picked early is safe to eat and will taste just fine—you just may not get the same bang for your buck from picking an immature cucumber fruit!
How do you know when to harvest cucumbers?
Different types of cucumbers will look different when they are ready to harvest—pickling cucumbers are best picked when small so they can fit right into your canning jars. Slicing cucumbers or burpless cucumbers can be picked when they are longer and kept in your crisper drawer until you are ready to use them for salads or other fresh eating.
For the best flavor and quality, you want to pick your cucumbers when they are firm and the right color and size for the variety you are growing. The seed packets or plant tag will also indicate approximately how long the plants take to come to maturity.
How do you know when cucumbers are too ripe?
You may be tempted to leave your cucumbers on the vine to get larger and larger, but that’s how you get veggies with tough skins, large seeds, and a bitter, watery flavor. If your cucumbers are much larger than the seed packet indicates they’ll be, or if the fruit is yellowing (and you aren’t growing a yellow cucumber variety), you probably waited too long. Cut that fruit off the vine so the plant can focus its energy on new fruits.
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How do I harvest cucumbers?
Before you pull the cucumbers straight off the vine—stop! This can damage the vine, and affect the growth of the other fruit on the plant. Instead, use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the cucumber from the plant. Alternatively, you can gently twist the cucumber until the stem comes off the vine.
Why are my cucumbers prickly?
Some types of cucumbers, particularly pickling cucumbers, are covered in stiff spines and bumps. There is nothing wrong with them—that’s just how they grow! Wear gloves while harvesting, and give the cucumbers a good wash under cool water. That should make the spines fall right off.
How do I know when to pick cucumbers?
Cucumbers that are ready to harvest will be:
- Firm
- The right color for the cucumber variety you are growing
- The size indicated on the seed packet
Different varieties of cucumbers take different times to reach maturity—if your seed packets say that the plants need 50-70 days and it has only been 5 or 6 weeks, your cucumbers may need some more time!
